techgaged.com
Ripple has pushed deeper into the UAE, with a goal to expand the team even further, showing a growing appetite for regulated blockchain-based payments in the region.
The major tech company has announced the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) as its new Middle East and Africa (MEA) regional headquarters. The move is meant to create space for additions to the local team. The press release claims that Ripple will be able to “double the size of [its] regional team.”
“A larger team, based here in Dubai, will enable us to go further in supporting our clients and partners across the region and beyond,” said Reece Merrick, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa at Ripple.
Speaking of which, the company’s established clients in the region include Zand Bank, Ctrl Alt, Garanti BBVA, Absa Bank, and Chipper Cash. There is currently no information about potential new partnerships.
Blockchain Payments Gaining Traction
The continued expansion in this area shows an accelerating demand for blockchain-based payment and custody solutions, specifically the regulated kind. Ripple is not new to the regulatory journey in the Middle East. It has already received key licenses from the local authorities, necessary to operate there.
Ripple has heavily engaged with local regulators. It states that it was the first blockchain payments provider to become fully licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in March 2025. This development enabled it to start offering its cross-border digital payment services from its offices at the DIFC.
In June 2025, the DFSA also approved Ripple’s stablecoin, $RLUSD, as a recognized crypto token, allowing it to be used within the DIFC ecosystem by regulated firms. It also enabled the integration of $RLUSD into licensed, DFSA-regulated cross-border payment services.
“Ripple’s expansion within DIFC is a strong signal of the confidence that world-leading digital asset firms have in Dubai as a global hub for blockchain technology,” said His Excellency Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer at DIFC Authority.
Ripple’s Six-Year Track Record
Ripple established its MEA regional headquarters in Dubai in 2020. It has been steadily growing its presence in the region since, notably increasing its footprint within the DIFC in early 2026. All this speaks of a significant, growing demand for this type of service. Also, it indicates an increase in the number of local users.
“In recent years, the Middle East has become an increasingly vital driver of Ripple’s global growth,” said Merrick, MEA Managing Director. “From our earliest days in the UAE, we have seen first-hand the appetite from local businesses for regulated, blockchain-powered payment infrastructure, an appetite that is only growing.”
Meanwhile, on April 30 (10:00 UTC), $XRP was trading at $1.37, down 1.5% in a day and 3% in a week. That said, it’s up 4.1% in the 30-day period.