The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has officially approved Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin for use within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This move allows licensed DIFC firms to adopt RLUSD for virtual asset services including payments, custody, and treasury operations.
Located in the heart of Dubai, the DIFC is a major financial hub that serves over 7,000 registered businesses across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Under the DFSA’s crypto regime, only approved tokens can operate within the DIFC’s regulated ecosystem.
Ripple Sees High Demand in UAE
Ripple is seeing increasing demand from local firms for blockchain-powered solutions.
“The UAE’s digital economy is vibrant and incredibly dynamic,” said Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa. “We’re seeing huge interest from businesses of all sizes for cross-border payments and digital asset custody.”
To meet this demand, Ripple is collaborating with local partners, including Zand digital bank and fintech platform Mamo. These firms are expected to adopt Ripple’s regulated services and begin integrating RLUSD soon.
Supporting Blockchain-Based Real Estate in Dubai
The RLUSD stablecoin will also support a major public sector initiative. Dubai Land Department (DLD) is using Ripple’s XRP Ledger to tokenize property title deeds. This project, which began pilot testing in March 2025, aims to improve transparency and efficiency in the real estate sector.
Ripple stated that RLUSD will power the tokenization process, helping DLD become a blockchain-enabled registry for Dubai’s property market.
Ripple Strengthens Global Regulatory Presence
The DFSA approval builds on Ripple’s growing regulatory standing. In March 2025, the company secured a full operating license in the DIFC. Additionally, RLUSD is one of the few stablecoins approved under both the DFSA’s token regime and New York’s Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Trust Company Charter.
Besides RLUSD, the DFSA has also recognised Circle’s stablecoins—USDC and EURC—for use within DIFC’s digital economy.
