Transguard and Dubai DOF Team Up to Propel Cashless Payment Drive

Dubai’s push towards becoming a fully cashless city took another confident step this week, as Transguard Group and the emirate’s Department of Finance signed a new agreement aimed at speeding up digital payment adoption. I’ve seen plenty of these partnerships come and go over the years, but this one does feel a bit more grounded, perhaps because both sides are tackling the challenge from complementary angles rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.

The deal, signed during Gitex 2025, sets out a framework for closer cooperation on everything from sharing data and expertise to building smarter payment channels and running public awareness campaigns. According to Transguard’s CEO, Rabie Atieh, the partnership marks “a significant step” towards creating a digitally empowered economy, with digital payments becoming the “norm, not the exception.” It’s spot on that trust and habit-building are just as important as the tech itself — sometimes we forget that going cashless isn’t just flicking a switch.

For the Department of Finance, the collaboration feeds directly into the Dubai Cashless Strategy. Ahmad Ali Meftah, who heads the Central Accounts Sector at DOF, highlighted the aim of fostering confidence in digital payments across consumers, merchants and service providers. That said, strengthening the digital infrastructure and widening financial inclusion don’t happen overnight; they’re more of a slow-burn effort that needs consistency rather than flashy headlines.

DOF’s Amna Lootah added that the joint work is meant to make everyday transactions easier and safer across the board. And believe it or not, those small conveniences — tapping instead of queuing, instant confirmations, fewer bits of paper — can be the tipping point for people who still think digital payments are a bit of a faff.

Transguard will be leaning on its cash management expertise, from ATM operations to smart deposit machines, to help smooth the transition between old systems and new ones. I reckon this hybrid phase is going to last longer than we admit, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing; in the MENA region, where Arageek’s readers often tell us how uneven digital adoption can be even within the same city, a step-by-step approach tends to work best.

The agreement also promises joint workshops, training efforts and the exploration of fintech tools that suit both individuals and institutions. If done well… I mean, it could give Dubai another boost in its ongoing bid to cement its position as a global hub for financial innovation. On the flip side, the real test will be whether these initiatives translate into everyday behaviour, not just polished strategy documents.

Either way, the direction is clear — and the momentum is definitely there, even if the rollout won’t be perfectly smooth (or, in my case, perfectly spelt; consider this a friendly acknowlegment).

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