The United Arab Emirates has ushered in an era of cryptocurrency-based airline ticket payments, with Emirates, Air Arabia, and others following suit.

As the United Arab Emirates promotes cryptocurrency adoption at the national level, the aviation and travel industries are quickly adopting digital asset-based payments. As part of a strategy to target tech-friendly tourists and digital nomads, several airlines and platforms such as Emirates Airlines, Air Arabia, Travala, and Alternative Airlines have begun supporting cryptocurrency payments including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether (USDT).

Emirates Airlines recently collaborated with Crypto.com to plan implementing Crypto.com Pay for ticket and in-flight purchases starting in 2026. Supported coins include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cronos (CRO), Tether, and USD Coin (USDC), with plans to accommodate over 30 coins in the future. This payment service will be expanded to cover various airline-related services including ticket upgrades and in-flight duty-free purchases.

Air Arabia introduced an AE Coin, a stablecoin issued based on the UAE Dirham (AED). This provides payment convenience for local digital fiat users and is usable primarily on routes in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. Meanwhile, Travala stands out as a blockchain-based comprehensive booking platform supporting a wide range of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Binance Coin (BNB), and AVA (its own Token) for flights, hotels, and tours.

UK-based Alternative Airlines, an online platform enabling reservations for over 650 airlines including Etihad and Emirates, supports payments with various tokens such as Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC), Cardano (ADA), and Dogecoin (Doge). Additionally, Destinia offers cryptocurrency payments for global flight, hotel, and car rental services, gaining popularity among UAE travelers.

Meanwhile, the UAE is systematically integrating the virtual asset ecosystem through the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), and this regulatory refinement is accelerating the spread of new travel experiences like cryptocurrency-based flight bookings, membership programs, and point accumulation systems.

Experts emphasize the importance of carefully reviewing exchange rate volatility and platform reliability when booking flights with cryptocurrencies, and thoroughly documenting transaction records. They also advise that paying through regulated platforms and targeting optimal exchange rate timing can lead to wise consumption.

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