How Emirates and flydubai Turns Dubai into the Ultimate Destination for Digital-First Travel Experiences
Dubai is accelerating its drive toward a cashless future with a landmark collaboration between Emirates, flydubai, and Dubai Finance (DOF), reinforcing the emirate’s ambition to make more than 90% of all transactions digital by 2026. The two airlines have signed separate Memoranda of Understanding with DOF in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, further cementing Dubai’s position as a global leader in digital innovation and financial technology.
With over 18.7 million visitors in 2024, international tourists represent a key demographic for digital adoption. By targeting cash-reliant travellers, the initiative seeks to create a seamless, secure, and inclusive payment environment across every stage of the visitor journey — from booking tickets to exploring the city’s attractions. Emirates, with its vast international network, will promote Dubai’s cashless ecosystem worldwide, while flydubai will extend reach across underserved markets.
This latest step builds upon Emirates’ growing portfolio of digital-first initiatives designed to reshape customer experiences. Earlier in 2025, Emirates and Crypto.com signed an MoU to explore integrating Crypto.com Pay into the airline’s payment infrastructure, with implementation planned for next year, as reported in recent announcement on TravelPRNews.com. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, emphasised at the time that cryptocurrency adoption aligns with Dubai’s ambition to lead in financial innovation while catering to younger, digitally savvy travelers. Eric Anziani, President and COO of Crypto.com, highlighted the potential for the partnership to accelerate real-world crypto adoption across the GCC.
Emirates has also made major strides in the cargo sector, where Emirates SkyCargo became the first carrier in the UAE to deploy PayCargo’s digital payments platform in July 2025, according to recent coverage on TravelPRNews.com. The move eliminated paper-based transactions and gave cargo customers the ability to settle charges instantly through a secure online portal. Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President at Emirates SkyCargo, described the partnership as part of a new era of smart technology that streamlines operations and strengthens industry-wide access to air freight capacity. Eduardo Del Riego, CEO of PayCargo, underscored how the solution saves time and boosts efficiency by removing manual processes.
Together, these developments show how Emirates is not only advancing the Dubai Cashless Strategy alongside DOF and flydubai, but also laying the groundwork for a broader digital transformation across both passenger and cargo operations. By integrating cryptocurrency, pioneering digital cargo solutions, and promoting citywide cashless adoption, the airline is reinforcing Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, which positions fintech and smart services as cornerstones of sustainable economic growth.
For travellers, the collaborations promise a future where every aspect of their journey to Dubai — from booking flights to dining, shopping, and accessing logistics — is supported by secure, digital-first solutions. This seamless ecosystem reflects Dubai’s ambition to deliver not just convenience, but also a blueprint for how major cities can embrace financial innovation to elevate the tourism and business experience.
