Ripple expands Dubai HQ and secures key DFSA licenses

Ripple opens a new Dubai HQ, doubles its regional team, and secures key DFSA licenses to meet rising demand for regulated blockchain payments in the Middle East and Africa.

Ripple has expanded its presence in the Middle East and Africa by opening a new regional headquarters in Dubai’s International Financial Centre (DIFC). This strategic move comes six years after Ripple first entered Dubai, highlighting the region’s growing significance, which now represents a substantial portion of Ripple’s global customer base. The new office will enable Ripple to double its regional team, addressing increased demand for regulated blockchain payment and custody services. Ripple has also achieved major regulatory milestones, becoming the first blockchain payments provider to receive full licensure from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in March 2025. Additionally, Ripple’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, has been recognized as a crypto token by the DFSA, allowing its use for custody, settlement, and payments within the DIFC’s regulatory framework. This expansion aims to better serve Ripple’s established regional clients, including Zand Bank, Garanti BBVA, Absa Bank, Chipper Cash, and Ctrl Alt.