Emirates launches Crypto.com Pay for UAE residents, converting crypto to AED. The service supports mobile and web payments, backing Dubai's 90% digital transaction target by 2026.
Emirates has started accepting cryptocurrency payments through Crypto.com Pay for flight bookings by UAE residents, the airline said. The service converts digital currencies to dirhams, with Crypto.com handling the settlement and passing AED to the carrier.
Eligible passengers using the Emirates website or mobile app can select Crypto.com Pay at checkout. Mobile users authorize the transaction within the Crypto.com app, while desktop users scan a QR code. The airline receives payment in AED, avoiding direct exposure to crypto volatility.
The payment integration runs through Crypto.com's regulated Dubai entity, licensed under the central bank's stored value facilities framework. The arrangement allows the platform to hold customer funds and process transactions under government supervision.
The launch follows a memorandum signed in July 2025, with technical teams delivering the service within 12 months. It supports Dubai's D33 Economic Agenda target to digitize 90% of financial transactions by late 2026.
Other carriers in the region have taken similar steps. Air Arabia introduced AE Coin, a dirham-pegged stablecoin, for flight reservations in May 2025. Emirates has not said whether it will expand Crypto.com Pay beyond UAE residents.
The partnership gives Crypto.com an entry point into travel payments, a sector Dubai is pushing toward digital formats.
Drafted by a large language model from the source reporting linked above, then screened by automated publishing checks. It is not read by a journalist before publication. Some articles cite our Alpha Score. Verify prices and figures against the original source. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.