Abu Dhabi entities IHC, ADQ and First Abu Dhabi Bank plan to launch a dirham-backed stablecoin, which will be fully regulated by the UAE Central Bank, aimed at easing payment solutions.
The stablecoin will operate on the ADI blockchain and will be issued by FAB, the UAE’s largest bank, subject to regulatory approval, a joint statement on Monday said.
This digital currency “will revolutionise the ease of making payments and doing business, both locally and globally”, the companies said.
It will be used as a “reliable digital currency” by consumers, businesses and institutions and also support emerging digital use cases such as machine-to-machine and artificial intelligence, they said.
“The launch of the stablecoin marks a pivotal step in our commitment to strengthening the UAE’s digital infrastructure ecosystem,” Mohamed Alsuwaidi, managing director and group chief executive of Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ, said.
“As we move forward towards an increasingly digital and connected economy, the stablecoin will provide a solution that is secure, efficient and scalable, while creating new opportunities for growth and value creation.”
Stablecoins − which are pegged to a fiat currency − tend to be less volatile when compared to cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. They are grounded being tied to a currency, or liquid reserves including government treasuries, or commodities such as precious metals.
The UAE Central Bank began implementing its digital currency strategy, Digital Dirham in March 2023. Its regulation on stablecoins last year indicated that it was to establish a clear operational framework for cryptocurrencies when implemented.
Abu Dhabi Global Market and Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority already have frameworks in place for cryptocurrencies. To bolster the strategy, the central bank last month unveiled a new, digital-oriented dirham symbol.
AE Coin, the first regulated digital currency in the UAE, was granted final approval by local authorities in December and was scheduled to be launched “soon”.
Tether, whose USDT is the world's biggest stablecoin, last August also received the go-ahead to develop a stablecoin in the UAE.
The new stablecoin launched by IHC, ADQ and FAB is expected to “have a significant impact on various industries, including finance, commerce, and trade”, the companies said.
The ADI blockchain, on which it will operate, has been developed in the UAE by the ADI Foundation, which will provide a compliant distribution network for blockchain payments. ADI Foundation has strategic partnerships with governments in over 20 countries.
“This new stablecoin represents a transformative step forward and will revolutionise the way both consumers and businesses engage with trusted blockchain payments in the UAE,” said Hana Al Rostamani, group chief executive of FAB.
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
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How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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