Dubai Cashless Strategy beats its 2026 targets

Dubai Finance says the emirate's Cashless Strategy has beaten its main targets for 2026, ahead of the end of the two-year programme, according to a statement published by the Dubai Media Office on 9 October 2026.

What the figures show

Dubai Finance reported a cashless transactions index of 90.1%, against a target of 90%. The community happiness index also reached 90.1%, and the Government Digital Enablement Index stood at 100%, a measure of how widely digital payment options are available across government bodies and businesses.

The department said cashless payment initiatives contributed more than AED 8 billion to Dubai's economy. Pillar scores were 97% for governance, 95% for society and 93% for innovation.

For the first half of 2026, government cashless collections reached 99.66%, and more than 70 strategic partnerships were signed with government entities and private companies. Dubai Finance said 95% of the strategic accelerators were complete.

How the results were measured

The strategy was launched in October 2024 under the Chairman of Dubai's Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. Dubai Finance presented its final report to the Dubai Strategic Affairs Council. The cashless index draws on data from the Central Bank of the UAE, Transguard, payment acquirers, international payment networks, Dubai Finance and government entities, according to the statement.

Official reaction and next steps

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Free Zones Council, said the results strengthen Dubai's appeal for business, investment and tourism, and called for coordination among free zones, aviation and other sectors to widen digital payment use. The Director-General of Dubai Finance, Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, said the next phase will focus on sustaining the results, expanding digital solutions and deepening public-private partnerships.

What it means for residents and businesses

For residents, the figures indicate that card, wallet and other digital payments are now the norm for government services and a large share of everyday purchases. For businesses, particularly retailers and service providers, accepting digital payments is increasingly the baseline expectation in Dubai.

The statement does not announce new rules, fees or deadlines for businesses. Any follow-up requirements would need to come from the relevant authorities, and companies should check official guidance before assuming changes.