Emirates airline signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Crypto.com to introduce Crypto.com Pay into its systems. The Emirates Crypto.com partnership was announced on July 9. The goal is to enable Emirates crypto payments for ticket bookings and services.
The agreement was signed in Dubai in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. He serves as chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline & Group. Adnan Kazim, deputy president and chief commercial officer at Emirates, and Mohammed Al Hakim, president of Crypto.com UAE, signed the document.
Kazim said the deal matches Dubai’s goals in financial technology and gives customers more flexibility in how they pay. According to Emirates, Crypto.com Pay will be added to the Emirates payment infrastructure by the end of 2025.
Emirates Q4 Crypto Integration Will Start With Technical Rollout
A Crypto.com UAE spokesperson confirmed that Emirates crypto payments will begin rolling out in the fourth quarter of 2025. The first stage includes technical readiness, compliance alignment, and customer experience setup.
The company stated that the launch may begin with certain markets, routes, or Emirates regions. A broader rollout will follow based on pilot results. Emirates will not hold digital assets. Payments made in cryptocurrency will convert instantly to UAE dirhams (AED) during checkout.
The company confirmed,
“Emirates will not hold any cryptocurrency on its books; settlements will occur in AED, ensuring compliance and minimal FX exposure.”
Rates will be updated in real-time at the moment of each transaction.
This Emirates Crypto.com partnership is part of a wider Crypto.com travel strategy. The firm is also exploring more deals in the airline, retail, and hospitality industries.
Dubai Crypto Regulation Supports Airline Blockchain Shift
The Emirates Crypto.com partnership fits into the UAE’s broader shift toward blockchain-based financial services. Dubai aims to be a major blockchain hub, with regulations that support crypto payments and asset tokenization.
Earlier in 2025, Tether and UAE-based Reelly Tech launched a deal allowing property buyers to pay with the USDt stablecoin. Buyers can work with 30,000 agents under the agreement.
In June, Dubai’s Financial Services Authority gave approval for Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. This approval means companies in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) can use RLUSD for various digital services.
The Dubai crypto regulation landscape has also attracted over 600 crypto companies to the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre free zone. New businesses are also entering the DIFC and One Central, two key areas for financial firms.
Crypto.com Expands Travel Services With Airline Payment Deals
The Crypto.com travel strategy includes expanding crypto payments into the airline sector. The company has already worked with Dubai’s government to support digital asset payments for official services.
Now, with the Emirates Crypto.com partnership, the company is moving deeper into the travel space. Once active, Crypto.com Pay will let users pay for flights using supported cryptocurrencies, which will convert to AED immediately.
The rollout details are still under review. The spokesperson said they are deciding whether to start in regional markets or go global. A test phase is expected before the full launch.
The signing ceremony featured Mohammed Al Hakim, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Adnan Kazim, and Michael Doersam. Emirates shared the photo from the event on its official channels.
Dubai Tokenized Real Estate Market Hits $18.2 Billion in Sales
Dubai’s real estate sector continues to use crypto and tokenized assets. In May, real estate sales reached 66.8 billion dirhams (about $18.2 billion), covering 18,700 deals. This marked a 44% year-on-year growth in value.
The growth came alongside major Dubai tokenized real estate initiatives. These included a $3 billion deal involving MultiBank Group, property developer MAG, and blockchain company Mavryk.
Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority also updated its guidance in May. The new rules cover real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and allow regulated trading of tokenized properties. Lawyer Irina Heaver said the update gives companies a clear path for launching and managing tokenized real estate.
Emirates Crypto Payments Part of Wider UAE Digital Push
The Emirates crypto payments rollout is one of several steps in Dubai’s digital asset adoption. The Emirates Crypto.com partnership supports this broader movement, backed by regulatory clarity and increasing adoption across sectors.
With support from Dubai crypto regulation, local projects continue to expand. The city’s infrastructure now supports digital payments in transport, real estate, and public services.
Crypto.com also confirmed that the Crypto.com travel strategy includes talks with other airlines and travel-related businesses. The firm aims to integrate crypto payments across several global platforms.
By late 2025, Crypto.com Pay will be live within Emirates payment infrastructure, with real-time conversion to AED and direct settlement, following regulatory compliance standards set by the UAE.
