Air Arabia announced today that it will start accepting the use of crypto payments for flight bookings. This collaboration makes Air Arabia the first airline in the region to offer stablecoin-based payments, underscoring the carrier’s commitment to offering innovative digital solutions to its customer base.
Air Arabia has partnered with Al Maryah Community Bank (Mbank), the UAE’s first fully integrated digital bank, to enable the use of AE Coin payments for flight bookings through the AEC Wallet App.
“We are proud to partner with Mbank to introduce AE Coin as a secure and innovative payment option for our customers. At Air Arabia, we are committed to embracing digitalization across our operations, and this partnership reflects our efforts to enhance our customer experience through technology,” stated Adel Al Ali, group CEO of Air Arabia.
Driving UAE’s digital-first economy
As the UAE’s first AED-backed stablecoin, AE Coin is pegged 1:1 to the UAE Dirham, ensuring price stability, security and low transaction fees. With this integration, Air Arabia’s customers can now select the AEC Wallet at checkout when booking via Arabia’s website, offering a new convenient payment alternative that aligns with the UAE’s vision of a digital-first economy.
“The newly introduced payment option through AEC Wallet reflects our ongoing efforts to adopt smart solutions that bring greater value, choice and flexibility to our growing customer base,” Al Ali added.
For his part, Mohammed Wassim Khayata, CEO of Mbank, said Air Arabia’s strong reputation as a leading low-cost carrier operator serving a diverse customer base aligns perfectly with the bank’s mission to provide accessible, secure and affordable digital payment solutions to the community.
“Through this partnership, we are not only enhancing the booking process but also contributing to the UAE’s broader goal of creating a truly inclusive, digitally empowered financial ecosystem,” he added.
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Partnership to bolster region’s digital currency adoption
Meanwhile, Ramez Rafeek, general manager of AED Stablecoin, noted that this partnership with Air Arabia is a key milestone for AE Coin as it makes digital currency even more accessible to everyday consumers. By integrating AE Coin into flight bookings, AE Coin is simplifying the payment experience for travelers and enabling a seamless cashless solution that aligns with the growing digital economy.
“Air Arabia’s leadership in adopting digital payment solutions within the aviation industry is an exciting development that will set the stage for wider adoption of digital currencies in the region,” he added.
