Digital Payment Adoption Statistics in United Arab Emirates (2026)
According to World Bank Global Findex data, 76.6% of adults in the United Arab Emirates made or received a digital payment in 2021. Down from 84% in 2017 to 76.6% in 2021 (−7.4 percentage points). United Arab Emirates ranks #4 of 18 economies in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan on this measure, and #52 of 142 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2021)
- 76.6% (2021)
- Digital Payment Adoption in the United Arab Emirates as of 2021, the most recent observation in World Bank Global Findex data.
- Change since 2017
- −7.4 pp (2021)
- Down from 84% in 2017 to 76.6% in 2021 (−7.4 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2014)
- 76.7% (2014)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Down from 76.7% in 2014 to 76.6% in 2021.
- Peak value (2017)
- 84% (2017)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2021 value is 76.6%.
- Rank in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- #4 of 18 (2021)
- The United Arab Emirates ranks 4 of 18 countries in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #52 of 142 (2021)
- The United Arab Emirates ranks 52 of 142 countries with data globally.
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan average
- 42% (2021)
- The United Arab Emirates (76.6%) is above the average of 42% across the 18 countries in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan with data.
- Among women (2021)
- 76.5% (2021)
- Value for women in the United Arab Emirates, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Among men (2021)
- 76.6% (2021)
- Value for men in the United Arab Emirates, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Gender gap (women minus men)
- −0.1 pp (2021)
- In 2021, the figure was 76.5% for women and 76.6% for men — 0.1 percentage points lower among women.
- Among the poorest 40% (2021)
- 73.6% (2021)
- Value for adults in the poorest 40% of households in the United Arab Emirates in 2021.
- Poorest-40% gap vs national
- −3 pp (2021)
- The poorest 40% (73.6%) are 3 percentage points below the national figure (76.6%).
- Made a digital payment (% age 15+) (2021)
- 74.8% (2021)
- Related indicator from World Bank Global Findex.
- Received digital payments (% age 15+) (2021)
- 17.9% (2021)
- Related indicator from World Bank Global Findex.
- Internet use in the United Arab Emirates (2024)
- 100% (2024)
- 100% of the population in the United Arab Emirates used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 11 million (2024)
- The United Arab Emirates had a population of 11 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2014–2021
| Year | % of adults (age 15+) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76.6% | −7.4 pp |
| 2017 | 84% | +7.4 pp |
| 2014 | 76.7% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of adults in the United Arab Emirates made or received a digital payment?
76.6% of adults in the United Arab Emirates made or received a digital payment in 2021, according to World Bank Global Findex data.
When did digital payment adoption in the United Arab Emirates peak?
The highest value in the available series was 84% in 2017; the latest (2021) value is 76.6%.
How recent is the digital payment adoption data for the United Arab Emirates?
The most recent observation is from 2021. World Bank Global Findex data is reported with a lag, so 2021 is the latest available year for the United Arab Emirates.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank Global Findex, indicator
g20.any, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .