Dubai’s flagship carrier took another step in its digital-finance strategy on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, announcing that customers booking on emirates.com or the Emirates App can now settle fares in cryptocurrencies via the regulated exchange Crypto.com Pay. The option is initially available to UAE residents purchasing tickets denominated in dirhams, with plans to roll out to additional markets once technical and regulatory hurdles are cleared. During a media call, Emirates’ chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim said the move supports the Dubai Cashless Strategy under the D33 economic agenda, which targets 90 % digital transactions across public and private sectors by end-2026. Travellers selecting Crypto.com Pay at checkout scan a QR code or are redirected in-app, approve the transaction from their crypto wallet and receive e-tickets instantly. Supported currencies at launch include Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDC. For corporate mobility managers, the news is noteworthy because many expatriate employees and contractors are compensated in, or hold savings in, digital assets. The ability to pay airfares directly in crypto removes FX spreads and simplifies reimbursement workflows for companies experimenting with Web3 payroll. Emirates confirmed that refunds, voluntary changes and ancillary purchases will continue to be processed in dirhams, but a crypto refund path is under review. The airline believes the integration will also help attract tech-savvy tourists and remote workers, reinforcing Dubai’s positioning as a global crypto hub following the Central Bank’s Stored-Value Facilities licence issued to Crypto.com earlier this year. Cyber-security safeguards include real-time risk scoring and compliance with VARA’s virtual-asset regulations. Industry analysts expect Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia to follow suit within 12 months, particularly for ancillaries such as lounge passes and carbon offsets where micro-payments can benefit from blockchain settlement efficiencies.
Source: Khaleej Times
