The United Arab Emirates marks a historic milestone in crypto adoption as Emirates, Air Arabia, and other airlines now accept XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins for flight bookings. This aviation payment revolution places the UAE as a global leader in crypto integration, with Emirates planning a full rollout via Crypto.com Pay by 2026.
Emirates Airlines has signed a groundbreaking agreement with Crypto.com in July 2025 to enable passengers to pay for flights and in-flight purchases using cryptocurrencies. This historic collaboration, scheduled for full deployment in 2026, will support more than 30 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin (BTC), XRP, Ethereum (ETH), Cronos (CRO) and stablecoins USDT and USDC.
This initiative aligns with the UAE’s strategy to attract “tech-savvy travelers, digital nomads, and residents who value secure and flexible payment options.” Emirates thus becomes the first major airline in the Middle East to natively integrate crypto payments into its ecosystem.
Moreover, the agreement covers the entire Emirates service range: flight bookings, upgrades, duty-free purchases, and premium services. This comprehensive approach demonstrates Emirates’ commitment to transforming customer experience through blockchain technology.
Air Arabia, a low-cost carrier listed in Dubai, has chosen a different approach by exclusively accepting AE Coin, a stablecoin backed by the Emirati dirham. This strategy simplifies payments for local users familiar with the AED digital currency.
AE Coin, issued by AED Stablecoin, offers perfect stability against the dirham while eliminating the volatility of traditional cryptocurrencies. Air Arabia thus covers its Middle East, North Africa, and Asia networks with this innovative payment solution.
“In 2014, Latvian carrier airBaltic became the world’s first to accept Bitcoin for flight bookings. This initiative paved the way for global carriers like Emirates and platforms like Travala to integrate crypto payments.”
Travelers can already book Emirates flights and other UAE carriers through crypto-friendly platforms like Alternative Airlines and Travala. These intermediaries accept an extensive range of cryptocurrencies including XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Cardano, Dogecoin, and stablecoins.
Alternative Airlines allows bookings with more than 650 airlines, including Emirates and Etihad, with the addition of XRP and other major cryptos. Travala, a dedicated blockchain platform, reported a 46% increase in crypto bookings between January 2023 and 2024, reflecting growing demand.
These platforms offer two payment methods: direct payment at checkout or purchasing crypto gift cards. The first method, simpler and more secure, is preferred by most crypto travelers.
This massive adoption of cryptocurrencies by UAE aviation represents a major catalyst for XRP and the crypto ecosystem. The UAE, with its regulatory authority VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority) in Dubai, is creating a favorable environment for the expansion of crypto services.
For XRP holders, this adoption by the UAE airline industry validates the practical utility of the token for cross-border payments. XRP benefits from its transaction speed and reduced fees, particularly suited to travel payments.
Bitget, a leading platform for buying XRP, offers optimal conditions to take advantage of this trend:
Recommended XRP accumulation strategy: With growing adoption by UAE aviation and favorable regulatory developments, a staggered purchase approach over 2-3 weeks optimizes entry price. Suggested allocation: 5-10% of your crypto portfolio in XRP.
In conclusion, the UAE initiative could inspire other regions and global airlines, creating a beneficial ripple effect for global crypto adoption. Emirates and the UAE are positioning aviation as a pioneering sector in the digital payment revolution.
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Charles Ledoux is a Bitcoin and blockchain technology specialist. A graduate of the Crypto Academy, he has been a Bitcoin miner for over a year. He has written numerous masterclasses to educate newcomers to the industry and has authored over 2,000 articles on cryptocurrency. Now, he aims to share his passion for crypto through his articles for InvestX.
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