UAE’s Fuel Giant ADNOC Now Accepts Stablecoin Payments at Gas Stations

ADNOC, the UAE's state-owned energy titan, is letting drivers pay for fuel with stablecoins. The move bypasses traditional banking rails and slashes transaction fees—a direct shot across the bow of legacy payment processors.

From Petrodollars to Crypto-Tokens

The pilot program turns gas stations into crypto on-ramps. Customers can now settle their fuel bills using digital currencies pegged to the US dollar, cutting out the middlemen who typically take a slice of every swipe. It's a practical use case that makes volatile crypto markets look like a casino by comparison.

Why This Fuels More Than Cars

This isn't just about convenience. For ADNOC, it's a hedge against currency fluctuations and a test of blockchain's efficiency for high-volume, low-value transactions. The system settles instantly, 24/7—something even the slickest corporate treasury department can't manage on a weekend.

The real kicker? It proves that digital assets have utility beyond speculative trading. While Wall Street debates ETFs, a literal oil giant is quietly building the payment infrastructure of tomorrow. Just don't expect your financial advisor to understand it before they've collected their annual fee.

Stablecoin payments roll out across 980 stations

Under the agreement, ADNOC Distribution will enable payments using AE Coin, the UAE’s first Central Bank-licensed stablecoin, through a partnership with Al Maryah Community Bank. Customers will be able to pay with AE Coin via the AEC Wallet at fuel pumps, Oasis by ADNOC convenience stores, and car washes.

AE Coin is backed 1:1 by the UAE dirham and operates within a regulated framework, positioning it as a low-volatility digital payment option rather than a speculative crypto asset. The rollout is being implemented gradually across ADNOC’s footprint of 562 stations in the UAE, 172 in Saudi Arabia, and 243 in Egypt.

ADNOC’s strategy

ADNOC Distribution executives framed the MOVE as part of a broader effort to modernize retail payments while maintaining regulatory compliance. CEO Eng. Bader Saeed Al Lamki said the adoption of AE Coin reflects ADNOC’s focus on innovation, customer choice, and future-ready infrastructure across its mobility and convenience businesses.

By integrating a Central Bank-licensed stablecoin into one of the most widely used retail networks in the region, ADNOC becomes the first fuel and convenience retailer in the UAE to deploy blockchain-powered payments at a national scale. The deal was signed during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, aligning with the UAE’s digital-economy agenda.

UAE’s growing enterprise crypto push

ADNOC’s stablecoin rollout comes amid accelerating enterprise adoption of digital assets across the UAE. Firms such as Galaxy Digital and Circle have recently expanded operations under Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), citing regulatory clarity and institutional demand as key drivers.

For investors, the ADNOC deal signals a shift in how digital assets are being positioned in the region: not as speculative instruments, but as regulated financial infrastructure embedded into everyday economic activity. As stablecoins reach everyday retail, the UAE strengthens its role as a global testbed for crypto adoption.

Also read: Ruya Launches UAE’s First Sharia-Compliant Bitcoin Trading