What to know:
- Crypto.com secured exclusive approval for UAE government’s crypto payment processing services.
- Dubai accelerates cashless economy plans through regulated cryptocurrency payment infrastructure expansion.
- Emirates Airlines integration plans emerge after major Crypto.com UAE regulatory approval.
Crypto.com has secured a UAE regulatory approval tied directly to government-related crypto transactions. The development strengthens the city’s ambition to become one of the world’s leading cashless economies while giving the exchange a unique position within the region’s regulated crypto sector.
According to Crypto.com, its UAE-based entity, Foris DAX Middle East FZE, received a Stored Value Facilities license from the Central Bank of the UAE. The approval allows the platform to facilitate digital asset payments connected to government services across the country.
Moreover, the exchange stated that no other virtual asset service provider currently holds the same approval within the Emirates. That distinction now places Crypto.com at the center of Dubai’s expanding crypto payments infrastructure.
The latest approval also strengthens an earlier agreement signed between Crypto.com and Dubai Finance in May 2025. According to the company, both parties established a framework supporting crypto-based government payments under Dubai’s wider cashless economy strategy.
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Dubai Accelerates Shift Toward Digital Government Transactions
Dubai authorities continue increasing investment in digital payment infrastructure as the government targets broader adoption across public services. According to Amna Mohammed Lootah, Director of Digital Payment Systems Regulation, the emirate plans to process more than 90% of transactions through cashless systems before 2026.
Additionally, Crypto.com confirmed that residents seeking access to the government payment services must complete onboarding through its VARA-licensed platform. Users will also require approvals under the Central Bank of the UAE regulatory framework before accessing these features.
Furthermore, the exchange confirmed that settlements connected to the payment system will use UAE dirhams or approved dirham-backed stablecoins. That structure aligns the initiative with existing monetary regulations established by the Central Bank of the UAE.
The approval arrives as Gulf nations continue competing to attract blockchain firms, crypto exchanges, and digital asset investment. Meanwhile, Dubai continues to expand its reputation as a regulated hub for digital assets through licensing programs and institutional partnerships supporting crypto adoption.
Crypto firms continue targeting the UAE because regulators have established clearer frameworks for digital asset operations compared with several global markets. Consequently, companies operating in Dubai increasingly view regulatory compliance as a competitive advantage rather than a limitation.
Crypto.com Expands Beyond Government Payment Services
Besides expanding government payments, the company revealed plans involving broader commercial integrations across Dubai’s travel and retail sectors. Crypto.com specifically referenced future payment integrations with Emirates Airlines and Dubai Duty Free.
Crypto.com President and UAE General Manager Mohammed Al Hakim stated that the approval allows the company to provide payment services unavailable through competing crypto platforms operating within the region. He also noted that the partnership supports Dubai’s larger digital finance ambitions.
The latest move also reflects growing institutional confidence in regulated crypto payment systems across the Middle East. As governments continue modernizing financial infrastructure, licensed digital asset firms could secure a larger role within public sector transactions over the coming years.
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