UAE ADI Foundation and Zamanat to put up to $150 million of tokenized assets on chain

Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation and Zamanat Advisors Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, with an ambition to support up to $150 million in tokenized assets on ADI Chain, subject to commercial viability and regulatory requirements. Initial areas of focus include maritime finance, SME credit, trade finance receivables and Sukuk, including Shariah-compliant structures.

The first pilot is expected to explore tokenized vessel financing, including structures designed to provide periodic distributions to eligible investors.

The collaboration brings together ADI Foundation’s digital infrastructure and asset origination capabilities with Zamanat’s expertise in structuring Shariah-aligned tokenized investment products. Opportunities will be sourced by both organisations.

Under the agreement, ADI Foundation will provide access to a pipeline of real-world asset opportunities and ADI Chain infrastructure. Zamanat will lead credit analysis, due diligence, transaction structuring and investor distribution coordination.

ADI Chain will support issuance, ownership records and settlement infrastructure for potential investment products designed to meet institutional requirements. Regulated activities will be undertaken by appropriately authorised providers where required.

Ramana Kumar, ADI Foundation’s President of Stablecoin Ecosystem, said the collaboration aims to bring established financing markets onchain, from vessels and SME lending to trade finance. He added, “Zamanat brings the credit, structuring and distribution expertise to help us translate those opportunities into investment products that institutions can evaluate and participate in.”

Umair Tariq, CEO of Zamanat Advisors Ltd, noted that the market for Digital Shariah Assets needs a steady supply of assets that institutions can underwrite, alongside trusted infrastructure for issuance and settlement. He explained, “ADI brings origination and ADI Chain, and we bring the credit analysis and structuring, with Shariah review on each Sukuk and Islamic structure, that turn an SME facility, a trade receivable or an underlying asset into a product an investment committee can approve.”

Earlier this year, Zamanat announced its sponsorship of Zamanat Fund CEIC Limited (the “Fund”), a DIFC-domiciled tokenized private credit fund on ZigChain with a target size of up to $100 million.