In a groundbreaking deal, Dubai’s Emirates and Dubai Duty Free have jointly signed a preliminary deal — a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading crypto exchange, Crypto.com, to enable crypto payments for booking tickets.
This landmark initiative will be implemented through Crypto.com’s payment service. An official press release by Reuters read that this collaborative initiative is expected to be live next year and intends to attract youngsters, tech-savvy customer segments who prefer digital currencies, according to Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer.
HH Sheikh Ahmed, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, wrote on X about this audacious partnership, stating that the team is exploring innovative digital payment solutions to “enhance the experience for travelers at every touchpoint”, from booking to retail.
.@Emirates, @DubaiDutyFree, and @Cryptocom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enable digital payment solutions for travellers.
— HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (@HHAhmedBinSaeed) July 9, 2025
This partnership agreement represents a promising step towards our shared ambition to transform travel and commerce. By exploring advanced… pic.twitter.com/qS1WATKTWX
The strategic initiative also goes in parallel with Dubai’s D33 Agenda, which aims to establish Dubai as one of the top three global cities to invest, live, and work in.
The UAE has been spearheading crypto payments and Web3 adoption in real estate, government services, and taxi rides. Recently, the government has teamed up with Crypto.com to allow residents to pay government service fees in cryptocurrencies. Tawasul Transport and MBank jointly introduced crypto payments for Tawasul taxi rides in Abu Dhabi using AE Coin (UAE’s stablecoin). Earlier this week, Dubai Land Department signed a deal with Crypto.com to explore digital real estate transactions leveraging blockchain technology.
As the country has a mature, progressive, and regulatory watchdog, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), more crypto companies are establishing their presence and providing their services in Dubai.