The United Arab Emirates has reached a landmark moment in its digital finance journey by conducting the first government transaction with the Digital Dirham. The UAE Central Bank launched this new digital money as part of its efforts to modernise the country’s financial system. The transaction was completed using the government-backed mBridge platform. It was completed in less than two minutes, highlighting the speed and reliability of the country’s expanding digital infrastructure.

The Ministry of Finance and the Dubai Department of Finance collaborated to complete this first transaction. It falls under the Digital Dirham initiative’s pilot stage, which is a key component of the Central Bank’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation Program. The project’s goal is to encourage widespread adoption of digital payments in the UAE’s public and private sectors. By using innovative financial technologies, the government seeks to boost its position as a global innovation hub.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum noted that the development marked a turning point in the UAE’s financial transformation. He stated that adopting the Digital Dirham in government activities improves transparency and efficiency. Officials confirmed that, while the nature of the transaction is unknown, its fast execution demonstrates the platform’s technical capabilities.