Emirates launched support for Crypto.com Pay on its website and mobile app, allowing customers to pay for flight bookings with cryptocurrency.
Emirates, the UAE’s largest airline, announced the rollout of the Crypto.com Pay payment service across its digital platforms. Crypto.com account holders can now pay for flight bookings through emirates.com and the Emirates mobile app.
The launch followed a partnership between Emirates and cryptocurrency platform Crypto.com announced in July 2025. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to integrate Crypto.com Pay into the airline’s payment infrastructure. The service entered commercial operation one year later.
At this stage, the feature is available to registered Crypto.com users who are UAE residents. Booking prices continue to be displayed in UAE dirhams (AED), but customers can complete payments through Crypto.com Pay using cryptocurrencies supported by the service. Transactions are processed in compliance with the country’s regulatory requirements.
The payment process depends on the platform used^
- When booking through the Emirates mobile app, customers are redirected to the Crypto.com app, where they authorize the payment from their crypto wallet. They are then automatically returned to the Emirates app to receive their booking confirmation and e-ticket.
- When booking through emirates.com, customers select Crypto.com Pay at checkout, scan the QR code displayed on the payment page using the Crypto.com app, and approve the transaction. Once the payment is completed, the booking is confirmed, and the e-ticket is issued.
The technical integration is provided by Crypto.com’s Dubai entity. The company recently became the first virtual asset service provider (VASP) to receive a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license from the Central Bank of the UAE, allowing it to operate under the country’s regulatory framework for electronic payment services.
Earlier, Emirates Petroleum Company P.J.S.C. (Emarat) began accepting cryptocurrency payments at its gas stations across the UAE through its partnership with Crypto.com.
These cryptocurrency payment initiatives are part of the Dubai Cashless Strategy, implemented under the D33 economic agenda to advance the digital economy and strengthen the country’s position as a global cryptocurrency hub. Supported by an evolving regulatory framework and government backing, cryptocurrency is already used in the UAE for real estate transactions, government service payments, and other use cases.
