Dubai is on a mission to make the old “cash or card?” question feel as outdated as dial-up internet. With its bold Dubai Cashless Strategy, the city is doubling down on its ambition to become the world’s leading digital economy hub, and it’s roped in some heavyweights to get there.
Emirates and flydubai have just inked two separate MoUs with Dubai Finance (DOF), giving travellers yet another reason to keep their wallets in their pockets and their fingers hovering over “tap to pay.”
And the timing couldn’t be better. Given 18.7 million tourists visited Dubai in 2024, with many still clutching onto their cash like security blankets, therein lies a massive untapped opportunity in a city that thrives on modern innovation and convenience.
“Blueprint for the World”
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, couldn’t have put it better:
“Emirates’ strategic partnership with DOF represents a significant opportunity to accelerate digital payment adoption across our tourism ecosystem. By leveraging our combined expertise and infrastructure, we’re supporting Dubai’s cashless vision and directly fuelling D33 Agenda ambitions by enabling the business case for digital-first tourism that creates seamless visitor experiences. With our global network, Emirates will also promote Dubai’s cashless ecosystem internationally, encouraging millions of visitors each year to embrace secure digital solutions from the moment they book their ticket. We hope what we are building today will become the blueprint that other major cities will follow.”
In other words, Dubai isn’t stopping at being cashless, the city is paving the way setting the global gold standard for digital-first travel.
Cashless in progress
Since the Dubai Cashless Strategy launched last year, the city has been moving at full speed. The target is to hit 90% cashless transactions across government and private sectors by the end of 2026. And already, government services, shopping malls, taxis, and even smaller coffee shops have been rapidly shifting to contactless and app-based payments. Skywards, the joint loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, is already fully digital, meaning no dusty paper vouchers in sight.
The push is expected to pump an extra AED 8 billion (USD 2.178 billion) annually into the economy through fintech innovation, while streamlining everything from booking a desert safari to paying for your shawarma.
For locals and residents, the shift to cashless means less queuing, smoother bill payments, and a future where losing your wallet is only an inconvenience, not a financial crisis. For visitors, it means no more frantic airport currency exchanges or fumbling dirhams at the till.
As Hamad Obaidalla, flydubai’s Chief Commercial Officer, explained:
“Our collaboration with DOF is a pivotal step in advancing Dubai Cashless Strategy. flydubai is committed to adopting digital-first solutions, and this partnership will allow us to further enhance the travel experience for millions of international visitors who choose Dubai each year. By making cashless payments simpler, more secure and more accessible, we are not only improving convenience for our customers but also contributing to Dubai’s vision of becoming a leading global hub for digital innovation and economic growth.”
Not all sunshine
Of course, no transformation comes without a few hiccups. While digital payments are skyrocketing, some smaller merchants and independent operators remain cash-friendly. Visitors from markets less comfortable with cashless lifestyles may also feel a little left behind. Connectivity issues in crowded spaces can also throw a spanner in the works (nothing like a “Payment Failed” screen to kill the holiday mood).
That said, DOF is working hard on inclusivity. Ahmed Ali Muftah, Executive Director of the Central Accounts Sector at DOF, highlighted:
“Our partnership with Emirates and flydubai represents an important milestone in the implementation of the Dubai Cashless Strategy. It will help expand the adoption of digital payments among the wide segment of visitors and tourists that Dubai attracts annually. Strengthening smart and secure payment channels consolidates Dubai’s position as a global destination for digital tourism and an innovation-driven economy.”
And to make sure the roll-out feels smooth for everyone, and not just tech-savvy generations, the city is expanding training, workshops, and incentive campaigns to nudge both travellers and locals towards swiping, tapping, and scanning.
The sunny side of going cashless
For many, ditching physical money is a lifestyle upgrade, where faster hotel check-ins, one-tap metro rides, loyalty perks delivered instantly to your phone, and no more lost coins add to the joy bucket. And for those of us who’ve ever been trapped behind someone counting coins in a supermarket line, well, let’s just say this is progress worth celebrating.
Amna Mohamed Lootah, Director of Digital Payments Regulation Division at DOF, summed it up:
“Emirates and flydubai play a key role in driving positive change in Dubai’s travel sector. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovative financial solutions, enhances the smart tourism experience, and supports a seamless, secure, and sustainable financial environment for all.”
By 2026, Dubai aims to be almost entirely cashless. With airlines, government, and retailers all aligned, the vision is ambitious but achievable. The real win, though, will be cultural, embedding cashless as the new normal for millions of residents and visitors, while still ensuring accessibility for those less digitally inclined. Until then, Dubai is steadily tapping into the future, one payment at a time.
