News

Dubai’s Finance Strategy For 2026 Hopes To Achieve Financial Sustainability

Dubai’s Department of Finance has unveiled a strategic plan for 2026 that looks to achieve objectives laid out in the Dubai Strategy 2030.

Published

4 years ago

August 3, 2022

Nour Nasir

dubai's finance strategy for 2026 hopes to achieve financial sustainability

Dubai’s Department of Finance recently announced its official “Finance Strategy for 2026”, which ties in with the Dubai Strategy 2030 project, an ambitious plan to elevate Dubai as a global platform for knowledge-based, sustainable, and innovation-focused businesses.

The director of the Department of Finance’s Strategy & Corporate Performance Division, Jasim Mohamad Al Zarooni, noted that the plan is based on the vision of “Global leadership and innovative financial sustainability”, centered around six ambitious objectives that were originally laid out in the Smart Dubai 2021 roadmap, with a plan to achieve financial sustainability and a fair and efficient distribution of resources within the emirate.

Here are the six strategic objectives in brief:

A Smart, Liveable & Resilient City

With improved connectedness, simplified and sustainable living, plus all of the critical infrastructure to boost efficiency and promote resilience.

A Globally Competitive Economy Powered By Disruptive Technologies

Pioneering new rules of economic development and engagement to transition to a circular economy that shares assets and resources, whilst building an inspired and highly productive workforce.

An Interconnected Society With Easily Accessible Social Services

Improve quality of life for both residents and visitors by embracing technology to streamline the emirate’s social, cultural, education, and healthcare experiences.

Smooth Transport, Driven By Autonomous & Shared Mobility Solutions

Pioneer smart innovative mobility solutions and automation for a seamless and safe transportation experience in the emirate and reduce commuting time.

A Clean Environment Enabled By Cutting-Edge ICT Innovations

Ensure the sustainability and quality of the emirate’s resources (water, air, energy, and land) for residents and visitors and digitally transform utilities, manufacturing, transportation, and waste treatment.

A Digital, Lean, And Connected Government

Eliminate the need to physically interact with government departments by providing 100% of eligible public services through digital channels and targeting full digital adoption.

The government aims to turn Dubai into the preferred manufacturing platform for global businesses, promoting energy-efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing while fostering a culture of knowledge and innovation that could turn the emirate into a central hub for the global Islamic products market.

News

NEOPAY Wants To Follow Merchants Across Channels And Borders

A controlling 65% stake in noon payments would give NEOPAY access to marketplace sellers, online merchants and the payment flows they generate.

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2026

Nour Nasir

neopay wants to follow merchants across channels and borders

It’s been a long time since checkouts were single defined places. A merchant might take payments at a physical register, on its own website and through an online marketplace, sometimes in more than one country. NEOPAY wants to follow those transactions wherever they happen.

The UAE payments company has entered into an agreement to acquire a 65% controlling stake in noon payments. NEOPAY already runs the acquiring infrastructure that lets merchants accept card payments, along with omnichannel acceptance and a merchant services platform. This new deal would add noon payments’ embedded payments platform, e-commerce gateway and merchant network across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. That would considerably expand both NEOPAY’s digital commerce capabilities and its regional reach.

For merchants, the attraction is a single provider for online and in-store payments, plus faster settlements, data and analytics, and value-added financial services.

“Payments should be simple, reliable, and built for the markets they serve,” said Faraz Khalid, CEO of noon. His counterpart at NEOPAY, Vibhor Mundhada, added: “We have built a strong payments business in the UAE, and our ambition is now to take that capability across the region”. The acquisition, Mundhada added, would “expand our footprint into Saudi Arabia and Egypt” while reinforcing NEOPAY’s position at home.

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NEOPAY is also keen to point out potential payment volume increases. The company says noon payments’ integrations with marketplace sellers and online merchants create high transaction density in some of the region’s fastest-growing digital commerce segments. It also believes control of the business would give it access to those merchant relationships and payment flows, and speed up the rollout of alternative payment methods and installment options.

The combined roadmap targets faster merchant onboarding, better payment performance, tighter fraud controls and embedded financial services. The deal could also strengthen cross-border payments and settlement along key regional commerce corridors.