Emirates Launches Crypto.com Pay for Flight Bookings as Dubai Advances Cashless Strategy
Emirates has launched Crypto.com Pay on its website and mobile app, allowing eligible UAE residents to pay for flights priced and settled in Emirati dirhams. The rollout lets customers with a Crypto.com account select the payment service at checkout on emirates.com or through the Emirates App. Transactions are processed via Crypto.com’s Dubai entity under UAE regulatory requirements.
The launch activates a partnership first announced in July 2025, when Emirates and Crypto.com signed a memorandum of understanding to explore adding the payment service. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer, said the integration expands payment choice for travelers who manage finances and travel plans through smartphones. He noted that moving from agreement to a live product in under a year reflects the work of both companies and the UAE’s regulatory environment.
The service is currently limited to eligible UAE residents booking flights denominated in dirhams. Emirates did not announce availability for international customers or other currencies.
How Crypto.com Pay works: Customers booking through the Emirates App are redirected to the Crypto.com app, approve the payment, and return to the Emirates App for confirmation. Desktop users select Crypto.com Pay, scan a QR code, and approve via the Crypto.com app. Emirates then issues the booking confirmation and e-ticket.
The payment infrastructure is provided by Crypto.com’s Dubai entity, which the companies say is the first virtual asset service provider to receive a Stored Value Facilities license from the Central Bank of the UAE. Eric Anziani, president and COO of Crypto.com, called the integration a milestone and said it reflects the UAE’s approach to financial innovation.
The launch supports Dubai’s Cashless Strategy, part of the D33 Economic Agenda, targeting 90% of transactions across public and private sectors to be digital by end of 2026. Emirates has also partnered with Dubai Finance to advance digital payments.
For Emirates, the addition provides another checkout option without replacing conventional cards. It reduces friction for customers who already hold funds in the Crypto.com ecosystem. The development places a regulated crypto-linked payment service inside the booking systems of a major international carrier, with the UAE-only structure showing how such integrations can be introduced gradually within licensing, residency, and currency requirements.
Emirates began operations in 1985 and now serves over 140 destinations. Whether the service expands beyond the UAE will depend on regulatory approvals, currency settlement, and customer demand. For now, the launch gives UAE travelers a regulated digital payment route as Dubai approaches its 2026 cashless transaction target.