Dubai’s Airline Giant Emirates Signs Deal to Accept Bitcoin and Crypto Payments

Emirates Airline, one of the world’s leading carriers, has entered into a partnership with Crypto.com to accept Bitcoin and crypto payments for flights. This move will enable travelers to use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies when booking flights with Emirates. Notably, the integration will roll out by late 2025. The agreement was signed in the presence of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO and Chairman of Emirates Airline & Group. Catering to a New Generation of Crypto-Savvy Travelers Emirates’ Deputy President and CCO, Adnan Kazim, stated that the partnership reflects the airline’s mission to meet the preferences of younger, digital-first travelers who increasingly favor crypto payments. With this initiative, Emirates aims to offer customers greater flexibility, faster transactions, and a broader range of payment options. It also aligns with Dubai’s vision of becoming a global leader in financial innovation. How Crypto Payments Will Work The initial phase of the integration will focus on technical readiness and regulatory compliance. Once launched, customers will be able to pay using supported cryptocurrencies through Crypto.com Pay, which will instantly convert crypto payments into UAE Dirhams (AED) at the point of sale. Importantly, Emirates will not hold crypto on its balance sheet. The rollout may begin with a pilot program on select routes or in specific regions before expanding globally. Emirates and Crypto.com to Launch Joint Promotions To support the adoption of the new payment option, Emirates and Crypto.com plan to launch co-branded marketing campaigns to raise awareness and encourage customers to use crypto when booking flights. The collaboration is also part of Crypto.com’s broader strategy to embed cryptocurrency into the global travel ecosystem. It aims to offer seamless, secure, and compliant crypto experiences across air travel, retail, and hospitality sectors. Dubai’s Crypto Adoption Continues to Accelerate This partnership is the latest indication of Dubai’s growing role as a hub for crypto and blockchain innovation. Notably, from real estate tokenization to stablecoin-based transactions, the UAE has already embraced digital assets across multiple sectors. Dubai’s DMCC free zone now hosts over 650 crypto firms, highlighting the region’s rapid growth in the digital asset space. Combined with recent approvals , such as Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin for use in the DIFC, Dubai is steadily building one of the world’s most advanced digital finance ecosystems. Ultimately, with this latest move by Emirates, crypto adoption in aviation is becoming more widespread. Notably, other local airlines, such as Air Arabia, have already begun accepting stablecoins for bookings. Soon, the ability to book flights with Bitcoin or other crypto assets could become a mainstream option.