XRP News Today: ADGM's RLUSD Approval Bolsters UAE's Digital Finance Ambitions

Ripple's dollar-backed stablecoin RLUSD has secured a critical regulatory milestone in the United Arab Emirates, with Abu Dhabi's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) approving it as an "Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token" for institutional use within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial zone. The decision, announced in November 2025, enables licensed firms operating in the region to deploy RLUSD for activities including collateral management, lending, and cross-border payments. This follows a similar greenlight from Dubai's Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in June 2025, marking a strategic expansion of Ripple's stablecoin into the UAE's growing digital-asset ecosystem.

The approval underscores ADGM's evolving regulatory framework, which now formally classifies fiat-backed stablecoins under a stringent oversight regime. Only tokens like RLUSD that meet criteria such as full reserve backing, independent audits, and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance can be used by banks, custodians, and investment firms according to analysis. Ripple's stablecoin, issued under a New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) trust charter, aligns with these standards, featuring 1:1 USD reserves and segregated assets. The move positions RLUSD as a compliant settlement asset for institutions seeking to integrate stablecoins into their operations, particularly in capital markets and treasury functions according to market reports.

Ripple's push into the UAE has been methodical. The company first sought in-principle approval from Dubai's Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in October 2024 and secured full authorization by March 2025 according to reports. By November 2025, RLUSD had already been integrated into the DIFC and now extends its reach to ADGM, a jurisdiction known for its alignment with global regulatory benchmarks. This dual recognition in the UAE and the U.S. reinforces RLUSD's institutional-grade status, with Ripple's senior vice president of stablecoins, Jack McDonald, noting its adoption by major financial players for collateral and payments.

The regulatory clarity has also driven RLUSD's market growth. Its market capitalization surpassed $1.2 billion in November 2025, with over $1 billion circulating on Ethereum and $225 million on the XRP Ledger. The supply expansion reflects institutional demand, as the stablecoin can only be minted by licensed entities, not retail users. This aligns with Ripple's broader strategy to position RLUSD as a cross-border settlement tool, leveraging its partnerships with UAE-based firms like Zand Bank and Mamo.

The market response to Ripple's regulatory progress has extended to XRP, the native token of the XRP Ledger. In late 2025, XRP prices surged by over 24% following the launch of the Grayscale and Franklin Templeton XRP ETFs, which collectively attracted $164 million in inflows. Analysts attribute this momentum to Ripple's institutional credibility, bolstered by its stablecoin approvals and strategic acquisitions. The ETF inflows, now totaling over $628 million, suggest growing institutional confidence in XRP as a viable asset, with some predicting total assets could reach $6.75 billion if adoption follows Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF trends according to market analysis.

For the UAE, the approval of RLUSD reinforces its ambition to become a global hub for digital finance. ADGM's chief market development officer Arvind Ramamurthy, highlighted the region's "robust regulatory framework" as a draw for innovators like Ripple, while managing director Reece Merrick emphasized the UAE's role in setting global standards for digital-asset regulation. As regulators in Dubai and Abu Dhabi finalize frameworks for fiat-backed tokens, RLUSD's greenlisting may serve as a benchmark for future approvals, further solidifying the UAE's position in the digital-asset landscape.