Regulation · Regime · United Arab Emirates · Regulator rule or rulebook · Central Bank of the UAE
CBUAE Payment Token Services RegulationUpdated 14 Oct 2026
The UAE central bank's regulation of stablecoins ("payment tokens") onshore and in the non-financial free zones; the DIFC and ADGM have their own regimes. Payment token issuance, conversion, and custody and transfer need a CBUAE licence or registration, and payments for goods and services may only be made in a dirham payment token from a CBUAE-licensed issuer or a foreign payment token from a CBUAE-registered issuer. A one-year transition period ended on 14 June 2025.
In force
Key points
- Payment token issuance, payment token conversion, and payment token custody and transfer are licensable services.[1]
- Only UAE-incorporated entities can obtain a payment token services licence; foreign stablecoin issuers, including those in the DIFC or ADGM, can register with the CBUAE as foreign payment token issuers.[2]
- Using other virtual assets as payment is prohibited; only licensed dirham tokens and registered foreign payment tokens may be used.[2]
- Since the transition ended, firms offering payment token services on the mainland must be licensed or registered to keep operating.[3]
What it covers
Timeline
- Dec 2024 · AmendedCBUAE licenses AE Coin, the first dirham payment token issuer under the regulation.[3]
- 14 Jun 2025 · Transition endsOne-year transitional period ends.[2]
Deployments operating under it
| Deployment | Status | Assets | Use cases | Last reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE Coin UAE dirham stablecoinNew AED Stablecoin | Live (limited) | Reviewed 13d ago | ||
| DDSC UAE dirham stablecoinNew ADI Foundation | Live (limited) | Reviewed 22d ago |
Sources
- [1]Payment Token Services — Hadef & Partners, 6 Dec 2024. Accessed 12 Oct 2026.B
- [2]CBUAE Payment Token Services Regulation — Regulation Tomorrow (Norton Rose Fulbright), 30 Jul 2024. Accessed 12 Oct 2026.B
- [3]End of payment tokens regulation transition period signals 'new phase' for UAE digital asset regulation — Pinsent Masons (Out-Law), 26 Aug 2025. Accessed 14 Oct 2026.B