As regional demand accelerates, Ripple expands its headquarters in the financial center of Dubai
Ripple has expanded its operations in the United Arab Emirates by establishing a new Middle East and Africa headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) as demand for regulated blockchain payment services increases.
The blockchain payments infrastructure company plans to double its Middle East and Africa team from its new DIFC office, a region that now accounts for 20% of the company's global client base. In the year For a company that set up its first store in Dubai in 2020, this is a major business move from one region after six years.
In March 2025, Ripple became the first blockchain payment company to receive a full license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), allowing it to offer cross-border digital payment services from within the DIFC.
In June 2025, DFA RLUSD approved Ripple's dollar-pegged stablecoin as a recognized crypto token in the financial center. That approval means that regulated firms operating in the DIFC can use the RLUSD for protection, settlement and payments without stepping outside the regulatory perimeter.
The total market capitalization of RLUSD is set at over $1.5 billion per CoinGecko.
Ripple customers in the region include Zand Bank, the first digital bank in the UAE to use Ripple payment channels; Ctrl Alt, Digital Asset Protection Organization; Garanti BBVA, the Turkish banking giant; Absa Bank of South Africa; and ChipperCash, fintech connecting mobile payment users in Africa.
“The Middle East has been a key driver of Ripple's global growth in recent years,” said Reis Merrick, Ripple's managing director for the MEA region. “Having a large team based here in Dubai enables us to support our customers and partners across the region and beyond.”
Arif Amiri, CEO of the DIFC Authority, said Ripple's development at the center validates the authority's strategy.
“Ripple has become a model for how digital asset companies can operate with both ambition and accountability,” Amiri said.
RLUSD's DFA approval makes it one of the few dollar-backed stablecoins with clear regulatory approval in a major financial center.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. See our Editorial Policy for more information on how we create and review content.
