His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, along with the President of Flydubai, witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding between Emirates Airline, Flydubai, and the Dubai Finance Department. The aim of this collaboration is to enhance digital payment initiatives and support the objectives outlined in Dubai’s cashless strategy, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for the digital economy. This event took place in the presence of H.E. Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Director General of Dubai Finance.
In his official statement on the social media platform X, His Highness stated, “The signing of these memoranda today between Emirates Airline, Flydubai, and the Dubai Finance Department represents a significant step towards achieving the goals of Dubai’s cashless strategy.”
He further explained, “These partnerships exemplify Dubai’s established status as a global digital economy center, where an advanced financial system meets an international presence in the aviation sector to provide seamless and secure digital payment solutions for tourists and visitors from around the globe. This initiative also aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to utilize innovations in financial technology to enhance competitiveness and stimulate economic growth across all sectors.”
The memoranda were signed by Adnan Kazim, Vice President and Chief Executive of Commercial Operations at Emirates Airline; Hamad Obaidallah, Chief Executive of Commercial Operations at Flydubai; and Ahmed Ali Miftah, Executive Director of Central Accounts at Dubai Finance, with several senior leaders from Emirates Group, Flydubai, and Dubai Finance present.
Dubai welcomed over 18.7 million tourists in 2024, and the segment of visitors relying on cash payments remains largely untapped, presenting a promising opportunity to accelerate the adoption of digital payment solutions among tourists and broadening the scope of this transformation.
Adnan Kazim commented, “Our strategic partnership with Dubai Finance presents a significant opportunity to expedite the adoption of digital payment solutions within the emirate’s tourism ecosystem. By leveraging our shared expertise and advanced infrastructure, we aim to support Dubai’s vision for a cashless community and contribute directly to achieving the objectives outlined in the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. Through this collaboration, we seek to empower a model of integrated digital tourism that offers visitors seamless and enriching experiences while serving as an exemplary benchmark for other global cities. Additionally, our extensive network of destinations will help promote Dubai’s cashless ecosystem on an international scale, encouraging millions of visitors each year to adopt secure digital solutions from the outset of their journeys and ticket booking processes.”
On his part, Ahmed Ali Miftah emphasized that the partnership with Emirates Airline and Flydubai is “a crucial milestone in implementing Dubai’s cashless strategy,” highlighting its role in broadening the embrace of digital payments for the diverse range of visitors Dubai attracts each year. He noted, “Enhancing smart and secure payment channels consolidates Dubai’s position as a global destination for digital tourism and innovative economy, reflecting our commitment to expedite the transition to a cashless society that achieves high efficiency and financial sustainability. We are confident that this collaboration will pave the way for adopting advanced financial solutions that support sustainable economic growth in the emirate.”
Similarly, Hamad Obaidallah mentioned, “Our partnership with Dubai Finance highlights our commitment to advancing Dubai’s cashless strategy even further, rooted in Flydubai’s unwavering dedication to embracing digital solutions. This collaboration will elevate the travel experience for millions of international visitors who choose Dubai each year, while simplifying digital payments and enhancing safety and ease will provide greater comfort for our customers and reinforce Dubai’s status as a global center for digital innovation and an engine for economic growth.”
Amna Mohammed Lootah, Director of the Digital Payment Systems Regulation Department at Dubai Finance, stressed the significant role that Emirates Airline and Flydubai play in driving change within Dubai’s travel sector. She noted that the partnership between both airlines and the Dubai government “reflects the commitment from all parties to embrace innovative financial solutions,” stressing that expanding the range of digital payments for visitors enriches the smart tourism experience and aligns with the digital transformation occurring in the emirate. She added, “We strive to provide a seamless and secure financial environment for everyone, contributing to the long-term financial sustainability and economic growth of Dubai.”
This partnership is built on the strong connections that Dubai Finance maintains with government entities, alongside the extensive expertise of Emirates Airline and Flydubai in the digital payments domain. A significant portion of their operations around the world is conducted through digital channels, with Emirates Airline offering customers 14 diverse payment gateways. Meanwhile, the joint loyalty program “Skywards” between Emirates Airline and Flydubai creates a comprehensive digital framework for earning and redeeming rewards.
The memoranda aim to bolster cooperation across various aspects, including the exchange of expertise, technical knowledge, and best practices in cashless payment solutions within the travel and tourism framework. Both airlines will also collaborate with Dubai Finance on potential workshops and training sessions, evaluating payment adoption trends to bolster strategic planning efforts.
The collaboration will focus on tourists and travelers arriving in Dubai by developing initiatives that enhance and broaden the digital payment experience. The airlines and the finance department will explore launching joint marketing campaigns to raise visitor awareness of digital payments and provide incentives to encourage adoption, as well as offering diverse solutions such as contactless payments.
Launched last year, Dubai’s cashless strategy aims to achieve 90% of cashless transactions in both public and private sectors by the end of 2026.
This initiative is expected to drive economic growth by over 8 billion AED annually through innovative financial technology services. The strategy is part of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which seeks to embed innovation and competitiveness within the fintech sector while focusing on delivering secure and seamless digital payment experiences across various industries.