Ripple, the enabler of enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions, has received approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to provide regulated crypto payments and services in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC).
Ripple will reportedly be the “first” blockchain-enabled payments provider licensed by the DFSA.
This marks Ripple’s first license in the Middle East.
The approval makes Ripple’s compliance-first global payments product available for businesses in the UAE, and “reinforces Ripple’s role as a trusted partner for financial institutions looking to leverage the superior capabilities of digital assets to drive real-world utility.”
Brad Garlinghouse, Chief Executive Officer of Ripple said:
“We are entering an unprecedented period of growth for the crypto industry, driven by greater regulatory clarity around the world and increasing institutional adoption. Thanks to its early leadership in creating a supportive environment for tech and crypto innovation, the UAE is exceptionally well-placed to benefit.”
According to World Bank data, the UAE is home to a $40bn cross-border payments market, “making it a global hub for international trade and outbound finance.”
Ripple has seen increasing demand across the Middle East from crypto-native firms and traditional financial institutions, all “seeking solutions to the inefficiencies of traditional cross-border payments—such as high fees, long settlement times, and lack of transparency.”
According to a 2024 business survey carried out by Ripple, 64% of MEA finance professionals see faster payments and settlement times “as the biggest value proposition for incorporating blockchain-based currencies into their cross-border payments business.”
Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of the DIFC commented:
”We are thrilled that Ripple is deepening their commitment to Dubai by securing a DFSA license that makes them the first blockchain-enabled payments provider in DIFC. This milestone not only highlights our commitment to fostering innovation, but also opens the door for Ripple to tap into new growth opportunities across the region and beyond. As the Middle East, Africa and South Asia’s leading global financial centre, DIFC is proud to support forward-thinking companies like Ripple as they shape the future of finance and accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology in the payments industry.”
Since establishing its Middle East headquarters in the DIFC in 2020, Ripple has continued to “deepen its presence in the region.”
With around 20% of its global customer base already operating in the Middle East, this latest regulatory approval positions Ripple to “accelerate growth and innovation in a high-potential market.”
The MEA region has one of “highest levels” of institutional readiness when it comes to crypto adoption, with over 82% of MEA finance leaders stating they are “very or extremely confident” when it comes to “integrating blockchain solutions into their business.”
Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for Middle East and other regions said:
“Dubai and the broader UAE have established themselves as leaders in fostering a progressive and well-defined regulatory framework for digital assets. Securing this DFSA license is a major milestone that will enable us to better serve the growing demand for faster, cheaper and more transparent cross-border transactions in one of the world’s largest cross-border payments hubs. We’re grateful for the support of our partners at the DIFC, and we’re ready to hit the ground running with a growing local team and strong customer pipeline.”
Payments utility is also expected to drive greater stablecoin adoption in the UAE, with stablecoins “offering real time settlement compared to traditional banking systems, which often take days to process.”
Launched at the end of December on global exchanges, Ripple’s own RLUSD stablecoin has “surpassed $100m in market cap.”
Ripple’s DFSA license adds to its list of over “60 regulatory approvals worldwide, including a Major Payments Institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), a New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Trust Charter, a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration from the Central Bank of Ireland, and Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs) across multiple U.S. states.”
As Ripple continues to work with regulators and policymakers worldwide, this milestone strengthens its mission to “bring the benefits of compliant blockchain technology to financial services companies and their customers globally.”