The Central Bank of the UAE has approved the launch of the UAE dirham-backed stablecoin DDSC, marking a major step in the country’s push to advance regulated digital finance and institutional blockchain adoption.
The stablecoin is backed by IHC, Sirius International Holding, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), and will operate on ADI Chain, an institutional Layer-2 blockchain developed by the Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation. With regulatory clearance secured, DDSC now enters its operational phase.
DDSC builds on a stablecoin initiative first announced in April 2025 by IHC and FAB. Sirius International Holding, IHC’s technology-focused subsidiary, has since joined the project to support deployment, systems integration, and institutional adoption.
Designed as a compliant digital financial instrument for institutional and government-led use cases, DDSC is positioned to support payments and collections, high-value settlement and treasury operations, trade and supply-chain flows, and programmable financial services for regulated entities.
The stablecoin is expected to be made available to FAB customers through multiple approved platforms, enabling enterprise and institutional use cases while maintaining strict standards for compliance, transparency, and operational integrity.
ADI Chain is purpose-built for governance, scalability, and institutional performance, aiming to bridge traditional financial systems with blockchain-enabled digital asset ecosystems without compromising oversight or security.
Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, said the launch represents a defining milestone in the UAE’s digital finance journey, enabling trusted, institutional-grade infrastructure that modernizes payments, settlement, and treasury workflows.
FAB and Sirius executives echoed the importance of responsible integration and regulatory alignment, highlighting DDSC’s role in supporting the UAE’s evolving digital economy and reinforcing the country’s leadership in regulated digital finance.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
