Digital asset infrastructure provider Ripple has secured a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to become the first regulated crypto payment services provider within the Dubai International Finance Center (DIFC).

This milestone marks Ripple’s debut regulatory approval in the Middle East. With the new license, businesses in the UAE can now access Ripple’s enterprise-focused payment solutions, further solidifying the company’s reputation as a reliable partner for financial institutions looking to harness the potential of digital assets for real-world applications.

“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 Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. “Thanks to its early leadership in creating a supportive environment for tech and crypto innovation, the UAE is exceptionally well-placed to benefit”.

Ripple has witnessed growing interest across the Middle East from both crypto-native businesses and traditional financial institutions, all eager to address the challenges of conventional cross-border payments — namely high fees, slow transaction times, and limited transparency.

His Excellency Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, commented, “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”.

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With roughly 20% of Ripple’s global customer base operating in the region, regulatory approval further positions the platform for accelerated growth in a market that’s already highly receptive to crypto adoption. In fact, more than 80% of finance leaders in the MEA region have expressed strong confidence in integrating blockchain technology into their operations.

“Dubai and the broader UAE have established themselves as leaders in fostering a progressive and well-defined regulatory framework for digital assets,” said Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa. “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”.

Ripple’s DFSA license is the latest addition in a comprehensive list of worldwide regulatory approvals, joining the company’s 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) across multiple U.S. states.