Payment habits across the UAE are shifting rapidly, with consumers increasingly choosing faster and more secure digital options over cash. Visa’s third edition of its Where Cash Hides report shows that 68 percent of UAE consumers are now largely non-cash users, making most payments through cards or mobile devices. This represents a seven-percentage-point increase from last year, underscoring a steady move away from physical money.
Salima Gutieva, Vice President and Country Manager for Visa in the UAE, said the findings reflect a clear evolution in everyday spending. “Digital payments continue to gain ground across daily transactions. While cash remains present in some categories, these areas represent opportunities to help consumers transition toward more secure and convenient digital options. When payment experiences meet expectations, adoption follows naturally.”
The use of cash in daily purchases has fallen sharply. Only 16 percent of UAE consumers surveyed now rely on cash for everyday spending, down from 25 percent last year. This decline spans categories traditionally associated with cash, including local markets, taxi journeys, and bill payments.
For routine expenses such as groceries, dining, and transport, debit cards and mobile payments dominate, while credit cards are more commonly used for planned or higher-value purchases. Person-to-person payments remain one of the last strongholds of cash, with 58 percent of consumers still using it for tips, making this the most common remaining cash use.
Cash also continues to feature in international money transfers through exchange houses and in rent payments. Even so, digital adoption in peer-to-peer payments is rising, increasing by five percentage points this year to reach 35 percent.
The report highlights that convenience, security, and added value are driving the shift. Compared with cash, cards and mobile payments reduce the risks of carrying physical money, enable seamless online and in-store transactions, and provide instant records for budgeting. Mobile payments add another layer of protection through tokenization, ensuring that actual card numbers are never shared. Credit cards further enhance appeal with rewards, cashback, and lifestyle benefits that consumers increasingly expect at home and abroad.
