The Middle East Stablecoin Association, known as MESA, has announced the establishment of its headquarters at Dubai International Financial Centre as a nonprofit organization. It is the first industry body in the region dedicated entirely to stablecoins.

The move marks the association’s transition from an industry-led initiative into a registered institutional platform focused on supporting the responsible use of stablecoins, encouraging dialogue on public policy, education, and research, developing standards, and promoting international knowledge exchange.

A Platform Bringing Together Stablecoin Market Participants

The association brings together stablecoin issuers, trading platforms, banks, fintech companies, legal advisors, digital infrastructure providers, venture capital firms, corporate treasury executives, and other market participants.

It also seeks to strengthen engagement with policymakers and regulators, helping support the safe, transparent, and interoperable growth of digital money across regional markets.

The association has emphasized that its work is intended to serve the public interest and will not promote any specific institution or give any party a commercial advantage.

Strong Growth in the Global Stablecoin Market

The association is being established at a time when the digital money sector is experiencing rapid global growth.

According to data from DeFiLlama and the Citi Institute, the global market value of stablecoins has reached around $311 billion, compared with approximately $28 billion in 2020.

Citi estimates that the stablecoin market could reach about $1.9 trillion under its base-case scenario by 2030, while the figure could rise to nearly $4 trillion under a more optimistic scenario.

This growth reflects the expanding use of stablecoins in financial settlement, treasury management, cross-border payments, and programmable finance.

UAE Continues to Support the Digital Asset Ecosystem

The UAE continues to strengthen its position as one of the leading regulatory environments for digital assets.

According to estimates by Chainalysis, the country received more than $56 billion in crypto asset value during the period covered by its 2024 and 2025 report, representing annual growth of 33%.

The association selected Dubai International Financial Centre as its headquarters because of the center’s established legal framework for nonprofit organizations, its internationally recognized financial ecosystem, and its growing position as a global hub for digital finance.

Dubai ranks seventh globally in the latest edition of the Global Financial Centres Index and ninth worldwide in the fintech sector.

Dubai International Financial Centre is also home to the region’s largest innovation ecosystem, with more than 1,670 companies operating in innovation and technology.

Supporting the Region’s Role in Global Standard-Setting

Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta, Chairman of the Middle East Stablecoin Association, said stablecoins are gradually moving beyond digital asset markets and into the core of the global financial infrastructure.

He explained that stablecoins are increasingly supporting settlement, treasury management, cross-border payments, and programmable finance applications.

He added that the Middle East has an important opportunity to help shape the future of digital money. He noted that the association’s role is to enable the region to contribute to the development of global standards by supporting policy dialogue and encouraging responsible innovation.

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of the DIFC Authority, said the center welcomed the establishment of the first industry association in the region dedicated to stablecoins.

He noted that the move contributes to the broader development of the digital asset ecosystem and said cooperation among industry participants, policymakers, and innovators will remain a key factor in exploring new opportunities and achieving responsible growth.

He added that the association’s establishment further strengthens Dubai International Financial Centre’s position as one of the world’s leading hubs for financial innovation.

An Integrated Regulatory Framework

The UAE’s digital asset ecosystem benefits from a regulatory framework that includes several authorities, among them the Central Bank of the UAE, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at Abu Dhabi Global Market.

The Central Bank’s Payment Token Services Regulation sets out the requirements governing the issuance, transfer, custody, and movement of payment tokens.

In 2025, the Dubai Financial Services Authority also recognized USDC and EURC as approved crypto tokens within Dubai International Financial Centre.