Venmo and Cash App are two of the most popular payment apps in the United States. If you live in the UAE, are moving there or are just visiting, you may wonder whether you can use them. In this article we explain whether Venmo and Cash App work in the UAE in 2026 and which local and international apps you can use instead.
Are Venmo and Cash App available in the UAE?
No. As of 2026, Venmo and Cash App are not available in the UAE. Both are built for US residents: to open an account you need a US phone number and US identity details, such as a Social Security number, and a US bank account or card.
Venmo eligibility requirements. Source: Venmo.
Cash App is not offered in the UAE app stores, so you will see a message that the app is not available in your country:
Cash App in the UAE Play Store. Source: Google Play.
US residents visiting the UAE: if you already have a Venmo or Cash App account, you may still be able to open the app while travelling, but both services are designed for payments in the US and in US dollars, so they are not a practical way to pay locally.
Alternatives to Venmo and Cash App in the UAE
The UAE has many digital wallets, from local apps licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE to international wallets that work with your bank card.
| Local wallets | International wallets |
|---|---|
| Careem Pay | Apple Pay |
| e& money | Google Pay |
| Payit | Samsung Wallet |
| botim money (formerly PayBy) | PayPal |
| Ziina | Wise |
| Klip |
Local digital wallets in the UAE
Careem Pay: the wallet inside the Careem super app, used for rides, food and grocery delivery. You can pay, split bills and send money to other users. It works with Magnati for payment processing.
e& money: formerly Etisalat Wallet, the wallet of the telecom group e&, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE. It offers a prepaid card, bill payments, mobile recharge and local and international transfers, even without a bank account.
Payit: a free wallet powered by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), with no minimum balance. You can pay in shops and online, split bills, pay bills and send money, and get the Letsgo Payit prepaid Visa card.
botim money: the financial services of the Botim calling app, run by Astra Tech. PayBy was rebranded as botim money and lets you send money to contacts, pay bills and make remittances.
Ziina: a UAE app to send and receive money between friends and get paid by others, the closest local equivalent to Venmo.
Klip: a digital wallet set up by Emirates Digital Wallet LLC together with 15 UAE national banks, to pay and send money without cash.
Most local wallets need a UAE mobile number and, for full features, an Emirates ID.
International wallets that work in the UAE
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Wallet: add a card from a UAE bank that supports them and pay contactless in shops and online. Most large UAE banks support these wallets. Tourists can often use them with their home bank cards too.
PayPal: available in the UAE for online payments and sending money to other PayPal users, in the UAE and abroad. Fees depend on the type of payment and the currency.
Wise: an account to hold and convert money in many currencies at the mid-market exchange rate, with a transparent fee. It is useful for expats who send money abroad or get paid in other currencies, and you can use the Wise card when travelling.
FAQs
Can I use Venmo in Dubai?
Not as a local payment app. Venmo only works for US residents and US payments, and you cannot open an account from the UAE.
What is the UAE equivalent of Venmo?
For sending money to friends, the closest options are Ziina, Careem Pay, e& money, Payit and botim money.
Is Cash App available in the UAE?
No. Cash App is not offered in the UAE and requires US residency.
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