Crypto cards in Turkey and the Gulf
Our comparison is verified for Europe. Readers in Turkey and the Gulf often ask which cards they can use. The honest answer depends less on the card than on the country: some allow crypto payments under a licence, some tolerate them, some ban them. Here is where things stand in October 2026.
Turkey
Since 30 April 2021 the Turkish central bank has banned using crypto assets, directly or indirectly, to pay for goods and services. Turkish payment and e-money companies may not offer crypto payment products, which is why no Turkish exchange issues a crypto card.
Since July 2024 crypto platforms need a licence from the Capital Markets Board, and foreign platforms may not actively target Turkish residents. Several international providers are winding down their Turkish entities.
Holding and trading crypto on a listed Turkish platform is legal. A card issued abroad and funded with crypto is a grey area, and paying Turkish merchants with it is exactly what the 2021 ban is aimed at. Most issuers simply exclude Turkey, among them RedotPay, Crypto.com, ether.fi and every card that is limited to the EEA.
Listed cards whose issuer accepts residents: THORWallet (basic plan as a virtual card only). For most other cards we could not confirm Turkey either way.
United Arab Emirates
Crypto is legal and regulated. Since 2024 shops in the UAE may not accept foreign stablecoins as payment; only dirham tokens licensed by the central bank may be used. A crypto card works differently, because the shop receives dirhams through Visa or Mastercard.
Since 16 September 2026, however, any company that provides payment services with virtual assets in the UAE needs a licence from the central bank. Check whether a provider holds one before you sign up. Expect providers without a licence to restrict UAE sign-ups.
Listed cards whose issuer accepts residents: RedotPay and Tevau (the UAE is not on their lists of excluded countries), THORWallet, ether.fi Cash, Oobit, Bybit Card, KAST.
Bahrain
Bahrain has the clearest rules in the Gulf. The central bank licenses crypto companies and has had rules for stablecoins since July 2025. A provider with a Bahrain licence is the safest route. Crypto.com, for example, issues a separate prepaid Mastercard in Bahrain under such a licence; its usual Visa card is not offered in the Gulf.
Listed cards whose issuer accepts residents: RedotPay and Tevau (not excluded), THORWallet, ether.fi Cash, Crypto.com (Bahrain Mastercard).
Saudi Arabia
There is no licensing regime for crypto services. The authorities warned in 2018 that virtual currencies are not regulated, and banks are told not to deal in them. Holding crypto is not expressly punished, but crypto payment services have no legal basis, and banks may block related transfers.
Listed cards whose issuer accepts residents: RedotPay and Tevau (not excluded), THORWallet, ether.fi Cash, Oobit.
Oman
The central bank does not recognise crypto as a means of payment. A framework for virtual assets has been announced but is not finished. Using a foreign crypto card is not prohibited for individuals, but there is no licensed local route and no protection if something goes wrong.
Listed cards whose issuer accepts residents: RedotPay and Tevau (not excluded), THORWallet, ether.fi Cash.
Qatar and Kuwait
In Qatar the central bank has prohibited crypto services since 2018 and grants no licences. Kuwait banned using crypto as a means of payment outright in 2023, with penalties under anti-money-laundering law. We do not recommend crypto cards to residents of either country.
How we checked: a card counts as available only if the provider's own website says so, or if the country is missing from the provider's published list of excluded countries (marked "not excluded"). Third-party lists often contradict the providers, so we did not rely on them. Last checked: October 2026. Next check: January 2027.
This guide explains the rules as we understand them. It is not legal advice, and rules in this region change quickly.