News

New Samsung Astro Watch Honors Middle East Science Pioneers

The smartwatch will be part of a series of collectable devices exclusive to the region.

Published

2 years ago

August 28, 2023

Nour Nasir

Samsung

Samsung’s Gulf Electronics division has unveiled a limited edition version of its latest Galaxy Watch6 commemorating the Middle East’s contributions to science, astronomy, and timekeeping.

The 47mm Galaxy Watch6 Astro Edition features a rotating bezel with a unique astronomy pattern and a face that shows lunar and solar phases. The device was announced by T.M. Roh, president and head of Samsung’s mobile experience business, in Dubai.

Among those honored by the Galaxy Astro Edition are Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim Al Fazari, a mathematician and astronomer who built the Muslim world’s first astrolabe, and Al Battani, widely accepted as the greatest astronomer of the Islamic Golden Age.

The regular versions of the Watch6 series (base model and Classic) were unveiled alongside Samsung’s latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5, at last month’s Seoul Galaxy Unpacked event.

Samsung did not specify the number of Astro Edition watches in the limited-edition run, but Fadi Abu Shamat, head of Samsung Gulf’s mobile experience division, said he was “confident that [they] will sell out within the first weeks of launch,” adding, “The Middle East holds a special place in Samsung’s heart as a region of dynamic innovation and tech-savvy enthusiasts […] The launch of the Astro Edition here is a testament to our commitment to providing tailored solutions that celebrate the region’s rich legacy and cater to the Gulf markets’ preferences and needs”.

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The Galaxy Watch6 Astro Edition is the first in a series of limited-editions specific to the Middle East. Samsung Gulf did not provide a timetable or details for future versions but has noted that they will be available in the “UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Turkey”.

News

Dirham-Backed Stablecoin DDSC Enters Live Phase In UAE

Central Bank approval moves the dirham-backed token into deployment, targeting regulated payments and settlement flows.

Published

5 days ago

February 13, 2026

Nour Nasir

dirham-backed stablecoin ddsc enters live phase in uae

The UAE has cleared the launch of DDSC, a dirham-backed stablecoin now entering live operation after approval from the Central Bank. The move pushes the project beyond its pilot phase and into the country’s regulated financial system.

The token is backed by a consortium led by IHC, Sirius International Holding and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), framing it as an institutional instrument rather than a consumer crypto product. DDSC was first announced in April 2025, but regulatory clearance now allows deployment and integration across approved channels.

DDSC runs on ADI Chain, a Layer 2 blockchain built by the Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation. The infrastructure is designed for governance and performance requirements expected by large institutions, linking blockchain settlement with existing compliance and oversight frameworks.

The focus is practical, targeting treasury settlements, high-value payments, trade and supply-chain transactions, and programmable financial flows for regulated entities. FAB plans to offer access to the token through approved platforms for its clients, keeping the rollout inside controlled banking environments.

“DDSC marks a defining milestone in the UAE’s digital finance journey,” said Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC. “With the Central Bank’s approval and our transition into live operation, we are delivering trusted, institutional-grade infrastructure that strengthens resilience, accelerates innovation, and expands what is possible in regulated digital payments”.

Also Read: Basatne Debuts ORBT Platform For Digital Refunds In UAE

FAB says the project reflects how stablecoins can sit within traditional finance when risk controls are built in from the outset. “This milestone underscores that stablecoins can be integrated responsibly into the financial system when built to meet rigorous regulatory and risk requirements,” said Futoon Hamdan AlMazrouei, Group Head of Personal, Business, Wealth and Privileged Client Banking Group at FAB.

The launch reinforces the UAE’s strategy of pushing digital finance through regulation instead of open-ended crypto experimentation. Stablecoins in this model are positioned less as trading assets and more as programmable extensions of national currency, aimed at institutional scale and government use cases.