Ripple has established a new regional headquarters in Dubai’s International Financial Center (DIFC), reinforcing its commitment to the Middle East and Africa. The company stated the region has become one of its most important and now represents a significant share of its global customer base. The expanded office will enable Ripple to grow its local team and increase support for regional clients seeking regulated blockchain payment and custody solutions.
The blockchain firm Ripple has doubled down on its presence in Dubai and Africa by establishing a regional headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Center. This expansion comes six years after it first set up an office in the city. The DIFC’s chief executive officer stated that Ripple’s move is a *”strong signal of the confidence that world-leading digital assets firms have in Dubai as a global hub for blockchain technology.”*
The new headquarters will increase the company’s capacity to grow its local team. This responds to accelerating demand for regulated blockchain-powered payment and custody solutions across the region.
Ripple first established its Middle East and Africa headquarters in Dubai in 2020. The company stated in a press release that the region has grown to become a vital driver of its global growth.
In 2025, Ripple became the first blockchain payments provider to be fully licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Its stablecoin, RLUSD, was also recognized as a crypto token by the regulator.
The expanded office will allow for greater support of clients and partners across the Middle East and Africa. Existing regional partners include Zand Bank, Ctrl Alt, Garanti BBVA, Absa Bank, and Chipper Cash.
Ripple’s Managing Director for the region, Reece Merrick, commented on the expansion. Merrick said, *”A larger team, based here in Dubai, will enable us to go further in supporting our clients and partners across the region and beyond.”*
