Dubai Duty Free Adds Crypto.com Pay at Airport Shops
Dubai Duty Free added Crypto.com Pay at Dubai International, Al Maktoum and its online store on Aug. 5, 2026, letting eligible UAE residents pay via Crypto.com while the retailer receives settlements in AED.
Dubai Duty Free launched Crypto.com Pay on Aug. 5, 2026 across Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport and its online store. Eligible UAE residents can pay through their Crypto.com accounts while Dubai Duty Free receives settlements in UAE dirhams.
The payment option is integrated into Dubai Duty Free’s existing checkout process for both in-store and online purchases. In shops, customers choosing Crypto.com Pay are shown a QR code with the amount in AED that they scan in the Crypto.com App and approve. For online orders, a secure QR code is generated at checkout and users confirm payment in the app before returning to complete the purchase. Dubai Duty Free said transactions are processed through Crypto.com’s regulated payment infrastructure.
Crypto.com operates in the UAE under a Stored Value Facilities license issued by the Central Bank of the UAE. The regulatory framework covers providers that manage electronic monetary balances and requires controls for customer protection, system security, operational resilience and compliance. Merchant settlement in AED keeps Dubai Duty Free’s accounting in fiat currency while customers pay from crypto-linked accounts.
Dubai Duty Free runs hundreds of outlets across the emirate’s airports and serves millions of international travelers with categories including luxury goods, electronics and cosmetics. The new payment option joins Apple Pay, Alipay and Terrapay among the retailer’s accepted methods.
The retailer stated, “Dubai Duty Free has officially launched Crypto.com Pay, becoming the first airport retailer in the Middle East to introduce a regulated digital payment solution.” Eric Anziani, president and chief operating officer of Crypto.com, described the launch as an important milestone for regulated digital payments in travel retail.
The airport rollout follows Emirates adding Crypto.com Pay for flight bookings. The expansion of crypto-enabled payments in Dubai occurs alongside the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) cashless strategy, which targets 90% of transactions across government and private sectors to be cashless by 2026. Financial institutions in the UAE have also piloted blockchain payment initiatives aimed at speeding cross-border transfers, including projects for real-time USD settlement.
The service is available initially to eligible UAE residents. Dubai Duty Free and Crypto.com did not provide a timeline for wider availability.
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