Dubai: TECHz – News Desk
Dubai Duty Free has officially launched Crypto.com Pay™, making it the first airport retailer in the Middle East to introduce a regulated digital cryptocurrency payment solution. The integration allows eligible customers to use their digital assets for purchases across all retail outlets at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA), and its online store.
This rollout marks the successful execution of a strategic partnership initiated in July 2025, when Dubai Duty Free and Crypto.com signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore blockchain-enabled payment solutions and broader digital innovation.
The new payment option has been deeply integrated into Dubai Duty Free’s existing checkout infrastructure, ensuring that the retailer receives immediate settlement in UAE Dirhams (AED) via Crypto.com’s regulated payment network. For in-store shopping, when a customer selects Crypto.com Pay™ at checkout, the point-of-sale terminal generates a unique QR code reflecting the exact purchase amount in AED. The customer simply scans the QR code using their Crypto.com App and approves the transaction directly from their digital wallet. For online and mobile purchases, customers shopping at dubaidutyfree.com can select the crypto option during checkout. Mobile users are redirected seamlessly to the Crypto.com App to authorize the transaction before returning to the retailer’s site to finalize their order.
This latest digital rollout builds on Dubai Duty Free’s existing payment ecosystem, which currently includes Apple Pay, Alipay, and TerraPay. Crucially, the initiative aligns with the Dubai Cashless Strategy under the ambitious Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which targets making 90% of all public and private sector financial transactions cashless by the end of 2026. The service operates securely under the regulatory framework of the Central Bank of the UAE. Crypto.com was the first Virtual Asset Service Provider in the UAE to be granted a Stored Value Facilities license, allowing it to provide these regulated payment services.
“Following the strategic partnership established through last year’s MoU, we are pleased to move into the roll-out phase with the introduction of Crypto.com Pay™,” said Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free. “Available exclusively to eligible UAE residents through Crypto.com’s regulated payment platform, this launch reinforces our commitment to providing customers with greater convenience through innovative digital payment solutions while supporting Dubai’s vision of becoming a global leader in digital commerce.”
Eric Anziani, President and Chief Operating Officer of Crypto.com, added: “Dubai Duty Free is one of the world’s most recognised travel retail brands and one of the largest single airport duty free operators globally. The launch of Crypto.com Pay™ marks another important milestone in expanding regulated digital payment solutions for everyday commerce.”
