Dubai's Cashless Strategy, launched in October 2024, has reached its targets two years ahead of schedule, contributing around Dh8 billion ($2.18 billion) to the emirate's economy so far. The milestone was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. Dubai's cashless transactions index has reached 90.1 per cent, surpassing the original 90 per cent target set when the strategy launched. A parallel community happiness index measuring satisfaction with digital services has also hit 90.1 per cent, while digital enablement across government entities has reached a full 100 per cent.
The strategy was built around three pillars: governance, society and innovation. Based on the latest assessment, the governance pillar scored 97 per cent, society reached 95 per cent, and innovation stood at 93 per cent.
Sheikh Hamdan said the achievement reflects "the success of Dubai's model, which is built on a clear vision, integrated roles between government and private sectors." Officials describe the strategy as a core component of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to position the emirate among the world's leading digital cities.
Hamad Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, and Helal Almarri, Director General of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, were also involved in announcing the results. Authorities say reaching the targets ahead of schedule reflects how ready the city's digital infrastructure now is for the next phase of its cashless economy push, with further initiatives reportedly being considered to expand the programme beyond its initial scope.