Dubai’s DMCC and the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) have announced a partnership to pilot the tokenisation of gold and diamonds — a significant initiative aimed at developing a secure and regulated framework for trading real-world commodities through blockchain technology.
The collaboration will explore how tangible, high-value assets can be digitally represented, traded, and settled within a unified regulatory structure, reinforcing Dubai’s leadership in bridging traditional commodities with the emerging world of digital finance.
Combining DMCC’s extensive commodities expertise and its 26,000-member business community with VARA’s strong regulatory capabilities, the initiative aims to establish a transparent, scalable ecosystem for tokenised assets. This move will not only facilitate global market access but also strengthen the long-term integration of digital assets into mainstream financial systems.
Pilot programmes will assess technical infrastructure, regulatory needs, market potential, and investor protection frameworks essential for developing credible, investable tokenisation models. A key element of the initiative is education and investor awareness.
Through joint workshops, seminars, and public engagement initiatives, the partners will promote a deeper understanding of tokenisation, covering its opportunities, risks, and regulatory considerations.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, stated: “Partnering with VARA marks a pivotal advancement in Dubai’s digital-asset landscape. Combining VARA’s world-class regulatory oversight with DMCC’s 26,000-member network and deep expertise in commodities, blockchain, and Web3, we are developing a secure, scalable framework to tokenise gold, diamonds, and other high-value commodities. This will open a new era of investable, real-world assets, expanding global market access, enhancing liquidity and trust, and reinforcing Dubai’s role as a leader in trade and blockchain innovation.”
Matthew White, CEO of the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), added: “Dubai has always been a meeting point for global trade and innovation, and tokenisation represents the next evolution of that legacy. Our collaboration with DMCC merges deep commodities experience with regulatory foresight to create a trusted framework for tokenised assets. This initiative is not about experimentation but about setting new global standards for the convergence of physical and digital markets. VARA’s mission is to ensure that as these assets evolve, they do so in a transparent, credible, and safe manner, cementing Dubai’s global leadership in the future of finance and trade.”
The initiative builds upon DMCC’s success with gold-backed digital assets on its Tradeflow platform and its broader efforts to position Dubai as a central hub for asset-backed innovation in the digital economy.
