Emirates Launches Crypto.com Pay for Flight Bookings as Dubai Advances Cashless Strategy

Emirates has launched Crypto.com Pay on its website and mobile app, giving eligible UAE residents a new way to pay for flights priced and settled in Emirati dirhams.

The rollout allows customers with a Crypto.com account to select the payment service during checkout on emirates.com or through the Emirates App. Transactions are processed through Crypto.com’s Dubai entity under UAE regulatory requirements.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer, said the integration expands payment choice while responding to travelers who increasingly manage their finances and travel plans through smartphones.

“Bringing this initiative to life delivers on our commitment to expanding customer choice in how they pay for travel,” Kazim remarked. He added that moving from an agreement to a live product in less than a year reflected the work of both companies and the UAE’s regulatory environment.

The service is currently limited to eligible UAE residents making bookings denominated and settled in Emirati dirhams. Emirates did not announce availability for international customers, foreign currencies, or markets outside the UAE.

Customers booking through the Emirates App are redirected to the Crypto.com app, where they approve the payment from their wallet. After authorization, they return to the Emirates App to receive their booking confirmation and electronic ticket.

Desktop customers select Crypto.com Pay at checkout, scan a QR code displayed on emirates.com, and approve the transaction through the Crypto.com app. Emirates then issues the booking confirmation and ticket on the website.

The payment infrastructure is provided by Crypto.com’s Dubai entity, which the companies said was the first virtual asset service provider to receive a Stored Value Facilities license from the Central Bank of the UAE. The entity operates within the central bank’s Stored Value Facilities framework.

Emirates has also signed a partnership with Dubai Finance to advance digital payments. Crypto.com separately partnered with Dubai Finance to enable digital payments for government services, placing the airline integration within a broader effort to expand regulated electronic payment channels.

For Emirates, the addition provides another checkout option without replacing conventional cards or other established payment methods. It may also reduce friction for digitally focused customers who already hold funds inside the Crypto.com ecosystem and prefer to complete purchases through a mobile wallet.

Emirates began operations in October 1985 with flights from Dubai to Karachi and Mumbai. It has since developed into a global airline serving more than 140 destinations, making its adoption of Crypto.com Pay one of the payment provider’s most prominent travel-sector integrations.

Whether the service expands beyond UAE residents will depend on regulatory approvals, currency settlement arrangements, and Emirates’ assessment of customer demand. For now, the launch gives travelers in the UAE a regulated digital payment route as Dubai approaches its 2026 cashless transaction target.