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Dubai Duty Free adds Crypto.com Pay for UAE residents at Dubai International and Al Maktoum airports, settling in AED under the Central Bank’s SVF licence.
Dubai Duty Free has begun accepting Crypto.com Pay at its Dubai International and Al Maktoum airport stores and online, marking the Middle East’s first regulated crypto payment rollout for a travel retailer【1】. The move supports Dubai’s cashless‑by‑2026 agenda and gives eligible UAE residents a new checkout option that settles instantly in dirhams.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Service | Crypto.com Pay launch |
| Locations | Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum Airport, online store |
| Settlement | UAE Dirhams (AED) via Crypto.com’s regulated infrastructure |
| Licence | First UAE VASP with Central Bank Stored Value Facilities licence |
The rollout follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2025 between Dubai Duty Free and Crypto.com, and it operates under the Central Bank of the UAE’s regulatory framework【2】. Customers scan a QR code generated at checkout with the Crypto.com app, authorize the payment, and the transaction is confirmed instantly in the retailer’s point‑of‑sale system. The same QR‑code flow applies to online and mobile purchases, ensuring a seamless experience across all channels.
Dubai Duty Free’s managing director Ramesh Cidambi said the launch “reinforces our commitment to providing customers with greater convenience … while supporting Dubai’s vision of becoming a global leader in digital commerce”【1】. Crypto.com President and COO Eric Anziani highlighted that the partnership “marks another important milestone in expanding regulated digital payment solutions for everyday commerce”【2】. The initiative aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) which aims for 90 % of financial transactions across public and private sectors to be cashless by the end of 2026【1】.
The launch demonstrates how a leading travel retailer can integrate regulated crypto payments into existing checkout flows, offering a glimpse of how digital assets may become mainstream payment methods in the region’s fast‑moving retail sector.
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 3 outlets · Aug 5, 2026 · How we report
No, crypto adoption for everyday retail purchases remains limited, and it is generally considered a specialized financial tool rather than a replacement for cash or credit cards.
Stablecoins are used because they offer the speed of digital networks while maintaining a value pegged to a stable asset like the U.S. dollar, making them more predictable for remittances.
Not necessarily; many crypto-linked debit cards and merchant payment solutions convert crypto into traditional currency through established payment networks in the background.
Users face risks including price volatility, lack of consumer protections compared to traditional banks, platform or issuer risks, and the potential for total loss due to scams or user error.