The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has received expressions of interest from 96 firms for its newly launched Tokenisation Regulatory Sandbox, a major milestone in its push to support responsible innovation in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
This initiative, part of the DFSA’s broader Innovation Testing Licence programme, is designed to allow firms to trial tokenised financial products in a controlled environment. It reflects the regulator’s commitment to balancing innovation with market integrity and investor protection.
The sandbox attracted a wide mix of participants, from established institutions to agile start-ups, all exploring tokenisation use cases across shares, bonds, Islamic sukuk, fund units, and digital asset custody. The high level of engagement signals the growing importance of DIFC as a global hub for digital finance and next-generation financial services.
Justin Baldacchino, DFSA’s Managing Director of Supervision, said the interest reinforces Dubai’s ambition to be among the world’s top four financial hubs by 2033, aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
“This momentum supports our strategic commitment and opens the door to testing cutting-edge financial technologies in a secure, transparent, and regulated space,”
he said.
The DFSA’s themed sandbox model enables close regulatory dialogue, targeted oversight, and the development of bespoke policy responses to emerging technologies, all while encouraging responsible innovation in the market.
Firms that move beyond the initial interest phase will be invited to apply for an Innovation Testing Licence and begin live trials under DFSA supervision. Upon successful completion, they may apply for a full licence or exit the programme.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
