DUBAI — Dubai Duty Free launched Crypto.com Pay on Aug. 5, 2026, making it the first airport retailer in the Middle East to accept crypto payments through a supervised framework. The service is available to eligible UAE residents at Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport and the retailer's online store.
Customers use their Crypto.com accounts to complete transactions. In-store, shoppers receive a QR code displaying the purchase amount in UAE dirhams, which they scan and approve through the Crypto.com app. Online, a secure QR code generates at checkout and directs mobile users to the app for review and confirmation.
Dubai Duty Free settles in UAE dirhams, keeping its financial operations consistent. Crypto.com processes transactions through its regulated payment infrastructure under the Central Bank of the UAE's framework for stored value facilities.
That framework sets requirements for providers managing electronic monetary balances, covering customer protection, system security, operational controls and compliance standards. Crypto.com holds a Stored Value Facilities license from the central bank, enabling its regulated payment services within the UAE.
Crypto.com Pay joins Dubai Duty Free's existing digital payment options, which include Apple Pay, Alipay and Terrapay. The retailer serves millions of international travelers through Dubai's airports, offering luxury goods, electronics and cosmetics.
The rollout supports Dubai's push toward cashless transactions. The Dubai Economic Agenda D33 includes the Dubai Cashless Strategy, which targets 90 percent cashless government transactions. Emirates Airlines previously added Crypto.com Pay for flight bookings, extending crypto payment use across Dubai's travel sector.
Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free, said the partnership advances the retailer's commitment to digital payment convenience and supports Dubai's goal of becoming a global leader in digital commerce.
For Crypto.com, the partnership with a major airport retailer extends its regional footprint. The Stored Value Facilities license moves the company beyond exchange services into direct consumer payment infrastructure.
The D33 agenda targets doubling Dubai's economy by 2033, with digital transformation and global talent attraction as central pillars. Expanding regulated digital payment options supports those objectives.
