Dubai's Cashless Strategy, launched in October 2024, has surpassed its own targets well ahead of its 2026 deadline, contributing more than Dh8 billion ($2.18 billion) to the emirate's economy.
Announced under the direction of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, the initiative reported a cashless transactions index of 90.1 per cent, beating the 90 per cent goal set for 2026. A parallel community happiness index also reached 90.1 per cent, while the government digital enablement index, measuring the full availability of digital payment options across public services, hit 100 per cent.
The strategy is tracked across three pillars: governance scored 97 per cent, society 95 per cent, and innovation 93 per cent, with all three exceeding their respective benchmarks. Digital Dubai, led by director general Hamad Al Mansoori, has spearheaded implementation, working alongside Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, headed by Helal Almarri, and Dubai Finance, which supplied transaction data.
The milestone feeds into Dubai's broader D33 economic agenda, which aims to cement the city's position as a global leader in seamless digital payment infrastructure across both government and private sectors. Officials say that despite hitting its initial targets early, work will continue to expand cashless infrastructure and widen the range of services available without physical currency, as Dubai pushes toward becoming one of the world's smartest, most digitally integrated cities.