Dubai Duty Free has become the first airport retailer in the Middle East to roll out Crypto.com Pay, giving eligible UAE residents a new way to shop using digital assets both in-store and online.
The regulated payment solution is now live at Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport and on dubaidutyfree.com. Customers can authorise purchases directly from their Crypto.com account at checkout, with transactions settled securely in UAE dirhams to Dubai Duty Free.
The launch delivers on a partnership first announced in July 2025, when the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to explore blockchain-enabled payments and wider digital innovation across Dubai Duty Free's operations.
Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, said the rollout builds on that agreement and reflects the retailer's push to offer customers more convenient digital payment options while backing Dubai's ambitions in digital commerce.
Eric Anziani, President and Chief Operating Officer of Crypto.com, described Dubai Duty Free as one of the world's most recognised travel retail names, adding that the tie-up gives customers a seamless payment experience and merchants immediate AED settlement.
The service operates under the regulatory framework set by the Central Bank of the UAE. Crypto.com holds a Stored Value Facilities licence from the regulator, the first issued to a Virtual Asset Service Provider in the country.
In practice, shoppers select Crypto.com Pay at checkout and scan a QR code through the Crypto.com App to approve payment, with mobile users redirected straight into the app before returning to complete their purchase.
The addition joins existing options such as Apple Pay, Alipay and TerraPay, and supports Dubai's Cashless Strategy under the D33 agenda, which targets 90 per cent cashless transactions across the public and private sectors by the end of 2026.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
