On July 28, Emirates unveiled a new payment option allowing eligible UAE residents to book flights using Crypto.com Pay. This feature is available on both emirates.com and the Emirates app but only applies to bookings priced and settled in AED.
To make a purchase, customers must have an active Crypto.com account. During checkout, if the itinerary meets the requirements, Crypto.com Pay appears as a payment option. After selecting it, users are redirected to the Crypto.com app to approve the transaction. Once confirmed, the booking is finalized and the e-ticket issued. Importantly, Emirates does not accept cryptocurrency directly but receives payments in UAE dirhams via Crypto.com Pay’s conversion process.
Technical and Regulatory Foundations Behind the Launch
This rollout follows a memorandum of understanding between Emirates and Crypto.com announced in July 2025. The partnership took shape after satisfying technical readiness and regulatory approval from the Central Bank of the UAE. Crypto.com’s integration was handled by Foris DAX Middle East FZE, a licensed Stored Value Facilities operator in the UAE.
Details regarding which cryptocurrencies are accepted, associated fees, exchange rate policies, and refund rules remain unspecified. also the service is currently limited to UAE residents, and bookings in other currencies are not supported.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the move as catering to younger, digitally savvy travelers who prefer more payment choices. He emphasized that expanding payment options is part of Emirates’ commitment to improving customer experience.
material is for informational purposes and not financial advice
