Ripple’s RLUSD Stablecoin Gets Green Light in Dubai’s DIFC—Because the World Needed Another Dollar Peg

Dubai’s financial free zone just rolled out the red carpet for Ripple’s latest stablecoin—proving regulators will rubber-stamp anything with ’blockchain’ slapped on it.

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) approved RLUSD for use within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), giving Ripple a foothold in one of crypto’s most sandbox-friendly jurisdictions.

No details on issuance volume or launch timing yet—because why spoil the hype cycle with pesky specifics?

Another day, another stablecoin. At least this one’s backed by a company that hasn’t been sued by the SEC... lately.

Ripple integrates RLUSD into its payments system

With the DFSA’s approval in place, Ripple now has the ability to embed RLUSD into its DFSA-licensed payments solution. This lets the company combine the functions of a blockchain-based infrastructure with a trusted digital dollar that can operate smoothly across its existing global payout network.

Unlike stablecoins created for users swapping tokens on exchanges, RLUSD was developed for businesses needing more reliable transaction rails. It targets the speed, cost, and complexity issues common in traditional international payments.

The approval also extends to any other licensed company working inside the DIFC. That means RLUSD can now be legally used by other DFSA-regulated firms. The DIFC had nearly 7,000 companies operating at the close of 2024, according to Ripple, showing a broad field of potential adopters.

Ripple claims it has seen a 55% year-over-year jump in stablecoin activity across the region in 2024. Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, described the region as a hotbed of crypto activity. “The DFSA’s approval of RLUSD is yet another step forward for Ripple’s operations in the region,” Reece said.

Ripple is already locking in deals to put its regulated infrastructure to work. The company recently confirmed that Zand Bank and Mamo will be the first customers in the UAE to start using Ripple’s blockchain-powered payments offering.

The announcement also comes alongside Ripple’s new partnership with local firm Ctrl Alt, which will support the Dubai Land Department’s (DLD) new Real Estate Tokenization Project. That initiative will involve placing real estate title deeds directly onto the XRP Ledger, bringing blockchain to land ownership in a tangible, government-backed way.

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