Dubai is taking another step toward a cashless future. Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Free Zones Council, the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation on digital payment initiatives and support the Dubai Cashless Strategy.

The partnership aims to enhance government integration and advance a unified framework for digital transactions, bringing Dubai closer to becoming one of the world’s leading digital economies.

Signed by Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Director General of DOF, and Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Secretary General of DFZC, the agreement focuses on exchanging expertise, sharing data and analytics to monitor progress, and adopting advanced financial technologies to accelerate the transition toward a cashless ecosystem.

“The MoU reflects the Dubai Government’s commitment to strengthening government partnerships and unifying efforts to accelerate the transition towards an integrated digital transactions ecosystem, in support of the objectives of the Dubai Cashless Strategy,” said Al Saleh.

He added: “We are committed to implementing the directives of the leadership by strengthening collaboration in knowledge and data exchange and leveraging the latest financial technology solutions to enhance the efficiency of financial transactions and elevate the readiness of both the public and private sectors for the future. These efforts contribute to reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s leading digital cities and align with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.”

Dr. Al Zarooni said the partnership establishes a practical framework for collaboration and innovation across government entities. “It supports Dubai’s vision for an advanced digital economy, improves the efficiency of services, and strengthens the competitiveness of the business environment across free zones,” he noted.