Dubai Customs achieves 99.3% cashless payment rate in H1 2026

Dubai: Supporting the Dubai Cashless Strategy and complementing its efforts to enhance the integration of customs services and digital payments, Dubai Customs has announced that its cashless payment transaction rate reached 99.3% of total payment transactions during the first half of 2026, compared with 99.4% in 2025 and 99.2% in 2024. The results reflect the continued development of the organisation’s digital infrastructure, the efficiency of its electronic payment systems, and its commitment to providing a seamless and secure customer experience. These efforts contribute to improving the ease of doing business, supporting a more efficient, innovative and sustainable economy, and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global model in the transition towards an integrated cashless society. The announcement follows confirmation by the Dubai Department of Finance on 9 October that the key targets of the Dubai Cashless Strategy had been achieved. The strategy was launched in October 2024 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. The emirate-wide cashless transactions index reached 90.1%, exceeding the target set for 2026, while the government sector’s digital enablement index reached 100%. The Department of Finance highlighted Dubai Customs’ contribution to achieving the strategy’s objectives, commending its performance in digital transformation and in promoting greater adoption of cashless transactions. On the operational front, Dubai Customs completed 23 million customs transactions during the first half of the year. The adoption rate of digital channels reached 99.6%, while the customer happiness index for its digital services rose to 98% during the same period. Dubai Customs noted that the number of customs transactions reflects the volume of customs operations completed and is not linked to the number of cashless payment transactions. Integrated services His Excellency Dr Abdulla Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs, said the integration of government services and digital payments reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to harness technology to build a more productive and resilient economy and enhance Dubai’s competitiveness. “We are turning the efficiency of customs services into a competitive advantage that supports business growth and investor confidence in Dubai,” His Excellency said. “The economic value of digital transformation lies in the time we save for customers, the procedures we simplify, and the reliability we bring to trade movements. We are working to make customs services, payment procedures and control systems part of a single, interconnected journey that supports the smooth flow of trade while safeguarding customers’ rights, public revenues and community security.” His Excellency explained that this approach aligns with the Dubai Customs Strategy 2026-2030, which is built on enabling trusted trade and supports the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, by improving the customer experience and strengthening companies’ ability to grow and access global markets. Rashid Al Sharid, Executive Director of the Finance and Administration Division at Dubai Customs, said: “Integrating customs procedures with digital collection enhances revenue management efficiency and facilitates the ease of doing business. We are working to link ease of payment with the accuracy of financial processing and clarity of procedures, ensuring customers enjoy a smoother experience while maintaining the effectiveness of financial controls and protecting revenues.” Atiq Al Muhairi, Executive Director of the Customs Development Division at Dubai Customs, said: “We are linking system development to trade requirements to deliver faster, more integrated and more reliable services by reviewing the customer journey, reengineering procedures, improving data quality and integration, and using automation to reduce repetitive steps and increase transaction processing efficiency.” Key pillar The Mirsal 2 system is a key pillar in the integration of customs operations, e-services, payment procedures and risk management. The system facilitates transaction completion, supports business resilience and maintains high standards of control and compliance. Dubai Customs continues to enhance its systems by creating an interconnected journey that combines service delivery, payment and control processes, turning customs efficiency into a driver of business competitiveness and trade growth in Dubai.