Emirates airline has flipped the switch on cryptocurrency payments. Customers can now book flights using Bitcoin and other digital assets through a partnership with Crypto.com. The option is live on emirates.com and the Emirates App — but only for UAE residents paying in Emirati Dirham.
How the payment works
At checkout, users select Crypto.com Pay. The transaction is processed in AED, with the crypto converted on the spot. Emirates first floated the idea back in 2022, but it took four years to get the infrastructure in place. The integration runs through Crypto.com's Dubai-licensed entity, which holds a Stored Value Facilities license from the UAE Central Bank — the first virtual asset service provider to get one.
The move lines up with Dubai's Cashless Strategy under the D33 Economic Agenda. The city wants 90% of transactions to be digital by 2026. Emirates is a flagship carrier, so its adoption of crypto payments sends a signal. The airline's Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, said the decision reflects the preferences of younger, digitally fluent customers. He didn't offer a timeline for expanding beyond UAE residents.
Crypto.com's deepening Dubai ties
This isn't Crypto.com's first government-adjacent deal in the emirate. The exchange previously struck an agreement with Dubai Finance to handle payments for government services. Emirates itself had already partnered with Dubai Finance to push digital payments forward. The two relationships put Crypto.com in a strong position as Dubai races toward its cashless targets.
The service is limited to UAE residents for now. Emirates hasn't said whether it will open crypto payments to international customers, but the 2022 announcement suggested broader ambitions. For the moment, the airline is testing the waters with its home market.
