The UAE Central Bank approves the launch of the digital stable currency “DDSC” backed by the dirham

The International Holding Company, Sirius International Holding, and First Abu Dhabi Bank announced that the digital stable currency backed by the Emirati dirham (DDSC) has received approval from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, allowing it to be officially launched, in a step that constitutes a turning point in the process of regulated digital finance in the country.
The new currency is based on the ADI blockchain network, an advanced second-layer technology developed by the Abu Dhabi-based organization.
“DDSC” is based on the digital stable currency initiative that was first announced in April 2025 by the International Holding Company and First Abu Dhabi Bank, and today enters its operational phase, with “Sirius International Holding”, the technology arm of the International Holding Company, joining the project to support the deployment and integration processes, and enhance the adoption of the currency at the institutional level.
This currency was designed to be a digital financial instrument compatible with regulatory frameworks, and intended for institutional and governmental uses, allowing the support of high-value applications within a reliable regulatory framework, including payments and collections, high-value settlements, treasury management operations, trade flows and supply chains, in addition to programmable financial services for regulated entities.
It is expected that this currency will be made available to First Abu Dhabi Bank customers through a number of approved platforms, supporting institutional and corporate uses, while adhering to the highest standards of compliance, transparency and operational integrity.
The currency will operate on ADI’s blockchain network, which was specifically developed to meet the requirements of governance, scalability, and organizational performance. The network aims to connect traditional financial systems with digital asset systems based on blockchain technology, allowing regulated entities to participate in the digital economy without compromising supervision, security or compliance.
The launch of DDSC reinforces the UAE’s position at the forefront of the regulated digital finance scene, and reflects the increasing maturity of digital stablecoins as an essential component of the modern financial infrastructure.
Commenting on this step, CEO of International Holding Company, Basr Shuaib, said: The digital stable currency “DDSC” constitutes a turning point in the process of digital transformation of the financial sector in the UAE, and with the approval of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and our transition to the stage of actual operation, we are working to provide a reliable infrastructure with institutional standards that enhances flexibility, accelerates innovation, and expands the horizons of regulated digital payments. As a programmable digital stable currency backed by the UAE dirham, it was designed This currency modernizes payment, settlement, and treasury management processes, while enabling the safe and automated transfer of value, including in the future direct transactions between devices (M2M), and trade between artificial intelligence agents, in light of the development of the autonomous economy.
For her part, Fatoon Hamdan Al Mazrouei, Head of the Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Distinguished Clients Group at First Abu Dhabi Bank, said: This achievement confirms that stable digital currencies can be responsibly integrated into the financial system when they are designed in accordance with strict regulatory frameworks and advanced risk management standards. As the global bank for the UAE, First Abu Dhabi Bank enables DDSC to seamlessly integrate regulatory supervision with the blockchain infrastructure, providing secure and scalable solutions that support institutional clients and government agencies under The development of the digital economy in the country.
Ajay Hans Raj Bhatia, CEO of Sirius International Holding Group, said: With the entry into operation of DDSC, we are moving into a new phase of regulated digital finance, and Sirius is proud to support this national initiative by accelerating the pace of adoption and making practical institutional applications available on the ground, based on the sovereign blockchain architecture developed by ADI, and supported by the clear regulatory leadership of the UAE.
With official approval to launch the new currency, it enters its operational phase, embodying a fundamental step towards aligning institutional finance with the advanced digital economy based on digital assets.