News

Notion Adds Arabic Language Across Its Workspace Platform

Productivity app localizes for Arabic speakers as Gulf startups and enterprises push deeper into digital tools.

Published

3 weeks ago

January 26, 2026

Nour Nasir

Notion

Notion has introduced full Arabic language support across its workspace platform, extending localization to its web interface, desktop software and mobile apps in what marks the company’s first dedicated product move for the Middle East.

From this week, users can switch the entire experience into Arabic, including navigation, settings and core features. The update brings the AI-powered productivity tool in line with how many teams across the region already operate, often juggling Arabic and English across documents and workflows.

The rollout follows years of steady local adoption rather than a formal market entry. Notion says it now counts millions of users across the Middle East, with hundreds of thousands in the UAE alone. Regional customers include Emirates Foundation and Emirates Investment Bank, while more than 1,000 UAE startups have gone through the company’s Startups Program.

“The Middle East has emerged as one of our most engaged communities, as the region’s vibrant startup ecosystem and rapid digital transformation have made it a natural fit for Notion’s flexible, AI-powered approach to work,” said Mick Hodgins, GM EMEA at Notion. “We now have millions of users across the region who have adopted Notion to build startups, manage teams, and create their life’s work. Arabic support is a foundation for what comes next, as we deepen our commitment to the region and the teams building the future here”.

Also Read: UAE-Built Falcon-H1 Arabic Leads LLM Benchmarks

For Notion, language coverage is also a practical lever: Public-sector bodies, banks and large enterprises across the Gulf increasingly require Arabic interfaces before rolling out software at scale. Vendors without it are often filtered out early.

The company paired the release with a recent Make with Notion Showcase event in Dubai, a sign it wants closer ties with the local ecosystem rather than treating the region as remote demand.

Arabic becomes Notion’s 21st supported language. The change turns a widely used foreign tool into something that feels native, and signals that the company sees the Gulf as more than a side market.

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

4 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.