UAE Airlines Soar into Crypto Era: Emirates, Air Arabia Lead Digital Payment Revolution

August 18th 2025 – The United Arab Emirates is fast-tracking its vision of becoming a global digital hub, with major airlines and travel platforms embracing cryptocurrency payments for flight bookings. Emirates, Air Arabia, and partners like Travala and Alternative Airlines are now allowing passengers to pay with Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), stablecoins, and more—transforming air travel into a crypto-powered experience.

Emirates Joins Forces with Crypto.com

In July 2025, Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Crypto.com to integrate Crypto.com Pay into its booking systems. The rollout, expected to begin in late 2025, will cover tickets, upgrades, and in-flight services. Customers will be able to use over 30 cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, CRO, and stablecoins. Emirates CCO Adnan Kazim said the move targets “a younger, tech-savvy customer segment that prefers digital assets, offering greater flexibility and innovation in transactions.”

Air Arabia Bets on Local Stablecoin

Air Arabia has already gone live with crypto payments, focusing on AE Coin, a stablecoin pegged to the UAE dirham and issued by Mbank. This ensures price stability for customers while enabling fast, blockchain-verified bookings across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. Transactions can be made instantly on the airline’s app or website, giving budget travelers both security and convenience.

Travel Platforms Expand Options

Travel aggregators are also pushing adoption.

• Travala now supports Emirates, Etihad, and others, accepting BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, BNB, and its AVA token.
• Alternative Airlines integrates with 650 carriers globally, offering payments in XRP, Litecoin, Cardano, and Dogecoin.
• Destinia supports crypto bookings across flights, hotels, and rentals through BitPay.

These platforms use blockchain-based processors like Binance Pay, Utrust, and Triple-A to deliver secure, low-fee transactions.

Regulatory and Sustainability Push

This trend is backed by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), established in 2022, which has created a regulatory framework balancing innovation with compliance. By enforcing AML and KYC standards, VARA ensures legitimacy while encouraging growth. Additionally, Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake model and similar eco-friendly networks align with the UAE’s green tourism agenda.

Benefits and Challenges for Travelers

For frequent flyers and digital nomads, paying in crypto means:

• Faster settlements without banking delays
• Transparent transactions on blockchain
• Potential loyalty rewards, including crypto-based upgrades and perks

However, challenges remain. Price volatility may affect booking costs, and not all services are yet crypto-enabled. Experts advise monitoring exchange rates and sticking to regulated wallets.

A New Era for Tourism

Tourism accounts for over 12% of the UAE’s GDP. By embracing crypto, the country aims to attract global investors and tech-savvy tourists, cementing its reputation as a leader in digital adoption. As Emirates readies its 2026 launch and Air Arabia scales AE Coin usage, the UAE’s skies are becoming a testing ground for crypto’s mainstream future.