UAE Advances Blockchain Deployment with Institutional Focus

Binance Blog published a new article, revealing insights into the UAE's transition from blockchain experimentation to regulated, large-scale deployment. The article highlights the findings of new research by The Blockchain Center Abu Dhabi, which underscores the UAE's shift towards integrating blockchain technology across finance, governance, and public-sector efficiency. This transition is facilitated by a layered regulatory framework that supports institutional adoption in areas such as payments, tokenization, custody, and market infrastructure. The report, co-authored by The Blockchain Center Abu Dhabi and Binance, emphasizes the UAE's move from experimentation to execution on a national scale. It notes that domestic payment systems processed over AED 20 trillion in transfers in the first ten months of 2025, positioning the UAE among the world's largest remittance-origin countries. The report also highlights behavioral and market indicators that drive demand for modern settlement solutions, such as the high percentage of UAE residents sending international remittances and the prevalence of card or mobile wallet payments in e-commerce. These factors underscore the potential of blockchain to enhance settlement speed, transparency, and operational efficiency. A significant theme in the report is the structural shift in the UAE's blockchain ecosystem, which has evolved from early-stage startups to a robust institutional landscape. This includes regulated exchanges, custodians, payment providers, tokenization platforms, and multinational technology firms. Abdulla Al Dhaheri, CEO of The Blockchain Center Abu Dhabi, commented on the findings, noting that the UAE has fostered an environment where regulators, financial institutions, and technology providers collaborate to deploy blockchain in a controlled and meaningful manner. This has resulted in an ecosystem focused on real use cases, regulatory clarity, and long-term financial infrastructure. The report positions blockchain as a key component of the UAE's national economic infrastructure, drawing parallels with other foundational technologies that have reshaped economies. It highlights regulated deployments in areas such as real-world asset tokenization, stablecoins, and blockchain-powered trade and government services. The UAE Pass, with its 11 million users and over 2.5 billion authentications, exemplifies the scale of digital identity usage in the country. This reflects the role of sovereign and quasi-sovereign capital in supporting compliant blockchain initiatives. Binance's involvement in the UAE's institutional blockchain framework is also highlighted, with the company operating as an ADGM FSRA-regulated entity. Tarik Erk, Regional Head for MENAT and Senior Executive Officer at Binance, emphasized the UAE's focus on execution within a regulated, institutional-grade framework. The research illustrates how blockchain is being integrated into the country's core economic systems, with Binance committed to supporting the UAE's vision for secure, scalable, and compliant blockchain infrastructure.