“Abu Dhabi Airports” is preparing to introduce digital currency payments to Zayed International Airport, through a partnership with “Al Hail Holding” and the financial technology company “Xare”, in a move that allows travelers to use “Bitcoin”, stable currencies and other digital assets to pay fees and services inside the airport.
According to the “CoinEdition” website, the agreement was signed in October 2025, while the project is currently still in a pilot phase that includes testing and operational planning before commercial launch.
The participating entities are working to develop an organized digital wallet dedicated to travelers arriving in Abu Dhabi, with the aim of supporting non-cash transactions and linking users to payment services within the airport.
The project is subject to the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Global Market “ADGM” and its Financial Services Regulatory Authority, which means that the system is being developed within an existing regulatory framework, and not as a separate experiment outside the official rules.
Abu Dhabi Airports will provide the infrastructure and operational support for the system, while Al Hail Holding will handle the regulatory and financial aspects, while Xare will provide the technology for creating accounts, payments, and connecting merchants to the service. A joint steering committee was also formed to follow up on the implementation stages.
The project comes at a time when the UAE is expanding the use of digital assets in daily life. Emirates Airlines has signed an agreement with Crypto.com to provide payment in digital currencies, with the launch scheduled to begin in 2026.
With the national carrier and the main Abu Dhabi Airport working on digital payment systems, it seems that the UAE is moving towards building a broader network for digital payments, rather than being satisfied with separate experiments.
The project is also linked to the UAE Digital Economy Strategy and Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Cooperation is not limited to payments, but includes plans for artificial intelligence technologies, smart transportation systems, and infrastructure modernization with the aim of raising efficiency and sustainability in the airport network.
Stable currencies stand out as one of the important elements in the project, especially since Zayed International Airport receives passengers from dozens of countries, which makes the multiplicity of traditional currencies a source of complexity in payment operations.
Stablecoins linked to the US dollar can reduce the cost of currency conversion and allow travelers to use a single digital asset for multiple services within the airport. The participating entities plan to integrate these currencies along with Bitcoin and other digital currencies within the new wallet system.
“Xare” said that the technology aims to create a seamless payment experience from the moment of arrival until departure, and open new opportunities for merchants and airport services.
However, the project has not yet reached the stage of commercial operation, and figures have not yet been published regarding the number of merchants who will accept payments in digital currencies or the expected transaction volume.
