• Stablecoin transactions have reached US $263 trillion globally since 2019, including US $40 trillion in the past 12 months.
• The tokenised real-world-asset market has expanded by 380 percent since 2022, driven by institutional pilots.
• 31 percent of global regulators identify stablecoin issuers as their top oversight priority, and 46 percent see programmable finance as the next major opportunity.
• The UAE and Qatar are cited among 12 jurisdictions setting international benchmarks for digital-asset regulation.

**United Arab Emirates (UAE) - **The United Arab Emirates has emerged as one of the world’s most advanced digital-asset markets, according to the Global Digital Assets Report 2025 issued by the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) in collaboration with Arthur D. Little. Released during the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, the study highlights how the UAE’s regulatory progress is setting international standards for innovation, investor protection and market integrity.

The findings align with the region’s ongoing drive to harmonise digital-asset regulation with global benchmarks. The report links rapid growth in stablecoins and tokenised assets to the introduction of licensing frameworks, sandbox regimes and institutional pilots across Gulf markets, with the UAE at the centre of this transformation..

According to the report, the UAE ranks alongside Singapore and Switzerland in regulatory maturity. Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VAR A) and Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) are recognised for implementing activity-based licensing that connects innovation to investor protection. Saudi Arabia’s SAMA and Capital Market Authority (CMA) are developing supervisory regimes for tokenisation pilots and cross-border payment corridors. In Qatar, the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) is progressing frameworks for tokenised-asset applications within existing financial-sector laws.

The study draws on interviews with more than 40 regulators, central bankers and financial executives from Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It finds that investor participation is rising fastest in markets with clear regulatory parameters. GCC jurisdictions are now part of that group, reflecting structured cooperation across the UAE and Qatar to support responsible market development and interoperability.

“The data shows a region that has moved from aspiration to execution,” said Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of GFTN. “Behind the numbers is a simple reality: capital follows clarity. The Gulf’s regulators are building frameworks designed for longevity, not hype. Their focus on interoperability and real-world tokenisation sets them apart from markets still testing the basics.”

Arjun Vir Singh, Partner, Head of Financial Services at Arthur D. Little Middle East said “Our collaboration with GFTN reflects Arthur D. Little’s commitment to evidence-based insight. The GCC’s frameworks demonstrate how clear policy design can accelerate market readiness and strengthen institutional confidence in digital finance.”

The GFTN Global Digital Assets Report 2025, prepared in collaboration with Arthur D. Little, was unveiled during the Singapore FinTech Festival (11 to 14 November 2025). It provides a cross-jurisdictional reference for policymakers and financial institutions assessing the evolution of digital money, tokenisation and decentralised finance, and documents how the GCC’s structured approach now ranks among the world’s most advanced regulatory models, providing a foundation for continued cooperation between regional authorities and global standard-setters.

To read the full report, click here.

About Arthur D. Little

Arthur D. Little has been at the forefront of innovation since 1886. We are an acknowledged thought leader in linking strategy, innovation and transformation in technology-intensive and converging industries. We navigate our clients through changing business ecosystems to uncover new growth opportunities. We enable our clients to build innovation capabilities and transform their organizations.

Our consultants have strong practical industry experience combined with excellent knowledge of key trends and dynamics. ADL is present in the most important business centers around the world. We are proud to serve most of the Fortune 1000 companies, in addition to other leading firms and public sector organizations.

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