The UAE completes its first authorities fee utilizing the Digital Dirham by way of mBridge in beneath two minutes, marking a digital milestone.
The United Arab Emirates has accomplished its first authorities monetary transaction utilizing the Digital Dirham.
The occasion marks a serious step within the nation’s development towards a completely digital economic system. The transaction passed off by means of the mBridge platform and was completed in beneath two minutes.
Digital Dirham mission enters nationwide use
The Digital Dirham pilot is a part of the Central Financial institution of the UAE’s Monetary Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme. The programme was created to modernise fee techniques, enhance monetary inclusion and strengthen the nation as a monetary hub.
Early final yr, the UAE used the identical platform to ship 50 million dirhams to China. The transaction concerned the Individuals’s Financial institution of China, the Hong Kong Financial Authority and the Financial institution of Thailand, all beneath the Financial institution for Worldwide Settlements’ Innovation Hub.
At this time, Ministry of Finance & Dubai Finance marked a pivotal milestone within the historical past of presidency monetary transformation within the UAE, as we executed the primary authorities transaction utilizing the Digital Dirham issued by the Central Financial institution of the UAE, representing the way forward for the… pic.twitter.com/gYRiTC1Euh
— Maktoum Bin Mohammed (@MaktoumMohammed) November 11, 2025
It confirmed that central financial institution digital currencies (or CBDCs) can deal with safe and instantaneous cross-border funds.
The most recent pilot strikes the main focus from worldwide testing to home use. It exhibits how the UAE plans to make digital foreign money a standard a part of monetary exercise, whether or not public or personal.
UAE leaders commend digital progress
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Central Financial institution of the UAE mentioned the Digital Dirham is a serious a part of the nation’s digital economic system plans.
He famous that the primary authorities transaction exhibits the power of nationwide techniques and the UAE’s superior basis.
He additionally mentioned it exhibits the management’s imaginative and prescient of constructing a trusted monetary system that helps financial development over the long-term.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance described the occasion as an indication of progress in digital transformation.
He mentioned the Digital Dirham improves transparency and effectivity in authorities finance.
Based on Sheikh Maktoum, the initiative will assist align monetary techniques nationwide and help the UAE’s aim of constructing a complicated digital economic system.
Officers reward Digital Dirham’s effectivity
Mohammed Hadi Al Husseini, Minister of State for Monetary Affairs mentioned the mission exhibits a welcome change in how know-how is utilized in finance. He famous that the Digital Dirham creates new methods for each authorities and personal entities to course of funds securely.
Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Financial institution known as the pilot an vital step within the nation’s digital transformation. He mentioned it exhibits the UAE’s give attention to bettering nationwide fee techniques and sustaining monetary stability.
Balama added that the Central Financial institution will proceed working with companions to construct new instruments that match world requirements.
Transaction accomplished in beneath two minutes
Ahmed Ali Meftah, Government Director of Central Accounts on the Dubai Division of Finance mentioned the pilot was carried out by means of the mBridge system to check readiness and system integration.
He defined that the whole course of took lower than two minutes. The aim is to make settlements between federal and native authorities entities sooner and extra environment friendly.
Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Director Normal of the Dubai Division of Finance, commented on the profitable transaction. He famous that it exhibits a excessive stage of coordination between monetary establishments and the Central Financial institution.
He additionally mentioned it exhibits the UAE’s robust digital infrastructure and the management’s dedication to new know-how