Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free plan to implement cryptocurrency payments with support from Crypto.com. The initiatives aim to transform the customer experience in travel and retail.
Emirates Airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding with crypto exchange Crypto.com, paving the way for future integration of Crypto.com Pay’s crypto payment service.
Around the same time, Dubai Duty Free announced its collaboration with Crypto.com, planning to introduce crypto payments at physical retail locations as well as on its online trading platform.
Both initiatives are scheduled to be rolled out in 2026.
Emirates Airline is one of the world’s largest airlines, headquartered in Dubai. Dubai Duty Free is a leading duty-free operator servicing, among others, Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport. Both companies are government-owned by the Dubai administration.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President, stated that the partnership with Crypto.com is designed to meet the demands of the digital generation and aligns with Dubai’s strategic push towards financial innovation. Additionally, the integration of Crypto.com Pay aims to ensure maximum security and regulatory compliance.
Eric Anziani, President and COO of Crypto.com, emphasized that collaborations with leading regional companies like Emirates are key to popularizing digital assets in everyday life. For example, the introduction of crypto payments in duty-free shops will provide travelers with greater convenience, modernizing the airport shopping experience.
Both initiatives come amid the UAE’s active promotion as a global crypto hub. Thanks to an advanced regulatory framework and government support, cryptocurrencies in the UAE are already used in real estate transactions, retail sales of petroleum products, payment of government services, and other sectors.
