Emirates and flydubai sign MoUs with Dubai Finance to push ‘cashless traveller’ initiative

At a ceremony in Dubai on 27 October, Emirates and flydubai signed separate Memoranda of Understanding with the Department of Finance aimed at converting visiting tourists from cash to digital payments. Under the deal, the airlines will embed Dubai Pay and nol Pay wallets into their booking-flow and in-flight Wi-Fi portals, allowing passengers to top up transport cards or pay government fees before they land.

For global-mobility teams this development could streamline assignee arrival processes: newcomers will be able to pay visa fees, book airport taxis and purchase mobile SIM cards through a single wallet linked to their airline PNR. The MoUs support Dubai’s broader ‘Cashless Strategy,’ which targets 95 percent digital payment penetration among tourists by 2026.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and CCO, said the integration will roll out in Q1 2026 starting with Emirates’ Australia and UK markets, followed by a phased expansion across flydubai’s regional network. Airlines will earn micro-commissions on wallet top-ups, creating a new ancillary-revenue stream while aligning with Dubai’s smart-city agenda.

Corporate finance departments should review travel-expense policies, as receipts generated inside the wallet are digitally certified by Dubai Smart Government and may need to be accepted in lieu of traditional paper invoices.