The UAE has been named among the most advanced jurisdictions in the world of digital asset management alongside Singapore and Switzerland, according to the Global Digital apps Report 2025 released by the Global Financial & Technology Network (GFTN) in collaboration with Arthur D. Little.
Launched at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2025, the report highlights how the UAE’s regulatory progress is setting new benchmarks for other start-up countries, investor protection and market integrity.
Research shows that stablecoin transactions reached $263 trillion worldwide as of 2019, including $40 million in revs in the past 12 months. The Tokenised Real-World asset market has grown by 380 percent since 2022, driven by institutional pilots.
Similarly, 31 percent of regulators identify stablecoin issuers as their first look ahead while 46 percent see structured finance as the next big opportunity.
The acquisition is in line with the UAE’s push to harmonize Digital Asset legislation with international standards. The report links the rise of stablecoins and table assets to the introduction of licensing frameworks, sandbox regimes and institutional pilots in the Gulf markets.
According to the report, Dubai’s Virtuals Regulatory Authority (Varai) and Abu Dhabi Global Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) are known to use licensing systems designed for work that link innovation with investor protection.
Saudi Arabia’s Sama and Capital Market Authority (CMA) are promoting the creation of cross-border restrictions and border payment restrictions.
In Qatar, the Qatar Financial Center Authority (QFCRA) is developing a framework for the application of asset tokens within existing financial regulations.
The study draws on interviews with more than 40 regulators, central banks and financial managers from Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It finds that the participation of investors is increasing significantly in markets with a clear regulatory framework with the GCC now part of that group with systematic cooperation between the UAE and Qatar to support market development and cooperation.
“The data shows the district has been removed from the wish to be killed,” said SopNendu Mohanty, CEO of the GFTN group. “Behind the numbers is a real simple thing: the capital follows transparency. The Gulf regulators are creating a framework designed to last, not hype. Real focus. Real focus.
Arjun Virn Singh, partner, head of financial services at Arthur D. Little Middle East, said:
