Sunday, Nov 13, 2016

Dubai: Government revenues from the e-Dirham system reached Dh5.8 billion during the first nine months of 2016, with the number of e-Dirham transactions rising by 20 per cent year-on-year to reach 15 million.

Meanwhile, the number of electronic services that offer an e-Dirham payment option grew by 5.8 per cent between the first quarter of this year and the third quarter. The number of e-Dirham cards issued till the end of September 2016 grew 41 per cent to reach 2.25 million as compared to 1.6 million cards issued till September 2015.

Since the launch of the e-Dirham system by the Ministry of Finance in 2011, the total value of the transactions and collection of revenues has reached around Dh27.5 billion, the Ministry said.

“The performance figures of the e-Dirham system, the national alternative to cash and a pioneering government initiative in the domain of smart payment systems, in the first nine months of this year are in line with the goals of the overall policy of the Ministry of Finance and the expected growth rates for government revenues,” said Saeed Al Yateem, assistant undersecretary of Resources and Budget at the Ministry of Finance.

The e-Dirham system allows consumers to pay by using the e-Dirham digital wallet or by direct debit from a bank account.

Staff Report

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