Dubai Duty Free has officially integrated the Crypto.com Pay payment gateway, becoming the first airport retailer in the Middle East to accept cryptocurrency payments. The service went live at physical stores in Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC) airports, as well as on the retailer’s e-commerce platform. Customers can now settle purchases using Shiba Inu (SHIB) alongside 29 other major digital assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), and Dogecoin (DOGE).
Instant AED settlement eliminates volatility risk – the gateway instantly converts the selected cryptocurrency to United Arab Emirates dirhams (AED) based on the current exchange rate within the user’s Crypto.com Pay app. The merchant receives only dirhams, ensuring standard financial operations without holding digital assets on its corporate balance sheet.
Regulated framework and D33 strategy – the rollout is backed by a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license granted to Crypto.com by the Central Bank of the UAE. This ensures full legal compliance and state supervision. The move aligns with Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, which targets migrating up to 90% of all transactions into cashless digital formats by late 2026.
Access is currently limited to verified UAE residents with active Crypto.com accounts. The integration follows a similar adoption by Emirates airline just last week, where the same payment gateway enabled flight bookings with cryptocurrencies. With both transport hubs now sharing a unified digital checkout architecture, the initiative marks a significant step in normalizing crypto assets for everyday purchases in the region.
