UAE employees can now receive salaries in digital wallets as du launches new platform
Employees in the UAE can now receive their salaries directly through digital wallets, marking another step forward in the country’s push toward financial digitisation.
On Monday, du, the UAE’s second telecom operator, unveiled its new ‘Salary in the Digital Wallet’ (SITW) feature, enabling workers to have their wages deposited directly into their du Pay digital wallets.
Through the multilingual platform, users can transfer money globally, pay bills, recharge telco accounts, order debit cards, and make card payments, giving residents a seamless way to manage their finances.
Growing adoption among expats
The move comes as digital wallets see exponential growth in the UAE, particularly among expatriates from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and other Asian countries, who increasingly rely on mobile wallets for remittances. Currently, popular platforms in the UAE include Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay.
Financial access for low-income workers
To receive salaries, du Pay customers are assigned a unique IBAN, giving them instant access to funds through the mobile app and a physical du Pay card for cashless transactions. Importantly, users can open a zero-balance account, making the service especially valuable for residents earning less than Dh5,000 per month, who often face limited or no access to traditional banking services.
Expanding digital wallet market
According to Research and Markets, the UAE’s prepaid card and digital wallet market is forecast to grow by 12.7% annually, reaching $8.28 billion (Dh30.4 billion) in 2025, and is expected to hit $12.43 billion (Dh45.6 billion) by 2029. This surge is driven by wider fintech adoption, government-led digitalisation initiatives, and enhanced payment infrastructure.
“The shift towards digital payment solutions is driven by a growing fintech ecosystem and enhanced payment infrastructure, while the rise of digital wallets is expected to further accelerate financial inclusion,” the report added.
