Dubai Regulator Greenlights Ripple’s RLUSD Stablecoin for Use in DIFC

Dubai’s financial regulator has approved Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin as a recognised financial asset.
This allows DIFC-licensed firms to use the stablecoin for payments, treasury, and crypto-related services.
Ripple aims to integrate RLUSD into cross-border payments and real estate tokenisation with growing interest across the UAE.

Ripple’s US dollar stablecoin RLUSD has been greenlit by Dubai’s top financial regulator, allowing licensed firms within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to integrate the asset across payments, treasury, and other virtual asset services, according to recent reports.

The approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) makes RLUSD one of the few recognised tokens under the DIFC’s regulatory framework, which only permits DFSA-approved assets in its tightly controlled ecosystem.

Overall, it looks like Ripple wants RLUSD to be a key component in its Middle East expansion. Reece Merrick, Ripple’s managing director for the region, said demand in the UAE is accelerating across the board:

The DFSA’s approval of RLUSD is yet another step forward for Ripple’s operations in the region, and we’re seeing huge interest from businesses of all sizes for cross-border payments and digital asset custody solutions. The UAE’s digital economy is vibrant and incredibly dynamic, and we’re looking forward to working with our regional partners, customers and regulators to supercharge that growth.

Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for Middle East & Africa

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Dubai and Ripple Strengthen Ties

As Crypto News Australia reported, back in March, Ripple Labs launched its blockchain-based payment system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It confirmed that digital bank Zand and fintech platform Mamo are among the expected early adopters for this year.

The company also stated that RLUSD will be used in Dubai’s high-profile real estate tokenisation project, led by the Dubai Land Department. The project, which began its pilot phase in March, aims to register property title deeds on the XRP Ledger.

Under the current regulatory structure, RLUSD’s approval enables DIFC-licensed companies to build compliant services around the stablecoin as part of Dubai’s broader push toward blockchain-backed financial infrastructure.

The price of XRP is currently US$2.26 (AU$3.5), a surge of 2.8% in the last 24 hours, as per data from CoinGecko.