International Holding Company (IHC), one of the most valuable holding firms in the Middle East, announced a major milestone in the region’s digital finance sector. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and valued at over $233 billion, IHC revealed it has executed a $30 million transaction using DDSC, a stablecoin built on ADI Chain—a layer 2 blockchain network developed by ADI Foundation and regulated by the UAE Central Bank.
First large-scale transaction with DDSC stablecoin
This transaction, disclosed by IHC, stands out as the first major corporate-scale transfer carried out with a regulated digital currency. The company stated that the DDSC ecosystem is now operationally ready, proving its capacity for scalability and effective real-world use.
Developed to enable payments, collections, trade, supply chain management, and programmable financial services for corporate and public sector clients, DDSC aims to increase efficiency in institutional financial operations. Key advantages of DDSC include speed, transparency, and regulatory compliance in cross-border payments, aiding the global expansion agenda of regional businesses.
Next-generation payment network for institutional clients
In collaboration with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)—the largest bank in the United Arab Emirates—and Sirius International Holding, IHC seeks to provide secure, compliant, and efficient infrastructure for next-generation payments and digital value transfers with this initiative.
The $30 million DDSC transaction confirms that this technology can be deployed at an institutional scale. From now, FAB’s clients are able to use DDSC for secure cross-border payments, treasury operations, and trade transactions in a digital environment.
Mini glossary: DDSC is a stablecoin collateralized with the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED), regulated by the central bank, and designed to digitize institutional financial operations. It enables fast and secure money transfers over blockchain infrastructure.
Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, noted that this transaction demonstrates the UAE’s active digital infrastructure can genuinely support institutional financial activity. He emphasized, “As a founding participant in the DDSC ecosystem, we remain focused on developing solutions that enhance capital mobility across financial markets. The 110 million AED (30 million USD) DDSC transaction on ADI Chain marks the start of a new era; institutional digital assets are not just feasible, but now scalable and efficient at large volumes.”
New phase in UAE’s stablecoin competition
The DDSC initiative launched by IHC and its partners is part of a recent acceleration in stablecoin regulations and implementations across the UAE. Previously, Al Maryah Community Bank introduced AE Coin, the first AED-backed stablecoin approved by the UAE Central Bank. Meanwhile, Zand Bank secured a license for AEDZ, the first multi-chain, regulated AED stablecoin operating on multiple blockchains.
| Stablecoin | Bank/Institution | Collateral Asset | Regulator | Blockchain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DDSC | IHC, FAB, Sirius | AED (United Arab Emirates dirham) | UAE Central Bank | ADI Chain (Layer 2) |
| AE Coin | Al Maryah Community Bank | AED | UAE Central Bank | Internal bank network |
| AEDZ | Zand Bank | AED | UAE Central Bank | Public blockchains |
| USDU | Authorized operators | US Dollar | UAE Central Bank | FSRA regulated |
New era for digitizing global trade and finance
With this latest announcement, the deployment of dirham-backed stablecoins in the UAE introduces new infrastructure for rapid and transparent cross-border payments. Meanwhile, the US dollar–backed USDU stablecoin has also received central bank approval for domestic and international digital asset transactions.
The initiatives led by IHC and other local financial institutions signal a leadership role for the region in digital finance, marking a significant milestone in institutional payment and collection digitalization.
