TL;DR:
- Emirates Airline activated the Crypto.com Pay gateway on its web platform and mobile app on July 28, 2026.
- The payment option is strictly limited to UAE residents settling tickets in UAE dirhams (AED).
- Transactions are automatically converted to local currency under a Stored Value Facilities license granted by the Central Bank of the UAE.
It is now possible to book flight tickets with international airline Emirates using the cryptocurrency payments option through the Crypto.com Pay gateway. Launched this Tuesday, July 28, on its website and mobile app, the feature features specific geographical and currency restrictions from day one.
We've officially launched @cryptocom Pay, allowing eligible UAE residents to book using the digital payment solution on our website and app. https://t.co/F7ZiTjUPua pic.twitter.com/XaViajqVms
— Emirates (@emirates) July 28, 2026
The parties involved provided details of the new option, indicating that the payment method is only available to verified residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Additionally, flight fares must mandatorily be quoted in UAE dirhams (AED), currently excluding international users and tourists.
During its last fiscal year, Emirates reported transporting 53.2 million passengers across a global network of 152 cities in 80 countries. According to the report by market, the new tool covers only one of those geographic markets and operates under a single regional monetary standard.
The checkout process on the interface requires verification steps depending on the device used. Mobile users are redirected to the Crypto.com app to authorize payment, while on the desktop version, a QR code must be scanned from a smartphone to complete the transaction.
The operational mechanism does not transfer digital assets directly to the airline’s coffers. Customers pay the amount from their digital wallets, but Emirates receives the final settlement in dirhams or in stablecoins backed by the local currency.
The conversion of funds is executed through the Stored Value Facilities regulatory framework. According to data from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE), this scheme oversees prepaid payment products and digital wallet-based systems.
Regulatory framework and access restrictions for travelers
The regulatory monopoly of this solution lies in the corporate structure of the technical provider. Foris DAX Middle East FZE, Crypto.com’s local subsidiary, obtained the first SVF license issued by the CBUAE for a virtual asset service provider on May 11, 2026.
As of the launch date, no other competing exchange platform holds such banking authorization in the jurisdiction. Market data suggests that any regulated commercial transaction with virtual assets in the country must be processed through Crypto.com’s authorized infrastructure.
This same license covers other institutional projects in the country. The regulation enables similar agreements with local merchants, including the planned integration with Dubai Duty Free and the payment of government fees.
The limitation to local residents contrasts with previous goals set by regional authorities. In May 2025, the Dubai Department of Finance identified international tourism as the largest segment for digital payment adoption, after recording 18.7 million visitors in 2024.
Although the airline has 15 payment gateways integrated into its digital platform, the crypto option stands out as the only one that maintains an eligibility filter tied to the buyer’s residency.
The commercial rollout completed an institutional timeline spanning over a year. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, stressed that the process moved quickly following the signing of the initial memorandum of understanding.
The timeline reflects a longer journey. The preliminary agreement between Emirates and Crypto.com was signed on July 9, 2025, totaling 384 days until the operational launch on July 28, 2026.
Approximately 80% of the elapsed time corresponded to the banking license application phase before the regulatory body. Following the CBUAE approval in May 2026, integration into the airline’s systems took 78 days.
For international travelers to use this option in the future, the CBUAE would need to modify its cross-border settlement guidelines or allow charges in currencies other than the dirham. The local government maintains its official goal to digitize 90% of public and private transactions by the end of 2026.
