🟣 Airline Tickets

Emirates Airline has activated the Crypto.com Pay service for eligible UAE residents as of July 28. Passengers can make payments from their Crypto.com accounts when booking through the Emirates website or app. Pricing and final settlement will continue to be in Dirhams.

Air Arabia will also offer payments via AE Coin through the AEC Wallet starting in May 2025. AE Coin is a stablecoin pegged to the value of the Dirham.

🟣 Shopping at Dubai Duty Free

Since August 5, Dubai Duty Free customers at Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport, and the online store can make purchases using Crypto.com Pay.

This method is applicable for items such as electronics, perfumes, cosmetics, and luxury goods. Payments are made via QR code scanning or online payment options, though Dubai Duty Free receives the final amount in Dirhams.

🟣 Dubai Government Services

Dubai's Department of Finance and Crypto.com signed an agreement in 2025 to enable the payment of government service fees using virtual assets.

Under this model, citizens can use cryptocurrency wallets, but the government entity will receive the funds in Dirhams or a Central Bank-approved stablecoin.

This initiative is part of the Dubai Cashless Strategy, which aims to conduct 90% of public and private transactions cashlessly by the end of 2026.

🟣 Buying Property with Cryptocurrency

Certain real estate transactions can be conducted using cryptocurrency assets, but typically a licensed intermediary must convert the cryptocurrency into Dirhams before payment is made to the seller.

Buyers cannot transfer Bitcoin directly to the Dubai Land Department (DLD) to obtain a title deed.

🟣 Real Estate Tokenization

The Prypco Mint initiative allows for investment in tokenized property ownership starting from approximately AED 2,000. However, transactions within this scheme are conducted solely in Dirhams, and cryptocurrency payments are distinct from property tokenization.

🟣 Important Note

In the UAE, the use of cryptocurrency for payments is primarily facilitated through licensed providers and regulated conversion into Dirhams, while direct acceptance of cryptocurrency by merchants remains limited.