Dubai to Start Accepting Cryptocurrency for Government Services
Date: 2025-05-14 Author: Oliver Abernathy Categories: IN WORLD
The Dubai authorities have entered into an agreement with the Crypto.com platform, thanks to which residents and visitors of the emirate will be able to pay for government services using cryptocurrency. The new initiative is being implemented jointly with the Dubai Department of Finance (DOF) and has become part of the national strategy for the transition to a cashless society.
The project was officially presented at the Dubai FinTech Summit and is aimed at digitalizing all payments: by 2026, the UAE authorities plan for 90% of all financial transactions in the country to be conducted electronically.
The payment mechanism will be simple: users will be able to use the Crypto.com crypto wallet to transfer funds. The platform will automatically convert cryptocurrency into dirhams before transferring the amount to the Department of Finance account. This approach eliminates the need for direct interaction with digital assets on the part of government agencies.
The economic effect of the introduction of crypto payments, according to government estimates, could reach 8 billion dirhams annually (approximately $2.1 billion). In addition, the project strengthens Dubai's position as a leading center for financial and technological innovation in the international arena.
According to Mohammed Al Hakim, Regional Director of Crypto.com in the UAE, this is the first project in the world implemented on such a scale that combines blockchain technologies and the public sector.
Interest in digital assets in the country continues to grow. In March 2025, UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with David Sachs, Special Advisor to US President Donald Trump on Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency. The discussion touched on the prospects for introducing new technologies into the economy and public administration.
Thus, Dubai is taking another step towards creating a fully digital infrastructure that combines innovation, user convenience, and strategic development of the economy.
