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Global Report: UAE Most Developed Globally in Digital Assets
The new “Global Digital Assets Report 2025,” published by the Global Finance and Technology Network in collaboration with Arthur D. Little, has ranked the UAE as one of the most developed digital asset markets globally.
The report, launched during the Singapore Fintech Festival 2025 currently being held in Singapore, highlights the role of regulatory progress in the UAE in establishing international standards for innovation, investor protection, and market integrity.
These findings align with the region’s ongoing efforts to harmonize digital asset regulation with global standards. The report links the rapid growth of stablecoins and tokenized assets to the introduction of licensing frameworks, a regulatory sandbox, and pioneering institutional projects across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, with the UAE leading the way in this transformative shift.
The report indicated that the UAE enjoys a high ranking comparable to Singapore and Switzerland in terms of regulatory maturity. Both the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (DIRA) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Authority (ADFM) implement a nature-based licensing system that balances fostering innovation with investor protection requirements.
Based on interviews with over 40 regulators, central bank governors, and finance executives from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, the report concluded that investor engagement grows faster in markets with clear regulatory frameworks.
Subnindu Mohanty, CEO of the Global Network for Finance and Technology, stated that the data suggests the region has moved from aspiration to implementation. Underlying these figures is the clear reality that capital is flowing towards regulatory clarity. He added that regulators in the Gulf region are working to establish frameworks designed for sustainability and long-term viability, moving beyond mere promotion. Their focus on interoperability and the tokenization of real assets distinguishes them from markets still testing the fundamentals.
UAE: Exceptional Industrial Growth
Arjun Veer Singh, Partner and Head of Fintech at Arthur D. Little Middle East, said: “Our collaboration with the Global Finance and Technology Network reflects our commitment to providing evidence-based analysis. The regulatory frameworks in the GCC demonstrate how clear policy design can accelerate market readiness and build institutional confidence in the digital finance sector.”
The report provides a multidisciplinary resource for policymakers and financial institutions to assess the development of cryptocurrencies, tokens, and decentralized finance (DeFi). It documents how the systematic approach adopted by the GCC countries now ranks among the most advanced regulatory frameworks globally, providing a foundation for continued collaboration between regional authorities and global standards-setting bodies.
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