Emirates and Dubai Duty Free are considering accepting crypto currencies as payment, in the latest sign of the aviation industry seeking to "future-proof" its business, analysts say.
The airline and airport retailer on Wednesday separately said they had signed an initial agreement with Crypto.com to allow customers to pay through the crypto trading platform's payment service.
Emirates said the initiative is expected to come into effect this year. The move will help the airline tap into "younger, tech-savvy customer segments who prefer digital currencies", while also providing its customers with "greater flexibility and choice", said Adnan Kazim, Emirates' deputy president and chief commercial officer.
The partnership represents a shared ambition to "transform travel and commerce", said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and group.
"By exploring advanced digital payment solutions, we aim to enhance the experience for travellers at every touchpoint – from booking to retail," he said in a post on X.
Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free, said adopting digital currency payments, such as cryptocurrency, is a "forward-looking step" that will add "significant value" to the airport retailer's diverse customer base.
Emirates and Dubai Duty Free are the latest in the industry to shift towards digital currency payments. In May, Air Arabia, the UAE's only listed airline, said it will start accepting the UAE-regulated stablecoin, AE Coin, as payment for bookings.
Dubai's tourism chief in May said the emirate was well-placed to take the lead on accepting cryptocurrency payments at its hotels and other tourist establishments to help attract more international visitors.
The move would be a “great” opportunity for the travel and tourism sector, provided it is well-regulated, especially as Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Vara) already has frameworks in place for cryptocurrencies, Issam Kazim, chief executive of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, told The National at the time.
Future-proofing the sector
Dubai set up watchdog Vara in 2022 to regulate the emerging virtual assets sector.
"The growing interest in crypto and stablecoin payments among airlines – particularly in the GCC – is a strategic signal of the industry’s pivot towards digital innovation and financial inclusivity," said Linus Bauer, founder and managing director of UAE-based consultancy BAA & Partners.
"For carriers like Emirates, this isn’t just about novelty – it’s about future-proofing."
In the Gulf, digital currency adoption is high and governments are supportive of blockchain initiatives, so the acceptance of cryptocurrency payments by airlines can become a differentiator, analysts say.
"It may initially appeal most to younger, tech-savvy travellers and high-net-worth individuals comfortable with decentralised finance, but the long-term potential is broader, especially for ancillary services like in-flight shopping, duty-free and loyalty programmes," Mr Bauer said.
Companies will need to evaluate the costs, compatibility, legal compliance and risks of digital currency volatility, experts warn.
"While the integration costs are manageable with the right FinTech partners, legacy system compatibility, compliance and volatility risk must be carefully managed. Transaction fees can be lower than traditional cards and settlement is faster – another operational advantage," Mr Bauer said.
"Ultimately, crypto payments won’t replace conventional methods soon, but for airlines that want to lead in customer experience and digital agility, offering crypto is increasingly a smart, forward-leaning move."
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Business Insights
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- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Copa del Rey
Barcelona v Real Madrid
Semi-final, first leg
Wednesday (midnight UAE)
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
