Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat) Launches Crypto Payments at Fuel Stations

Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat), the UAE's federal government-owned fuel retailer, has partnered with Crypto.com to introduce crypto payments at fuel stations

Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat), the nation’s federal government-owned fuel retailer, has partnered with Crypto.com to introduce crypto payments at its service stations.

The initiative marks the first instance of a service station accepting crypto in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The initial phase will see crypto payments enabled at 10 Emarat stations in Dubai, with plans to expand the service throughout Emarat’s network, according to the May 8 announcement.

At these stations, customers can now pay for fuel using Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets directly at the pump, streamlining the process and offering an alternative to traditional fiat transactions.

The rollout puts the UAE at the forefront of retail crypto adoption, expanding on existing use cases within the country’s flourishing digital asset ecosystem.

As part of the partnership, Emarat and Crypto.com will also launch a flagship co-branded service station, “Emarat x Crypto.com Service Station,” in Dubai.

The location will also serve as an anchor for Project Landmark, a global initiative that introduces naming rights to fuel stations, combining the best of brand visibility with a customer experience focused on the digital age.

The new site will showcase innovation in mobility, payments, and retail design, reflecting the spirit of partnership and mutual growth that has defined Emarat and Crypto.com’s journey.

Established in 1981, Emarat operates over 100 service stations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, serving around 100 million retail and commercial customers annually.

The company is a subsidiary of the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), the leading integrated energy, oil, gas, and transport company in the United Arab Emirates.

UAE’s digital asset hub ambition

The UAE continues to emerge as a leading jurisdiction for digital asset regulation and infrastructure, striving to become the most crypto-friendly nation.

With frameworks like the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority in Dubai and clear licensing structures in Abu Dhabi, the country has positioned itself as one of the world’s most progressive jurisdictions for digital finance.

The positioning has attracted some of the biggest players in the industry, including major CEXs like Binance, OKX, and Bybit, to secure regulatory licenses for their operations in the region.

By encouraging private-public partnerships and introducing pilot projects, the UAE aims to solidify its role as a hub for Web3 innovation and fintech.

As the country’s flagship fuel retailer, Emarat’s integration of crypto payments at service stations adds another use case to the expanding digital asset ecosystem in the UAE.

This move further establishes that digital assets are no longer confined to speculation but are increasingly being incorporated into daily life and consumption patterns.