Receiving a paycheck in the UAE no longer requires a traditional bank account. du Pay, the digital financial services arm of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has introduced “Salary in the Wallet”, a new feature that allows workers to have their wages deposited directly into a digital wallet.

The service is designed to support the country’s large low-income workforce—particularly employees earning under AED 5,000 a month—many of whom lack access to conventional banking. By providing an alternative to cash payments and bank-dependent transfers, du Pay’s offering aims to advance financial inclusion in the UAE.

How it works

Every du Pay wallet comes with a unique IBAN, enabling employers to send salaries directly into the account. Once the funds arrive, workers can access them immediately via the du Pay mobile app or through a physical debit card linked to the wallet.

The wallet functions as a zero-balance account, meaning there are no minimum deposit requirements or banking paperwork. Users can:

• Make domestic and international transfers
• Pay utility and telecom bills
• Recharge mobile phones
• Spend online and in stores with the du Pay debit card

This makes the wallet not just a payment solution but a complete financial access point for workers who would otherwise operate outside the formal banking system.

Benefits for workers and employers

For employees, the biggest advantage is simple access. Funds are available digitally, eliminating the risks of carrying cash while also providing a secure platform regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. For employers, du Pay offers faster payroll disbursement, less reliance on paper-based processes, and an easier way to comply with salary transfer regulations.

du Pay says the system is also scalable, with upcoming features aimed at enabling companies to run their entire payroll digitally.

Backed by regulation and infrastructure

Unlike many fintech startups experimenting in the same space, du Pay operates under a strong regulatory framework. The service is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE and supported by du’s existing telecommunications infrastructure. This backing ensures compliance, security, and local support for both employers and employees.

Building toward UAE’s digital economy goals

The launch of Salary in the Wallet aligns with the UAE’s wider strategy to create a cashless, digitally inclusive financial ecosystem. By targeting unbanked and underbanked segments of the workforce, du Pay is positioning itself as a critical bridge between workers, employers, and the national goal of universal digital financial access.

For many in the UAE’s labor force, the change could be transformative. Instead of relying on cash-in-hand wages or restricted remittance options, workers now gain access to the same financial tools as banked customers—without the traditional barriers of account opening and maintenance fees.