The Central Bank of UAE is preparing itself and the UAE for the soon to launch Digital Dirham, its CBDC ( Central Bank Digital Currency) and has published a report that offers in-depth review of the key achievements to date.

As per the press release, The CBUAE is moving towards officially launching the national central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the near term.

As such the report covers the design principles and policy frameworks that have shaped the development of the Digital Dirham, ensuring it remains secure, reliable and easy to use, in line with best practices and standards issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

According to the report, the Digital Dirham will allow non- UAE residents and the unbanked to utilize its for accelerating transactions and boosting the efficiency of payment systems through features such as offline usability, smart contracts and cross-border transactions.

The digital Dirham will be will allow online and instore and commercial peer-to-peer transactions. Furthermore, the CBUAE has developed a comprehensive platform for issuing, trading, and using the digital dirham, including the digital wallet, which enables individuals and businesses to conduct financial transactions.

H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, noted, “The Digital Dirham represents one of the CBUAE’s key strategic initiatives shaping the future of financial services in the UAE and marks an important achievement in the global development of central bank digital currencies. The Digital Dirham will help ensure a secure and efficient financial infrastructure for the UAE, enhance the efficiency of our payment ecosystem, support monetary stability, expand financial inclusion, and strengthen the international standing of the UAE Dirham.”

H.E. added, “We will continue to rigorously assess the design and development of the Digital Dirham to ensure its successful rollout and transformational impact through a consistent and prudent approach.”

The CBUAE has already launched a cross-border application of the Digital Dirham and carried out a real-value retail pilot to evaluate its future design, technology and advantages as well as key digital economy use cases to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the Digital Dirham.

In March 2025 The Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE) unveiled its new symbol for the UAE’s national currency, the Dirham has committed to the launch of the Digital Dirham as a CBDC. The CBDC project launched in 2023 has witnessed huge progress and will incorporate a Digital Dirham wallet.