Dubai to accept crypto payments for government services
The initiative supports Dubai’s Cashless Strategy and is expected to boost the local economy by AED 8 billion annually, reinforcing the city’s position as a global fintech leader.
Dubai will become the first government globally to accept cryptocurrency payments for public services.
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In a major leap toward a cashless future, Dubai will soon allow individuals and businesses to pay for government services using cryptocurrency.
The Department of Finance (DOF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Crypto.com, a global crypto platform licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This partnership will enable crypto payments across official government service platforms.
The announcement was made during the Dubai FinTech Summit and marks a strategic milestone in supporting the Dubai Cashless Strategy, which aims to transition over 90% of transactions in the emirate to digital by 2026.
What it means
Government service fees will soon be payable using stable cryptocurrencies and payments made via Crypto.com’s digital wallet will be securely converted to Emirati dirhams and deposited into DOF accounts.
The move reinforces Dubai’s vision to become a global hub for digital payments and financial innovation.
Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary-General of The Executive Council, described the move as a bold step in digital transformation and praised DOF for pushing global innovation aligned with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33.
Abdulrahman Al Saleh, Director-General of DOF, called the partnership a turning point for public sector payments, noting it supports HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s vision of a tech-forward economy.
Eric Anziani, President and COO of Crypto.com, called Dubai “a true global visionary” in adopting crypto at a government-wide level, positioning the city as a fintech pioneer.
Amna Lootah, Director of Digital Payment Systems Regulation, said the initiative will accelerate fintech growth and contribute over AED 8 billion ($2.2B) annually to Dubai’s economy.
Technical integration is underway, after which customers will be able to use Crypto.com wallets to pay government fees seamlessly, securely, and efficiently.
This is the first full-scale adoption of crypto for government payments globally, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a leader in financial innovation.
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