Network International, a major payment processor across the Middle East and Africa, has launched an in-store trial introducing retail stablecoin payments in the United Arab Emirates. The pilot enables consumers to spend DDSC, a digital currency pegged 1:1 to the UAE dirham (AED), at select retail outlets, including the Marks & Spencer branch at Al-Futtaim’s Dubai Festival City and the LuLu Hypermarket in Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi.
Rather than requiring merchants to deploy specialized hardware, the payment integration operates directly through Network International’s existing point-of-sale (POS) terminals. During checkout, the terminal generates a dynamic QR code that customers scan using a supported digital wallet. Network’s payment processing infrastructure verifies the transaction on-chain and provides instant confirmation to the cashier. Merchants participating in the pilot retain complete flexibility over settlement terms, choosing whether to receive payouts directly in native DDSC stablecoins or automatically converted UAE dirhams deposited into traditional bank accounts.
Network International, which processes transactions for over 240,000 merchants across 50 countries, plans to expand DDSC acceptance across its broader merchant network following the completion of the initial testing phase. Executive leadership noted that embedding stablecoin compatibility into established payment rails converts digital currencies into a practical payment method for routine merchant transactions.
Institutional Architecture and UAE Regulatory Context
DDSC was officially launched earlier in 2026 under the Central Bank of the UAE’s Payment Token Services Regulation. Developed through a joint initiative between International Holding Company (IHC), First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), and Sirius International Holding, the stablecoin is fully collateralized by a segregated reserve of dirham-denominated assets maintained under central bank oversight. FAB provides primary banking support, while operational reserves undergo regular independent verification.
The underlying blockchain technology relies on ADI Chain, an institutional Layer-2 network that launched its mainnet in December 2025 specifically to support tokenized real-world assets and stablecoins. Gas fees and smart contract execution across the network are powered by the native ADI token, which has increasingly seen adoption across enterprise tokenization projects, including a $500 million maritime vessel tokenization program introduced in August 2026.
The retail rollout reflects a broader strategy by UAE regulators to integrate compliant, dirham-backed payment tokens into the nation’s financial system. Similar initiatives include the regulatory approval of AE Coin alongside airport-wide crypto payment integrations by major regional carriers. By bypassing legacy intermediary fees and providing near-instant settlement finality, local currency stablecoins offer merchants a cost-effective alternative to traditional credit card rails while operating fully within a regulated perimeter.
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