Nine out of ten consumers in the UAE have changed their payment behaviour amid the Covid-19 crisis, finds a study by Visa.

Visa’s Back to Business study revealed that these changes include opting for only online transactions when possible, contactless payments, and not using much cash.

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Around 90% of the UAE consumers said they would switch to purchasing from stores that accept contactless payments. The comparable figure globally is 63%.

Additionally, 89% of the consumers in the UAE said that they are taking measures to keep their payment cards clean.

The study, which polled SMBs in the US, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brazil as well as the UAE, found that 94% of UAE SMBs have pivoted to keep their business on track since the beginning of the pandemic. This compares with 67% globally.

Around 44% of the UAE businesses have supported contactless payments for the first time. This is more than two times the global average.

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Besides, six in 10 businesses have said that their business has either accepted less cash or stopped accepting cash amid Covid-19. This compares with 33% across the globe.

The key concerns of UAE SMBs in this scenario are data privacy and security, and the safety of their employees.

Visa general manager for the UAE Shahebaz Khan said: “Consumers are putting COVID-19 safety measures at the top of their shopping agenda and favouring businesses that do the same.

“Historically, we have seen behaviour change at the point of sale as a gradual shift over time. But COVID-19 has created an immediate need for safer, more efficient shopping experiences both online and offline as consumers rapidly migrate to digital commerce.

“We want small businesses to know that Visa is here to help them navigate these new consumer needs and gain insights to make their businesses stronger both now and in the long run.”