Emirates has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Crypto.com, aiming to integrate the Crypto.com Pay platform into its payment systems by late 2025. The deal marks a significant step toward offering customers more flexible and modern payment options, including cryptocurrency.
The agreement was signed in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline & Group. Representing the parties were Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer, and Mohammed Al Hakim, president of Crypto.com’s UAE operations.
Kazim emphasized that the partnership supports Dubai’s vision for financial innovation while enhancing customer convenience. In addition to payments, Emirates and Crypto.com plan joint campaigns to promote adoption once the system is operational.
According to a Crypto.com spokesperson, the integration is targeted for Q4 2025, starting with backend preparations like compliance, technical setup, and customer experience planning. The companies are also evaluating a phased rollout, which may start on selected routes or markets before going global.
Crypto transactions will be instantly converted to UAE dirhams (AED) using real-time exchange rates. Emirates will not hold crypto directly, ensuring compliance and avoiding currency risk.
Crypto.com is also exploring further partnerships in the airline and travel sectors, aiming to create a streamlined, secure crypto payments layer across travel, retail, and hospitality industries.
Dubai Accelerates Crypto Adoption
This collaboration aligns with Dubai’s broader goal of becoming a global crypto hub. The city has already seen major adoption in sectors like real estate and telecoms, supported by a clear regulatory framework.
Recent examples include Tether’s partnership with UAE-based Reelly Tech to facilitate property purchases with USDT, and regulatory approval of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
Dubai’s crypto-friendly zones like DMCC and DIFC now host over 600 blockchain firms, reinforcing the city’s status in the digital asset space.
Real Estate Boom Driven by Tokenization
Dubai’s real estate market also hit new records in May, reaching AED 66.8 billion ($18.2 billion) in sales across nearly 19,000 transactions—a 44% increase year-on-year. The surge is partly driven by growing interest in tokenized real estate assets.
Key developments included a $3 billion tokenization deal between MultiBank Group, developer MAG, and blockchain firm Mavryk. Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority also updated its RWA tokenization rules, providing clarity for asset issuers and exchanges.
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