Ripple Wins UAE License For Regulated Crypto Payments

Ripple has secured regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to offer regulated crypto payments and services within the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC). Announced on March 13, 2025, this authorization makes Ripple the first blockchain-enabled payments provider to obtain a license from the DFSA.

Ripple Gets Licensed In UAE

The license underscores Ripple’s commitment to the Middle East and the company’s broader push for compliance-driven, enterprise-grade crypto solutions worldwide. It also paves the way for the company’s “compliance-first global payments product” to serve businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With the UAE recognized as a global hub for cross-border remittances—boasting a market worth an estimated $40 billion—Ripple’s entry into this regulated space aligns with the region’s growing appetite for digital asset-based financial tools.

“We are entering an unprecedented period of growth for the crypto industry, driven by greater regulatory clarity around the world and increasing institutional adoption,” said Brad Garlinghouse, Chief Executive Officer of Ripple. “Thanks to its early leadership in creating a supportive environment for tech and crypto innovation, the UAE is exceptionally well-placed to benefit.”

Ripple’s focus on the Middle East spans several years. The company set up its Middle East headquarters at the DIFC in 2020. Currently, around 20% of the company’s global client base operates in the region, with both crypto-native enterprises and traditional financial institutions increasingly seeking solutions to challenges in cross-border payments—such as steep fees, lengthy settlement periods, and limited transparency.

According to a 2024 business survey conducted by Ripple, 64% of finance leaders in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) cite faster payments and settlements as the primary driver for incorporating blockchain-based currencies into their operations.

Highlighting the significance of this new regulatory milestone, Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of the DIFC, noted: “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.”

He added that the DIFC views forward-looking entities like Ripple as pivotal to shaping the future of finance and propelling greater adoption of blockchain solutions in the payments sector.

With its new authorization in hand, Ripple aims to facilitate faster, more transparent cross-border transactions. Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for Middle East and Africa, emphasized the company’s ambitions: “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.”

Beyond cross-border payments, Ripple’s involvement in stablecoin innovation is also drawing attention. Launched in December, the company’s RLUSD stablecoin surpassed $100 million in market capitalization. Stablecoins could play a key role in the UAE’s payment framework, especially given the limitations of traditional banking systems, which often require several days to process international transactions.

Ripple now boasts more than 60 regulatory approvals worldwide, including a Major Payments Institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), a Trust Charter from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration from the Central Bank of Ireland, and Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs) in multiple US states.

At press time, XRP traded at $2.26.