Emirates Integrates Crypto Payments for UAE Travelers via Crypto.com
The Dubai carrier enables UAE residents to book flights with digital currency settled in dirhams.
Emirates has integrated Crypto.com Pay into its mobile app and official website, allowing eligible residents across the United Arab Emirates to purchase flight tickets using digital assets.
Under the payment setup, the Dubai-flagged airline does not hold cryptocurrencies directly on its balance sheet. Instead, Crypto.com acts as an intermediary processor, instantly converting the digital tokens into UAE dirhams prior to final settlement with the carrier.
Desktop users complete transactions by scanning a QR code at checkout, while mobile shoppers are automatically redirected to the Crypto.com application to confirm payments from their digital wallets.
Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, noted that the feature caters to an increasingly mobile-first demographic that manages financial decisions and travel arrangements primarily through smartphones.
The rollout stems from a commercial partnership formed in July 2025, supported by regulatory milestones achieved by Crypto.com earlier that year. The exchange secured a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license from the Central Bank of the UAE, a regulatory framework enabling non-banking institutions to hold customer funds, operate digital wallets, and process payments under official supervision.
SVF licensing framework permits merchants to receive transactions in fiat currency or regulated, dirham-backed stablecoins while allowing consumers to fund payments via crypto holdings. At the time of launch, Crypto.com recorded approximately $686 million in global 24-hour spot trading volume.
The adoption of crypto checkout systems by major aviation operators reflects a broader effort within the Middle East to build out Web3 infrastructure and integrate digital assets into consumer commerce. Air Arabia previously became the region’s first carrier to accept digital currencies when it integrated AE Coin, a dirham-backed stablecoin, for ticket purchases in May 2025. Similar initiatives have emerged internationally, including Bhutan’s government-backed integration of Binance Pay and DK Bank for inbound tourism transactions.
