UAE retailers begin accepting DDSC stablecoin payments in new pilot

DDSC and Network International have launched the UAE's first in-store pilot for payments using a Central Bank-licensed, AED-backed stablecoin, allowing customers to spend DDSC through existing point-of-sale terminals at selected retailers.

Summary

• DDSC and Network International have launched an in store stablecoin payment pilot at selected Marks & Spencer and LuLu locations in the UAE.
• Customers can scan a QR code using a supported wallet to pay with DDSC through Network International's existing point of sale infrastructure.
• Participating merchants can settle transactions either in DDSC or UAE dirhams under their agreed settlement arrangements.
• Network International plans to expand DDSC acceptance across its UAE merchant network after testing is completed.

According to a press release shared with crypto.news on Sept. 9, the pilot has gone live at the Marks & Spencer branch at Al-Futtaim's Dubai Festival City and LuLu Hypermarket at Khalidiyah Mall in Abu Dhabi. Customers with supported wallets can pay using DDSC, while participating merchants can receive settlement either in the stablecoin or UAE dirhams.

DDSC is pegged 1:1 to the UAE dirham and operates on ADI Chain. The stablecoin was developed through a collaboration between International Holding Company, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Sirius International Holding.

The pilot uses Network International's existing payment infrastructure instead of requiring merchants to install a separate checkout system.

When a customer chooses DDSC at checkout, the point-of-sale device generates a QR code that can be scanned through a supported wallet. Network's acceptance infrastructure sends a confirmation to the merchant once the transaction has been completed.

Settlement depends on the arrangement agreed with the merchant. Businesses can receive DDSC directly into a supported wallet or have the transaction settled in UAE dirhams.

Network plans to expand DDSC acceptance across its UAE merchant network after testing is completed. The payment company works with more than 240,000 merchants and over 250 financial institutions across more than 50 countries, according to information included with the announcement.

Murat Cagri Suzer, group CEO of Network International, said the company expects the integration to give merchants more options for accepting and settling payments.

"Through our partnership with DDSC, Network International merchants will be able to accept payments in DDSC and have the flexibility to settle in stablecoin," Suzer said.

LuLu Retail CEO Saifee Rupawala said the retailer was among the first in the UAE to enable the payment option, while Al-Futtaim Group Director of Financial Services Eric Shehadeh said the company handles tens of millions of customer payments each year across more than 200 brands.

The retail test follows the stablecoin's launch earlier this year. As crypto.news previously reported, DDSC launched on ADI Chain in February after receiving approval and licensing from the Central Bank of the UAE.

DDSC is licensed under the central bank's Payment Token Services Regulation and is backed by a segregated reserve of assets maintained under the applicable regulatory framework. Its stated use cases cover payments, settlement, treasury operations and other digital financial infrastructure.

First Abu Dhabi Bank provides banking support for the project, while ADI Chain provides the blockchain infrastructure on which DDSC settles. ADI Chain launched its mainnet in December 2025 as an institutional Layer 2 network designed for stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets.

The network had been selected to host the UAE dirham stablecoin before DDSC went live. Its native ADI token is used for gas and smart contract execution across the network and associated Layer 3 environments.

Activity on the network has since expanded into other tokenization projects. In August, Shipfinex tapped ADI Chain for a planned program involving roughly $500 million worth of commercial vessels. The proposed structure uses special-purpose vehicles for individual ships and could use UAE dirham-denominated stablecoins for token allocations and distributions.

DDSC's retail pilot extends its use from blockchain settlement infrastructure to physical checkout locations, with the first transactions being tested through payment terminals already used by merchants.

Ajay Hans Raj Bhatia, CEO of Sirius International Holding, described the Network International collaboration as a step toward using regulated digital assets in routine transactions.

"By enabling DDSC, a dirham-backed stablecoin, to work seamlessly through established payment infrastructure, we are turning the promise of digital currencies into a practical reality for businesses and consumers," Bhatia said.

DDSC is entering retail testing as other regulated stablecoins and crypto payment systems gain access to payment channels in the UAE.

In May, AE Coin and USD Universal introduced a regulated stablecoin conversion rail connecting the dirham-backed AE Coin with USDU, a U.S. dollar-backed payment token. The system, supported by Al Maryah Community Bank, was designed for institutional settlement, treasury operations and cross-border payments.

USDU is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority in Abu Dhabi Global Market and registered with the UAE central bank as a foreign payment token. AE Coin separately received approval from the central bank for its dirham-backed payment token.

Retail-facing crypto payments have started moving into other UAE industries. Emirates introduced crypto payments for flights in July through Crypto.com Pay, allowing eligible UAE residents to pay for dirham-priced bookings through the airline's website and app.

Desktop customers scan a QR code during checkout, while mobile customers approve the transaction through their Crypto.com account. Emirates continues to price and settle the bookings in UAE dirhams.

Crypto.com's local entity received a Stored Value Facilities license from the Central Bank in May, allowing it to provide regulated payment services in the country. The authorization has separately been used for an arrangement covering Dubai government payments, where settlement can take place in dirhams or approved dirham-backed stablecoins.

For the DDSC pilot, Network International has not provided a timetable for expansion beyond the initial participating locations. The company said stablecoin acceptance would be scaled across its UAE merchant network following completion of testing.

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