The tourism sector of the United Arab Emirates is rapidly integrating cryptocurrency payments. Major airlines and online services—Emirates, Air Arabia, Travala, and Alternative Airlines—now allow booking airline tickets using Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT), and other digital assets.
Emirates has signed an agreement with Crypto.com, which will allow passengers to pay for flights and onboard goods via Crypto.com Pay. The service will support BTC, ETH, CRO, as well as stablecoins USDT and USDC. Full-scale launch is expected in 2026. The budget carrier Air Arabia is betting on the local stablecoin AE Coin, pegged to the dirham (AED). This simplifies transactions for local residents and frequently traveling passengers.
The Travala platform provides global booking services not only for airline tickets but also for hotels, and accepts a wide range of cryptocurrencies—from Bitcoin and Ethereum to BNB and its own AVA token. The agency Alternative Airlines has gone even further, allowing bookings with over 650 airlines, including Emirates and Etihad, for cryptocurrencies BTC, ETH, XRP, LTC, ADA, DOGE, and USDT.
Experts note that interest in such solutions is rapidly growing. According to Travala data, from January 2023 to January 2024, the number of cryptocurrency bookings increased by 46%. The use of digital assets allows travelers to bypass bank and credit card fees and pay for services from anywhere in the world.
At the government level, the implementation of digital assets is supported by the VARA regulator in Dubai, which is shaping the rules for the crypto industry. In the future, cryptocurrency payments may expand to loyalty programs, visa processing, and travel insurance on the blockchain.
Thus, the UAE is gradually transforming into one of the first 'crypto-powered travel hubs', offering travelers more freedom and convenience when planning trips.
