Crypto.com Pay Goes Live Across Dubai Duty Free @Cryptocom has officially activated its proprietary payment solution at @DubaiDutyFree, making Dubai Duty Free the first airport retailer in th
@Cryptocom has officially activated its proprietary payment solution at @DubaiDutyFree, making Dubai Duty Free the first airport retailer in the Middle East to introduce Crypto.com Pay, enabling eligible customers to make purchases using the regulated digital payment solution across its retail outlets at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), and through its online store.
The checkout process has been built to shield both shoppers and the retailer from price volatility. Customers can use their Crypto.com Pay accounts to complete purchases, while all transactions are processed through Crypto.com's regulated payments infrastructure and settled in UAE dirhams (AED).At the point of sale, the system generates a unique Crypto.com QR code for the purchase amount in AED, which customers scan using the Crypto.com App and authorise directly from their wallet.
The introduction of Crypto.com Pay expands Dubai Duty Free's portfolio of digital payment options, joining services such as Apple Pay, Alipay and TerraPay.
Crypto.com is the first Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the UAE to receive a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) licence from the Central Bank of the UAE, enabling it to provide regulated payment services in accordance with the conditions of that licence.Both partnerships were formalized in July 2025 through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in the presence of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group.
The retailer represents a significant prize for any payments provider. Dubai Duty Free posted annual sales of $2.378 billion in 2025, representing a 9.85% increase over 2024 and making it the most successful year in the retailer's history.That performance places it fifth among global duty-free operators.
The new payment method supports the Dubai Cashless Strategy under the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which targets 90 per cent of financial transactions across the public and private sectors to be cashless by the end of 2026.
Sources:Gulf Business: Dubai Duty Free launches Crypto.com Pay across airport storesDubai Media Office: Dubai Duty Free becomes first airport retailer in the Middle East to introduce Crypto.com PayEmirates 24|7: Dubai Duty Free launches Crypto.com Pay for airport and online purchases
