UAE and China Pioneer Digital Dirham Cross-Border Payment in CBDC Milestone
The United Arab Emirates and China have executed the first cross-border transaction using the UAE's Digital Dirham, signaling accelerated adoption of central bank digital currencies for international settlements. This landmark payment underscores deepening financial ties between the two nations amid growing global CBDC experimentation.
The transaction demonstrates how sovereign digital currencies can bypass traditional correspondent banking networks, potentially reducing settlement times from days to minutes. Market observers note this development may pressure other G20 nations to accelerate their own CBDC initiatives as geopolitical blocs FORM around alternative payment rails.