Ripple has grown its presence in the Middle East by opening a new regional headquarters in Dubai. The new office will also cover Africa and will help the company expand its operations in the region.
The company said this new base gives it enough space to double its team in the area. The goal is simple: keep up with the rising demand for regulated blockchain-based payment and custody services.
Ripple already has clients across the region, including banks and financial firms like Zand Bank, Garanti BBVA, Absa Bank, and Chipper Cash. The company says the Middle East has now become a major part of its global business.
According to Ripple, it has been active in the UAE since 2020, but demand has grown much faster in recent years as more institutions look for blockchain payment solutions.
The office is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a major financial hub in Dubai. Ripple says this location helps it work closely with regulated financial institutions.
Ripple’s regional head, Reece Merrick, said the Middle East is now a key driver of the company’s global growth. He explained that businesses in the UAE are showing strong interest in regulated blockchain payment systems, and that demand is still rising.
Dubai officials also welcomed the expansion. They said Ripple’s move shows growing confidence in Dubai as a global center for digital assets and blockchain innovation. The DIFC leadership said the company has been operating with strong focus and responsibility while helping connect banks to modern financial infrastructure.
Ripple also recently received approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), becoming the first blockchain payments company to get a full license there in March 2025. This allows it to offer regulated cross-border crypto payment services from Dubai.
The company also said its dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, has been approved for use inside DIFC, meaning regulated firms in the zone can now use it.
Overall, Ripple says this expansion will help it support more banks and partners across the Middle East and Africa as demand for blockchain-based financial systems continues to grow.
