Dubai Customs achieves 99.3% cashless transactions in 2026, as emirate hits its cashless strategy target early

Dubai: Dubai Customs announced that the percentage of cashless payment transactions reached 99.3% of total payment transactions during the first half of 2026, compared to 99.4% in 2025 and 99.2% in 2024. This comes as part of Dubai Customs’ efforts to integrate its customs services and cashless payments in support of the Dubai Cashless strategy, which contributes to simplifying procedures, improving customer experience, and increasing the efficiency of business practices. These results reflect the development of the department’s digital infrastructure, the efficiency of its electronic payment systems, and its commitment to providing a smooth and secure customer experience, which enhances ease of doing business, supports the building of a more efficient, innovative and sustainable economy, and consolidates Dubai’s position as a leading global model in the transition towards an integrated cashless society. This came after the Dubai Government’s Department of Finance announced on October 9 that it had achieved the main objectives of the Dubai Cashless strategy, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, in October 2024. The non-cash transactions index at the emirate level reached 90.1%, exceeding the target set for 2026, while the digital empowerment index in the government sector reached 100%. The Department of Finance appreciated the contribution of Dubai Customs in supporting the strategy’s objectives, praising its performance in digital transformation and promoting reliance on non-cash transactions. On the operational level, Dubai Customs completed 23 million customs transactions during the first half of this year, and recorded a 99.6% adoption rate for digital channels, while the happiness index for the digital services provided by the department rose during the first half of 2026 to reach 98%. The Director General of Dubai Customs, Dr. Abdullah Busnad, affirmed that the integration of government services and cashless payments embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan, to employ technology to build a more productive and flexible economy and enhance Dubai’s competitiveness. Busnad said: “We are transforming the efficiency of customs services into a competitive advantage that supports the growth of companies and investor confidence in Dubai. The economic value of digital transformation is embodied in the time we save the customer, the procedures we shorten, and the reliability we add to trade. We are working to ensure that customs services, payment procedures and control are interconnected parts of a single journey that supports the smooth flow of trade and preserves the rights of customers, public revenues and the security of society.”