Zomato offers cashless option in Dubai

India's popular restaurant search application provider Zomato Tuesday launched a cashless feature to allow diners pay at about 120 restaurants or eateries in Dubai through its app on smartphones.

"The region's leading bank Emirates NBD is partnering with us to enable diners settle bills at restaurants using our app on smartphones instead of paying cash or swiping credit/debit cards," the company said in a statement from Dubai.

The final bill amount is sent directly to the app on the diner's smartphone for payment through a registered card.

"Credit card usage is extensive in Dubai, making it a market to launch a consumer feature like cashless option, as our focus has been on making dining experiences convenient to users. We will take the feature to other markets in the near future," Zomato co-founder Pankaj Chaddah said on the occasion.

Diners with the cashless option will get 10 percent discount on first transaction, while the first 500 Emirates bank credit card holders will get up to 100 Dirham ($27) in cash back and all its cardholders will have 10 percent cash back till this month.

"Our cashless system will store users' credit card in an authorised secure vault, allowing them to pay at restaurants using our app, which provides a restaurant access to the facility without using a card-reader machine," Zomato chief executive in UAE Rohin Thampi said in the statement.

Emirates bank general manager for retail banking and wealth management Suvo Sarkar said the partnership with Zomato complimented its efforts to offer a rewarding dining experience to their customers.

"Incentives offered through the partnership with Zomato are a commitment to provide privileges through our Bon Appetit dining programme," Sarkar said.

The Gurgaon-based Zomato says it provides information on a million restaurants across 22 countries worldwide and its content features scanned menus, and photos sourced by its team across cities. "Our users can rate and review restaurant and create a network of foodies for personalised recommendations," Thampi added.