Key Insights:
- Ripple partners with Zand Bank and Mamo for UAE cross-border payments.
- DFSA license enables Ripple to operate fully regulated payment services in Dubai.
- Ripple Payments is now active in over 90 global markets, processing $70 billion.
Ripple has once again made headlines in the XRP news column, adding Zand Bank and fintech platform Mamo as new customers in the United Arab Emirates. This move marks its focus on expanding its licensed payment operations in the Middle East.
Besides, it also follows Ripple’s approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), obtained in March 2025.
Zand Bank and Mamo Onboard Ripple Payments
The blockchain firm named Zand Bank and Mamo as its first licensed blockchain payments clients in the UAE. Both will leverage Ripple Payments to support cross-border transfers using blockchain infrastructure. The firm claimed its system can move money across borders in minutes with reduced cost and higher transparency.
The new partnerships allow Ripple to offer full-stack payment processing in the UAE, managing end-to-end transfers around the clock. According to the firm’s managing director for the Middle East and Africa, Reece Merrick, the DFSA license laid the foundation for these integrations.
Merrick said the UAE’s regulatory approach had created “momentum” for the company’s expansion, especially as demand grows for efficient international transfers in the region.
Zand Bank’s head of treasury, Chirag Sampat, said the institution plans to launch an AED-backed stablecoin soon and integrate Ripple’s network. Mamo’s CEO, Imad Gharazeddine, emphasized the growing role of fintechs in handling remittances and enabling small businesses to scale globally. He said Ripple will help the firm streamline payments for UAE-based enterprises.
Ripple Taps Growing Demand in the Middle East
Ripple’s latest partnerships come as the Middle East emerges as a key corridor for blockchain payments. The firm cited data from its 2025 New Value Report, which showed 64% of finance executives in the Middle East and Africa prioritize faster payments and settlements as a reason to adopt blockchain.
With the DFSA license, the firm can now operate as a fully regulated cross-border payment provider in Dubai. It allows the company to move funds globally, offer on and off-ramps, and settle payments rapidly using digital assets and a global payout network.
The blockchain firm has processed more than $70 billion in volume across over 90 markets, including Brazil, the U.S., Switzerland, Mexico, and Australia. The company holds over 60 regulatory licenses globally, positioning it as a compliant digital asset infrastructure provider.
Zand Bank operates with a full commercial banking license and focuses on integrating AI and blockchain services. Mamo, meanwhile, targets businesses and consumers with simplified global transfers. Both firms are part of a broader trend in the UAE’s financial sector pushing for faster and more transparent financial services.
The XRP issuer said the UAE’s expected business growth, projected to exceed one million companies by 2030, creates favorable conditions for payment innovations.
Meanwhile, this marks a significant milestone for Ripple, as it has become one of the most attractive names among the cross-border payment providers recently. Besides, Eric Trump’s claim that the banks are likely to go extinct if they do not embrace blockchain technology has further bolstered market sentiment.
Simultaneously, the UAE has been one of the safer hubs for crypto enthusiasts globally. Having said that, this move is expected to boost the firm’s appeal to the global market participants.
