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Emirates announced the launch of Crypto.com Pay on its digital platforms, allowing eligible UAE residents to select the option at checkout for bookings priced and settled in dirhams. The carrier said in a statement that transactions are processed securely while meeting all UAE regulatory standards for digital payments. Customers must hold a Crypto.com account to use the feature, which became available after a memorandum of understanding the two parties signed in July 2025.
The announcement outlined distinct processes depending on the booking device. On the Emirates App, users are redirected to the Crypto.com application to complete payment from their wallet and then returned to receive confirmation and the e-ticket. Desktop bookings on emirates.com require selecting the payment method, scanning a displayed QR code with the Crypto.com app and approving the transaction before the booking is finalised.
Crypto.com’s Dubai entity powers the new payment integration, according to the statement. The company was the first virtual asset service provider granted a stored value facilities licence by the Central Bank of the UAE. Operations remain fully within the scope of that regulatory framework.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said in the statement, “Bringing this initiative to life delivers on our commitment to expanding customer choice in how they pay for travel. It also reflects the rapidly evolving preferences of a younger, digitally fluent generation who manage their money and plan their journeys primarily from their phones and they expect the airlines they fly with to keep pace.” Kazim added that completing the project within a year of the initial agreement credits the teams involved and the UAE’s fintech-friendly environment.
Eric Anziani, President and Chief Operating Officer at Crypto.com, said in the statement, “Partnering with Emirates is a milestone for Crypto.com and our Pay feature, which is renowned for its ease of use and seamless integration.” Anziani noted that the project demonstrates the UAE’s forward-thinking approach to innovation in digital payments.
The launch supports Dubai’s Cashless Strategy under the D33 Economic Agenda, the statement indicated. That agenda sets a target of making 90 percent of all financial transactions across government and private sectors digital by the end of 2026. The move also extends Emirates’ prior partnership with Dubai Finance on digital payments and Crypto.com’s separate agreement to handle government services.
