A strategic memorandum of understanding has been announced to enable AE Coin digital payments across a nationwide fuel and convenience retail network in the UAE. As a result, the retailer becomes the first in its sector to allow customers to pay using AE Coin, the country’s first stablecoin of its kind, through a collaboration with a local digital bank.
Rolling out AE Coin across retail touchpoints
Under the agreement, AE Coin will be integrated into payment channels across fuel and service stations, convenience stores, and car wash facilities. As a result, customers will gain access to a new digital payment option that complements existing methods. Moreover, the AED-backed and Central Bank-licensed virtual asset will support transactions at high-frequency, everyday touchpoints.
The agreement was signed during Abu Dhabi Finance Week. Consequently, it aligns with national efforts to advance secure and regulated digital-payment solutions, while also expanding consumer choice at the point of sale.
A regulated step toward next-generation payments
Through this initiative, AE Coin will be enabled via a dedicated wallet integrated into the retailer’s payment infrastructure. Therefore, customers will be able to complete instant and secure blockchain-powered transactions. At the same time, the rollout demonstrates how tokenised payments can be introduced responsibly within mobility and convenience retail.
“This represents a significant step in our journey to enhance mobility and convenience retail through innovation. By embracing blockchain-powered transactions, we are adopting advanced technologies to create the industry’s best customer experiences, while preparing our services for the future. We take pride in our role supporting the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in secure digital payments”.
Meanwhile, another executive noted: “This partnership marks a historic moment for the UAE’s financial and retail sectors. By enabling virtual asset payments across the network, we are bringing the future of digital transactions to millions of consumers. This is a real-world example of how secure, regulated blockchain technology can simplify payments, enhance customer convenience, and accelerate the UAE’s digital transformation journey”.
In addition, a representative of the stablecoin issuer added: “AE Coin was developed to make secure, instant, regulator-approved virtual asset payments a reality in daily life. Nationwide adoption represents a major milestone for the UAE and sets an important benchmark for the virtual asset industry globally. This partnership shows how licensed and fully reserved payment tokens can be used in mainstream retail environments, moving the promise of crypto from concept to real-world utility at scale.”
Supporting national digital economy goals
Importantly, the memorandum supports several national priorities. These include the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, leadership in virtual-asset and blockchain innovation, and the advancement of secure, regulated payment ecosystems. Furthermore, the integration is expected to improve efficiency and transparency across both public and private sector transactions.
By embedding virtual asset payments into one of the country’s most widely used retail networks, the initiative strengthens the UAE’s position as a hub for future-ready financial technologies.
