What to know:
- Emirates launches Crypto.com Pay for eligible UAE residents booking AED-priced flights.
- Customers need an active Crypto.com account to approve payments through its mobile app.
- Emirates receives dirhams, while supported assets and refund policies are undisclosed.
Emirates launched Crypto.com Pay on July 28, giving eligible UAE residents access to crypto payments for flight bookings. The option works through emirates.com and the Emirates App. Bookings must be priced and settled in AED.
Customers also need an active Crypto.com account to complete each purchase. The rollout completes a partnership announced by both companies in July 2025. Their memorandum of understanding made crypto payments dependent on technical readiness and regulatory approval.
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How Emirates Crypto Payments Work
Crypto.com Pay appears at checkout when an itinerary meets the conditions. Emirates has not opened the service to customers who live outside the UAE. It has also not enabled bookings listed in another currency.
The announcement did not name all the tokens that could be accepted using the payment system. Besides, it did not mention the fees, exchange rate policy, and rules for refund processing. These aspects remain unclear due to this information gap.
Moreover, there is no evidence that Emirates directly accepts a particular cryptocurrency. The transaction should be funded via Crypto.com Pay, with Emirates receiving the dirhams for the service. Emirates clarified that bookings made using this system will be paid for in AED.
The mobile booking process entails switching between the apps of both organizations. After selecting Crypto.com Pay, the user will be redirected to Crypto.com from the Emirates app. Once the transaction is approved from the wallet, it will go back for confirmation and e-ticket receipt.
Why Emirates Targets Digital Travelers
Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim linked the launch to younger, digitally fluent travelers. He pointed out that this choice reflects how such customers prefer to interact and make payments.
“Bringing this initiative to life delivers on our commitment to expanding customer choice in how they pay for travel,” said Adnan Kazim.
Crypto.com said Foris DAX Middle East FZE provides the integration. The entity operates under a Stored Value Facilities license from the Central Bank of the UAE. Crypto.com said in May that it was the first UAE virtual asset service provider to secure that license.
It also enabled a separate deal between Crypto.com and Dubai government charges. The scheme allows settlements in Dirhams or any of the permitted Dirham-stable coins. The system remains independent from the current commercial system provided by Emirates.
What Comes Next for Emirates Crypto Payments
The implementation of this system by Emirates is aligned with the Dubai Cashless Strategy, which aims to provide an integrated system for crypto payments in Dubai. This strategy plans to have 90% cashless payment within both the public and private sectors by the end of 2026.
Both companies did not provide information about the timeline to make their payment system available in other markets, customer groups, or currencies.
They also did not disclose when they will announce supported assets, refund policy, or exchange rate policy. The crypto payments service remains limited to eligible UAE residents booking AED-priced flights online.
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