Dubai Customs hits 99.3% cashless rate

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 16, 2026

Dubai Customs reported that 99.3 percent of payment transactions were cashless during the first half of 2026, processing around 23 million transactions with a 98 percent customer satisfaction rate for digital services. This high rate of digital adoption supports Dubai’s goals to streamline trade processes, boost investor confidence, and integrate AI technologies to further enhance government and business productivity.

Dubai Customs reported that nearly all payment transactions processed through its channels were cashless during the first half of 2026, reaching a rate of 99.3 percent. This figure is consistent with previous years, showing a slight decrease from 99.4 percent in 2025 and an increase from 99.2 percent in 2024.

Over the six-month period, Dubai Customs completed approximately 23 million customs transactions. Digital channels accounted for 99.6 percent of these transactions, while customer satisfaction with digital services was recorded at 98 percent. It is important to note that the 23 million transactions encompass all customs activities and do not solely represent cashless payments.

These developments come on the heels of Dubai exceeding its 2026 target for cashless transactions across the emirate, where the overall cashless transaction index reached 90.1 percent. Government digital enablement also achieved full integration at 100 percent.

The move toward greater digitalization is intended to benefit importers, exporters, and logistics companies by streamlining customs procedures, reducing processing times, and enhancing transaction efficiency. Dr. Abdulla Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs, emphasized that improving customs services is aimed at fostering business growth and boosting investor confidence in Dubai. He highlighted that the economic value of digital transformation is realized through saved time, simplified procedures, and increased reliability in trade movement.

Looking ahead, the UAE plans to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to further advance productivity across government services, industrial sectors, and businesses. Faisal Al Marri, an official involved in government digital initiatives, underscored that the focus should be on how AI is integrated within systems, rather than the amount spent on technology. He noted that government procurement constitutes nearly a quarter of the UAE’s GDP and that federal services are moving towards deploying agentic AI. Al Marri called on the private sector to accelerate adoption to keep pace with public sector developments.

This strategic combination of digital payment systems and AI-driven technologies reflects Dubai’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and positioning the emirate as a competitive hub for trade and investment.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.