Dubai Duty Free Crypto.com Pay has officially launched, giving eligible UAE residents a new way to pay while shopping at the airport. The move makes Dubai Duty Free the first airport retailer in the Middle East to introduce Crypto.com Pay™, expanding its growing range of digital payment options.
The service is now available at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA), and on the Dubai Duty Free website, making it easier for eligible customers to shop both before take-off and after landing.
A new way to pay at Dubai Duty Free
The launch follows a strategic partnership between Dubai Duty Free and Crypto.com that was first announced in July 2025. After signing a Memorandum of Understanding to explore blockchain-powered payment solutions, both organisations have now rolled out Crypto.com Pay™ across Dubai Duty Free’s retail network.
Customers with eligible verified Crypto.com accounts can use the payment option during checkout, while Dubai Duty Free receives the payment in UAE Dirhams (AED) through Crypto.com’s regulated payment infrastructure.
The rollout supports Dubai’s wider ambition to embrace innovative payment technologies while giving shoppers more flexibility at checkout.
Where can you use Crypto.com Pay?
Eligible customers can use Crypto.com Pay™ at:
- Dubai Duty Free stores at Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- Dubai Duty Free stores at Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA)
- The official Dubai Duty Free online store
Whether shopping for fragrances, electronics, gifts or travel essentials, the payment option works across both physical and digital channels.
How the payment process works
Using Crypto.com Pay™ has been integrated into Dubai Duty Free’s existing checkout process.
For in-store purchases, customers simply select Crypto.com Pay™ at the cashier. A unique QR code is generated, which can be scanned using the Crypto.com App. Once the payment is approved within the app, the purchase is confirmed immediately.
For online shopping, customers can choose Crypto.com Pay™ during checkout on the Dubai Duty Free website. A QR code appears on screen, which is scanned using the Crypto.com App before the payment is authorised.
Customers shopping on a mobile device will be redirected directly to the Crypto.com App to review and approve the transaction before being returned to the website to complete their purchase.
Part of Dubai’s growing cashless future
The launch builds on Dubai Duty Free’s existing digital payment options, which already include services such as Apple Pay, Alipay and TerraPay.
It also supports the Dubai Cashless Strategy under the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims for 90% of financial transactions across the public and private sectors to be cashless by the end of 2026.
Crypto.com is currently the first Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the UAE to hold a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) licence issued by the Central Bank of the UAE, allowing it to provide regulated payment services in line with local regulations.
For eligible UAE residents who already use Crypto.com, the new payment option adds another convenient way to shop while travelling, reflecting Dubai’s continued push towards smarter, more seamless digital experiences.
