The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has given its approval for the introduction of DDSC, a stablecoin linked to the UAE dirham and built on ADI Chain. ADI Chain is an institutional Layer-2 blockchain developed by the Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation.

On February 11, 2026, IHC, Sirius International Holding, and First Abu Dhabi Bank announced this approval. DDSC is part of a broader stablecoin initiative that was first announced in 2025 by IHC and FAB.

Tailored for institutional and government applications, including payments, treasury operations, trade flows, supply chain management, and programmable financial services, DDSC aims to facilitate advanced financial practices. Access will be available through various approved platforms to FAB customers, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while supporting sophisticated enterprise applications.

Institutional Blockchain Infrastructure for Regulated Deployment

ADI Chain is engineered for governance, scalability, and institutional performance. It serves as a bridge between traditional financial systems and blockchain ecosystems, allowing regulated entities to engage in digital asset transactions while adhering to regulatory requirements.

Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, emphasized that DDSC represents a significant milestone for the UAE’s digital finance landscape. With CBUAE approval, ADI Chain ensures a robust, regulated environment that bolsters resilience and drives innovation in digital payments. As a dirham-backed stablecoin with programmable features, DDSC is poised to transform payment processes, settlement mechanisms, and treasury operations while enabling secure and automated value transfer.

Futoon Hamdan AlMazrouei, Group Head of Personal, Business, Wealth and Privileged Client Banking at First Abu Dhabi Bank, highlighted that this achievement demonstrates the feasibility of integrating stablecoins into financial systems if they meet stringent regulatory standards. FAB’s role ensures a seamless blend of regulatory oversight with blockchain technology, providing secure and scalable solutions for institutional clients in the UAE’s evolving digital economy.

Ajay Hans Raj Bhatia, Group CEO of Sirius International Holding, noted that DDSC going live marks an important step toward advanced, regulated digital finance. Sirius supports this national initiative by promoting rapid adoption and unlocking practical applications enabled by ADI’s blockchain infrastructure and aligned with the UAE’s regulatory framework.