UAE ranked among world’s most advanced digital asset regulators: Report

The UAE has been named among the world’s most advanced jurisdictions for digital asset regulation alongside Singapore and Switzerland, according to the Global Digital Assets Report 2025 released by the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) in collaboration with Arthur D. Little.

Launched at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, the report highlights how the UAE’s regulatory progress is setting new international benchmarks for innovation, investor protection and market integrity.

The study shows that stablecoin transactions have reached $263 trillion globally since 2019, including $40 trillion in the past 12 months. The tokenised real-world asset market has grown 380 per cent since 2022, driven by institutional pilots.

In parallel, 31 per cent of regulators identify stablecoin issuers as their top oversight priority while 46 per cent see programmable finance as the next major opportunity.

The findings align with the UAE’s push to harmonise digital asset regulation with international standards. The report links the rise in stablecoins and tokenised assets to the introduction of licensing frameworks, sandbox regimes and institutional pilots across Gulf markets.

According to the report, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) are recognised for implementing activity-based licensing systems that connect innovation with 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 research 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 frameworks with the GCC now part of that group through structured cooperation between 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.”