EMIRATES TO RECEIVE CRYPTO AS PAYMENT

Here’s the latest: Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding.Pay as a payment option for airline tickets, ancillary services, and even Dubai Duty Free purchases. This preliminary agreement, signed on July 9, 2025, outlines plans to roll out crypto payments next year, targeting younger, tech-focused customers .

🛫 What we know so far

Scope: The MoU covers flight bookings, add-ons, and airport retail via Emirates and Dubai Duty Free .

Timeline: Integration is expected sometime in 2026 (based on "next year" from mid‑2025) .

Strategic aim: Emirates wants to appeal to tech‑savvy travelers, aligning with Dubai’s broader crypto adoption push .

Ecosystem momentum: Dubai has emerged as a crypto hub, backed by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) since 2022, and other local companies (e.g., Air Arabia, Dubai Duty Free, Emarat fuel stations) are already trialing crypto payments .

Why it matters

Mainstream expansion: Your next Emirates ticket booking or duty‑free haul could be paid in crypto—likely Bitcoin, Ethereum, or stablecoins via Crypto Pay.

Strengthened regulations: This move is part of Dubai and the UAE’s push to normalise crypto, underpinned by stronger oversight and digital payment infrastructure.

Regional competition: Emirates isn’t alone—Air Arabia already accepts the UAE dirham–pegged AE Coin stablecoin; gaps to traditional finance are closing rapidly .
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#Cryptocurrency