Around 68 per cent of small retailers in the UAE have apparently seen their revenue increase after adopting digital payments.
That’s according to a new survey by Visa, which found that convenience, security and speed of transactions are some of the key benefits experienced by store owners.
It showed that 63 per cent of the retailers have seen footfalls improve.
Nearly half of cash-only retailers also said they lost a transaction because customers were not carrying enough money at the time of purchase.
Meanwhile, over two-thirds currently accepting digital payments said they could invest in new payment technologies in the near future.
More than 80 per cent of digitally-enabled merchants are also likely to recommend them to other businesses who currently only accept cash.
As many as 208 small retailers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah were interviewed for this study, of which 50 accepted cash payments and 158 accepted digital payments.
Dubai-based TECOM Group has reported a strong financial performance for 2025, driven by rising demand across its commercial, industrial and land portfolios.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Vietnam has officially come into force, with an aim to "unlock investment opportunities in vital sectors such as renewable energy, technology and agriculture".
India's financial markets rallied sharply on Tuesday after a trade deal that slashed US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent, a development that investors said lifts a key overhang over the country's stocks, bonds and currency.
The UAE and the Democratic Republic of Congo have formalised economic ties through signing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on Monday that aims to reduce tariffs and eliminate trade barriers.
The UAE's Ministry of Economy and Tourism has announced the conclusion of the sixth edition of the World’s Coolest Winter campaign, which recorded strong results across all seven emirates.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has led messages welcoming guests to the World Governments Summit 2026, running from February 3 - 5 under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled an autonomous electric transit system that officials say could transform urban travel and help ease congestion across the emirate.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, has announced a new Life and Biodiversity Laboratory, as part of efforts to promote conservation science and protect species from extinction.