UAE: Soon, residents can get salaries, pay bills, traffic fines through cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is rapidly becoming an integral part of daily life in the UAE, with adoption rates rising across the country. Industry executives say that residents may soon be able to pay for utility bills, groceries, traffic fines, and even receive salaries in cryptocurrency as digital payments become more mainstream.
Both public and private sectors are actively driving the adoption of digital currencies, particularly as younger generations show increasing interest in the technology.
In a major step toward crypto integration, Dubai recently announced plans to enable cryptocurrency payments for government services. The move follows an agreement between Dubai's Department of Finance and Crypto.com, a global cryptocurrency trading platform.
'Dubai's decision to allow residents to pay for government services using cryptocurrency reframes this technology — from an investment tool to a public-sector utility,' said Ola Doudin, CEO and co-founder of BitOasis. 'The adoption and evolution of these use cases will only grow with time. We're not far from a reality where people can settle traffic fines or send money home using the same digital wallet.'
Highlighting the practicality of stablecoins in everyday life, Doudin added: 'They may seem like a futuristic innovation, but they're solving real-world problems right now. In countries with high inflation, people use stablecoins to preserve the value of their savings.
"Others rely on them to send money abroad faster and at a lower cost than traditional methods. These aren't speculative uses — these are practical, everyday applications of virtual assets."
To illustrate the growing adoption of crypto in the UAE, several companies — including property developers, airlines, and fuel retailers — have started accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment.
In a notable legal precedent, a Dubai court last year ordered a company to pay an employee's outstanding dues in both dirhams and cryptocurrency, as stipulated in their contract.
'We anticipate a phased adoption curve,' Doudin explained. 'It will likely begin with government portals, followed by high-value sectors like hospitality, luxury retail, and aviation. Remittances, bill payments, and everyday purchases will follow. Each phase will add liquidity and boost consumer confidence.'
She also praised the UAE's regulators for their proactive, forward-thinking approach in establishing clear frameworks for the crypto industry.
Sai Mahesh, regional manager at ICM, noted that Dubai's financial infrastructure, the presence of multiple exchanges, and comprehensive regulations are key factors driving crypto adoption.
'I'm seeing both residents and businesses gradually embracing crypto payments across various platforms,' Mahesh said. 'Many small vendors, including restaurants, have started accepting not just Bitcoin but also other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum.'
Looking ahead, he believes salaries will also be paid in digital currencies. 'The use of crypto will only increase in the coming years,' he concluded.
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