Dubai Duty Free has officially launched the regulated Crypto.com Pay™ digital payment service, marking another step toward expanding the modern payment options available to its customers and supporting Dubai’s drive to increase the use of innovative digital solutions across the retail and tourism sectors.
The new service allows eligible residents of the United Arab Emirates to use their digital wallets when shopping at Dubai Duty Free stores at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, as well as through the company’s official website, dubaidutyfree.com.
With this launch, Dubai Duty Free becomes the first airport duty-free retailer in the Middle East to adopt Crypto.com Pay for digital payments, reflecting its leadership in embracing modern payment technologies and improving the shopping experience for travelers.
Eligible customers can now complete their purchases using their Crypto.com Pay™ accounts. Payments are securely processed through Crypto.com’s regulated payment infrastructure, while all Dubai Duty Free purchases are settled in UAE dirhams.
The service marks the first practical outcome of the strategic partnership announced by Dubai Duty Free and Crypto.com in July 2025, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two parties to explore blockchain-powered payment solutions and develop broader digital innovation initiatives across Dubai Duty Free’s operations.
Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, said: “We are delighted to move into the actual launch phase of the Crypto.com Pay™ digital payment service, which marks the culmination of the strategic partnership established under the memorandum of understanding signed last year. The service is available exclusively to eligible residents of the United Arab Emirates through Crypto.com’s regulated payment platform. This new development reinforces our continued commitment to providing our customers with a new, simple, and convenient payment experience by offering innovative digital payment solutions that support Dubai’s vision of achieving a leading global position in digital commerce.”
Eric Anziani, President and Chief Operating Officer of Crypto.com, praised Dubai Duty Free’s global standing, the constructive cooperation between the two organizations, and their shared commitment to delivering innovative payment experiences that support Dubai’s ambition to secure a prominent position in the world of digital commerce.
He emphasized that the partnership with Dubai Duty Free represents an important milestone in expanding the use of regulated digital payment solutions and applying them to everyday commercial transactions. He added that Dubai Duty Free customers will benefit from a secure and seamless payment experience through Crypto.com Pay™, while Dubai Duty Free will receive immediate settlement of its sales in UAE dirhams.
Mohammed Al Hakim, President and General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Crypto.com, said:
“The launch of Crypto.com Pay™ at Dubai Duty Free represents a strategic step in the digital transformation of the payments sector in the United Arab Emirates and reflects the success of the close cooperation between Crypto.com, Dubai Duty Free, and the country’s regulatory authorities. From the very beginning, we have been committed to developing a payment solution that fully complies with the regulatory frameworks of the United Arab Emirates, ensuring that all Dubai Duty Free transactions are fully settled in UAE dirhams while providing eligible residents with a secure and seamless digital payment experience. This supports Dubai’s vision of strengthening its position as a global hub for financial innovation and the digital economy.”
The launch follows the establishment of regulatory foundations for digital payments by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, providing a clear and secure regulatory environment for offering such services.
Crypto.com is the first virtual asset service provider in the UAE to receive a Stored Value Facilities license from the Central Bank of the UAE, allowing the company to provide regulated payment services in accordance with the terms of the license.
How the Service Works
The new payment option has been seamlessly integrated into Dubai Duty Free’s existing payment system, allowing eligible UAE residents to complete their purchases easily and securely using Crypto.com Pay™.
Dubai Duty Free receives the value of each purchase in UAE dirhams through Crypto.com’s regulated payment infrastructure, in line with the applicable regulatory and operational requirements.
Paying at Dubai Duty Free Stores
When customers select Crypto.com Pay™ as their payment method, the point-of-sale system generates a QR code showing the purchase amount in UAE dirhams.
The customer then scans the code using the Crypto.com app, reviews the transaction details, and approves the payment directly from their digital wallet.
Once the payment has been completed successfully, the purchase is immediately confirmed through Dubai Duty Free’s approved point-of-sale system, providing customers with a fast and seamless experience.
Paying Through the Dubai Duty Free Website
Customers shopping through dubaidutyfree.com can select Crypto.com Pay™ from the available payment options.
The secure integration with Crypto.com generates a unique QR code for each transaction. The customer scans the code using the Crypto.com app, reviews the purchase details, and confirms the payment from their digital wallet.
Once the transaction is approved, the order is immediately confirmed through Dubai Duty Free’s order management system.
Shopping on Mobile Devices
When customers select Crypto.com Pay while shopping on a mobile device, they are redirected directly to the Crypto.com app.
Through the app, customers can review the transaction details and approve the payment before being smoothly redirected back to the Dubai Duty Free website to complete their purchase.
The launch of Crypto.com Pay™ reflects Dubai Duty Free’s strategy of adopting the latest innovative payment solutions and expanding the choices available to customers alongside existing digital payment options such as Apple Pay, Alipay, and Terrasa.
The new service also contributes to the continued development of Dubai Duty Free’s digital payment ecosystem and supports the Dubai Cashless Strategy under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to convert 90% of all financial transactions across the public and private sectors into digital transactions by the end of 2026.
