Ripple Breaks into UAE: DFSA License Opens $40B Payments Market

Ripple has received regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to offer blockchain-based payment services in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), marking the company’s first license in the Middle East.

The approval positions Ripple to enter the UAE’s $40 billion cross-border payments market, addressing long-standing issues such as high fees, lengthy settlement times, and limited transparency. 

Ripple is the first blockchain payments provider licensed by the DFSA, reinforcing its commitment to regulatory compliance and financial innovation.

Expanding in the MEASA Region

Ripple’s entry into the UAE market comes amid growing demand for blockchain solutions across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region.

The company reports that approximately 20% of its global customer base already operates in the Middle East, signaling strong demand in the region.

This move is part of Ripple’s broader global expansion strategy. The company currently holds over 60 regulatory approvals worldwide.

Brad Garlinghouse , Ripple’s CEO, emphasized the sector’s growth potential:

“The crypto industry is at an inflection point, and the UAE’s supportive ecosystem positions it to lead this transformation,” Garlinghouse stated.

Addressing Cross-Border Payment Challenges

Ripple’s blockchain technology aims to resolve key inefficiencies in cross-border payments. Traditional systems often suffer from high costs, slow settlement times, and limited transparency.

A 2024 Ripple survey found that 64% of finance leaders in the MEA region view faster payment settlement as the top advantage of blockchain technology.

Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for MEA, underlined the license’s importance:

“The DFSA license enables us to meet the growing demand for faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border payments in one of the world’s largest financial hubs,” Merrick explained.

This regulatory milestone coincides with broader fintech advancements in Dubai. The DFSA recently approved Circle’s USDC and EURC stablecoins for DIFC operations, allowing digital assets to integrate into payment systems and treasury management.

On the Flipside

• Ripple faces competition from established financial institutions and payment giants like SWIFT, which are also working to modernize cross-border payment systems.

Why This Matters

Ripple’s expansion into the UAE underscores Dubai’s ambition to become a global hub for crypto payments. Ripple is well-positioned to drive innovation in cross-border payments across the MEASA region and beyond as regulatory frameworks strengthen.

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