UAE Airline Emirates Embraces Crypto with New Payment Partnership

Last Updated on July 9, 2025

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Key Takeaways:

  • Emirates will integrate Crypto.com Pay by late 2025, enabling crypto payments with instant AED conversion and no crypto held on balance sheets.
  • The partnership supports Dubai’s push to lead in blockchain adoption, following broader crypto acceptance across real estate and telecom sectors.
  • Promotional campaigns and pilot launches are planned to encourage user adoption, with a phased rollout strategy under regulatory oversight.

Emirates has signed a memorandum of understanding with Crypto.com to integrate Crypto.com Pay into its payment system, enabling cryptocurrency payments by late 2025.

The agreement supports Dubai’s ambition to become a global blockchain and digital asset hub.

Emirates will not hold crypto directly – payments will be converted instantly into UAE dirhams (AED) at real-time exchange rates.

The rollout will begin with technical setup, regulatory compliance, and user experience planning, potentially starting on select routes before a broader launch.

Emirates and Crypto.com also plan joint promotional campaigns to boost awareness and adoption.

This move follows a trend of rising crypto use in Dubai, where industries like real estate and telecoms are increasingly accepting digital assets.

Tether recently partnered with Reelly Tech for stablecoin-based property purchases, while Ripple’s RLUSD was approved by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

Over 600 blockchain firms now operate in Dubai’s DMCC.

In May alone, the city recorded $18.2 billion in real estate transactions, boosted by interest in tokenized property.

Regulatory updates are also encouraging growth in virtual asset services and tokenization across key sectors.

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