Dubai, UAE – The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA), in collaboration with Fireblocks, has launched the UAE Stablecoin Payments Playbook, a comprehensive industry resource designed to help financial institutions, fintechs, corporates and policymakers understand and navigate the rapidly evolving stablecoin payments ecosystem.
The Playbook builds on insights shared during the industry webinar, The UAE Stablecoin Payments Playbook: From Regulation to Real-World Payments, hosted by the MENA Fintech Association in partnership with Fireblocks. The discussion brought together leading experts from across the digital assets and payments ecosystem, including John Hallahan, Head of Business Solutions, EMEA at Fireblocks alongside Claire Barratt, Managing Director UAE at BCB Group; and Miriam Kiwan, former Senior Executive Officer and Vice President, Middle East & Africa at Circle. The session was moderated by Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association.
Drawing on perspectives shared during the webinar and broader industry developments, the Playbook examines how stablecoins are evolving beyond speculative use cases to become a key component of modern payment infrastructure.
Key themes explored in the Playbook include:
- The transition from crypto-native trading activity to institutional payment and settlement applications
- High-impact use cases across the UAE and wider region, including cross-border B2B settlements, treasury management, liquidity optimization, and remittances
- The UAE’s evolving regulatory framework, including the roles of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), and Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA)
- A practical roadmap for organizations seeking to move from pilot projects to production-scale implementation
- Emerging developments such as AED-backed stablecoins and the growing convergence of traditional and blockchain-based financial infrastructure
The Playbook highlights the scale and momentum behind the stablecoin economy. In 2025, stablecoins facilitated approximately USD 33 trillion in onchain transaction volume. At the same time, the UAE has strengthened its position as a global payments hub, remaining the world’s second-largest outbound remittance market, with approximately USD 56 billion in on-chain value received during the 2024–2025 period.
As regulatory clarity increases and institutional adoption accelerates, stablecoins are increasingly being viewed not as an alternative financial system, but as an enhancement layer for existing payment networks. The Playbook provides practical guidance for organizations evaluating how digital assets can support faster settlement, lower transaction costs, improved treasury operations, and enhanced cross-border payment efficiency.
By combining regulatory analysis, market insights, implementation considerations, and real-world use cases, the UAE Stablecoin Payments Playbook aims to serve as a valuable reference for banks, fintechs, payment providers, corporates, and policymakers shaping the future of digital finance in the UAE and beyond.
Download the full UAE Stablecoin Payments Playbook here: https://mena-fintechnexus.org/the-uae-stablecoin-payments-playbook/
Interested in knowing more? Reach out to us at hello@mena-fintech.org
Become a part of the MENA Fintech Association:
