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Abu Dhabi’s $764M Bitcoin Bet Holds Firm Through Market Pain
15.8.2026
Two of Abu Dhabi’s biggest sovereign investment vehicles sat through a roughly $118 million hit to their Blackrock spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) positions in the second quarter and did not cut a single net share, leaving nearly $764 million riding on IBIT when June ended. Mubadala...
Dubai Duty Free Brings Crypto.com Pay to Airport Retail in UAE
7.8.2026
Dubai Duty Free has introduced Crypto.com Pay as a regulated digital payment option for eligible UAE residents, allowing customers to use their Crypto.com accounts at airport stores and online. The rollout integrates crypto-enabled payments into global travel retail. Dubai Duty Free Adds Crypto...
Abu Dhabi’s Crypto Blueprint Draws Miners, Funds and Global Giants
5.8.2026
Abu Dhabi has built one of the world’s clearest paths for crypto and blockchain companies to set up shop, and sovereign money is following close behind. Regulators Write the Rulebook Early The emirate’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, or FSRA, has licensed virtual asset...
Emirates Launches Crypto.com Pay for Flight Bookings as Dubai Advances Cashless Strategy
28.7.2026
Emirates has launched Crypto.com Pay on its website and mobile app, giving eligible UAE residents a new way to pay for flights priced and settled in Emirati dirhams. The rollout allows customers with a Crypto.com account to select the payment service during checkout on emirates.com or through...
Emirates NBD Launches Real-Time USD Blockchain Payments, Cutting Cross-Border Delays
16.7.2026
Emirates NBD has gone live on the blockchain-based Partior network, becoming the first financial institution in the region to offer blockchain-enabled cross-border U.S. dollar payments. Instant Settlement via JPMorgan Dubai-based Emirates NBD has become one of the first financial institutions...
Siada Brings Nvidia B200 GPUs Online as UAE Keeps Sensitive AI Data Inside Its Borders
7.7.2026
United Arab Emirates tech enterprise Siada and Innovation City have launched the region’s first operational sovereign AI data center in Ras Al Khaimah. Bypassing Global Chip Shortages In a bid to bypass global tech supply bottlenecks and tighten data security, United Arab Emirates (UAE) tech...
UAE Central Bank Clears DDSC for VARA Platforms, Bringing Dirham Stablecoin to Consumers
5.7.2026
The Central Bank of the UAE has granted a no-objection certificate to the dirham-backed stablecoin DDSC, allowing it to list on regulated exchange platforms. Federal Oversight and the Retail Transition The UAE dirham-backed stablecoin DDSC has reportedly secured a no-objection certificate from...
HSBC Expands Orion Network to UAE, Enabling Real-Time Dirham Liquidity Flows
24.6.2026
HSBC has launched its tokenized deposit service in the United Arab Emirates, introducing the UAE dirham to its blockchain-based corporate cash management network. Regulatory Readiness Meets Market Demand HSBC Bank Middle East Limited has launched a tokenized deposit service in the United Arab...
VARA Pushes Dubai Crypto Firms to Track FATF Blacklists, Sharpening Risk Controls
16.6.2026
A Dubai regulator is replacing baseline compliance with rigorous, data-driven frameworks. Virtual asset service providers must now use quantitative business data for real-time risk scoring instead of static tracking. New Framework Demands Quantitative Data The Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory...
ASK Group Taps Eric Schimdt-Backed Keeta to Tokenize Oil, Gold and Copper
11.6.2026
The UAE-based investment group ASK Group and U.S. blockchain company Keeta have partnered to launch a public exchange where physical assets will be traded as fractional digital tokens. Gulf Commodities to Go Digital A United Arab Emirates investment group and Keeta, a U.S. blockchain company backed...
Ripple Eyes Turkey’s $200B Crypto Boom and 4x UAE Lead
1.6.2026
Turkey’s crypto market has become the region’s largest, with roughly $200 billion in transaction volume over the past year. Ripple executive Reece Merrick described Turkey as a leading crypto adoption market as Istanbul prepares to host a major blockchain event. Turkey’s Crypto Adoption Surge...
IHC Executes $30M DDSC Stablecoin Trade as UAE Digital Payments Enter New Phase
25.5.2026
International Holding Company recently executed a $30 million transaction using the new United Arab Emirates dirham-backed stablecoin. Major Institutional Transaction Executed The Abu Dhabi-based global investment company, International Holding Company (IHC), has executed a $30 million (AED...
Kraken Secures VARA Approval to Launch Crypto Trading and Staking in UAE
23.5.2026
Kraken parent company Payward has received preliminary regulatory approval to expand operations in the United Arab Emirates. The move strengthens Dubai’s position as a global crypto hub as major exchanges continue gravitating toward jurisdictions with clearer digital asset rules. Payward Gains...
UAE’s Mubadala Raises Bitcoin ETF Stake 16% to $566 Million in Q1 2026
17.5.2026
Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company raised its stake in Blackrock’s Ishares bitcoin ETF by 16% in Q1 2026, disclosing ownership of 14.7 million shares valued at $565.6 million. Quarter by Quarter Mubadala’s bitcoin ETF exposure has grown in every reporting period since it first appeared...
ADI Foundation and Settlemint Launch ADGM Tokenization Rail for $30.9B RWAs
14.5.2026
ADI Foundation and Settlemint have launched a partnership to build an integrated digital securities infrastructure on the ADI Chain. Integrated Infrastructure for Institutional Adoption ADI Foundation and Settlemint announced a partnership on May 13 to launch a new digital securities infrastructure...
Crypto.com Lands UAE License, Opening Crypto Payments for Dubai Government Fees
12.5.2026
Crypto exchange Crypto.com announced that its United Arab Emirates entity has been granted a stored value facilities license, enabling payment of government fees with cryptocurrencies. Regulatory Milestone Crypto exchange Crypto.com has announced on May 11 that its United Arab Emirates (UAE)...
UAE’s Innovation City Launches Blockchain-Based IDs, Pushing Firms to Instant Checks
5.5.2026
Innovation City, an AI-powered free zone in Ras Al Khaimah, has launched a blockchain-based digital business identity system to replace traditional and static business licenses with “living,” cryptographically verifiable assets on the OPN chain. Key Takeaways: Innovation City launched an onchain...
UAE Quits OPEC After 59 Years, BTC Slides Below $76K Amid Hormuz Supply Shock
28.4.2026
The United Arab Emirates officially withdrew from OPEC and the broader OPEC+ alliance on April 28, 2026, and bitcoin fell below $76,000 within hours of the announcement. Key Takeaways: The UAE exits OPEC on May 1, 2026, ending 59 years of membership and removing OPEC’s third-largest producer....
UAE Announces Shift Toward AI Government Model in the Next Two Years
25.4.2026
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stated that the goal was for 50% of government sectors to operate through autonomous agentic AI. The transition will also include the training of federal employees to “master AI” and will be overseen by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed. Key Takeaways:...
Startale Group Anchors in Abu Dhabi Following Selection for Hub71+ Digital Assets Program
20.4.2026
Blockchain infrastructure firm Startale Group is expanding into Abu Dhabi after being selected for the Hub71+ Digital Assets cohort. Key Takeaways: Startale Group joins Hub71’s 18th cohort to anchor operations within the Abu Dhabi Global Market. The move and a $63 million Series A round bolster...