Dubai Taxi Eyes Crypto Gateway Amid UAE Stablecoin Push

Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) is preparing to introduce cryptocurrency as a payment option for customers, signaling another step in the UAE’s accelerating digital asset adoption.

Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, CEO of Dubai Taxi Company, told Khaleej Times that the company is actively exploring crypto payments in coordination with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

“The idea is to give the customer different choices when it comes to the payment gateways. Of course, we’re going to explore a cryptocurrency payment solution with our regulator, the RTA. We can see it very soon as one of the payment gateways that we provide for our customers,” Alfalasi said.

While no official launch date was disclosed, the CEO indicated that implementation could happen “very soon,” positioning DTC among the first public mobility operators in the region to integrate digital asset payments directly into its fleet services.

UAE’s Growing Stablecoin Ecosystem

Dubai Taxi’s move comes amid rapid institutional adoption of regulated digital currencies across the UAE.

Earlier this month, AE Coin was recognized as a payment method for federal government authorities, marking the first time in the region that a regulator-licensed stablecoin has been authorized for nationwide government fee payments. The AED-backed payment token is issued via AEC Wallet and powered by Al Maryah Community Bank, under the oversight of the Central Bank of the UAE.

In November 2025, the Central Bank also approved Zand to launch Zand AED, the country’s first regulated, multi-chain AED-backed stablecoin on public blockchains, further strengthening the regulatory framework for digital dirham-denominated tokens.

Additionally, the Central Bank has recently approved DDSC, the UAE dirham-backed stablecoin issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) to go live.

Against this backdrop, Dubai Taxi’s exploration of crypto payments reflects broader national policy momentum aimed at integrating blockchain-based financial infrastructure into everyday services.

Autonomous Taxis to Launch Next Month

Beyond digital payments, Dubai Taxi is also accelerating its smart mobility ambitions. The company reported a seven percent year-on-year increase in net profit to Dh356.1 million in 2025.

Alfalasi confirmed that autonomous taxis will be rolled out next month, with an initial target of deploying between 50 and 100 vehicles this year.

Earlier this month, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the official operations of fully autonomous RT6 taxi vehicles developed by Baidu Apollo Go, integrating driverless mobility into Dubai’s broader smart city ecosystem.

Regional Expansion Plans

Dubai Taxi is also expanding beyond its core market. The company plans to broaden its partnership with Bolt into Abu Dhabi and is targeting additional cities including Ajman and Sharjah this year.

In parallel, DTC intends to add 2,000 bikes to its fleet, creating a similar number of employment opportunities as it scales operations across the UAE.

Dubai Taxi’s potential integration of cryptocurrency payments signals the growing normalization of blockchain-based financial tools in mainstream sectors. As regulated AED-backed stablecoins gain institutional traction, consumer-facing services such as mobility may soon become one of the most visible real-world applications of digital assets in the Emirates.