XRP Expands in UAE with Ripple’s First Custody Deal

XRP continues its upward trajectory with a significant milestone in the United Arab Emirates, as Ripple enters a game-changing partnership to innovate property registration through blockchain technology.

Ripple has solidified its presence in the Middle East by teaming up with Ctrl Alt to offer institutional-grade custody solutions to the Dubai Land Department (DLD). This strategic alliance supports Dubai’s initiative to digitize property title deeds on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), marking an advanced step in blockchain adoption within real estate.

This collaboration is not just Ripple’s first custody deal in the UAE — it also represents the first time a government entity in the region is issuing land ownership records using a public decentralized blockchain platform. Ripple’s secure and scalable custody technology will underpin this digitization effort, while Ctrl Alt manages the local operations and integration.

Announced on July 16, this initiative aligns with Dubai’s ongoing smart city vision, merging traditional property systems with innovative blockchain infrastructures. Through the XRP Ledger, real estate data will be not only securely stored but also easily accessible and immutable, streamlining operations and reducing fraud risk.

Ripple executive Reece Merrick, who oversees the Middle East and Africa division, emphasized the significance of this development, stating that the Real Estate Tokenization Project showcases Dubai’s leadership in digital asset innovation. He applauded the DLD’s selection of XRPL as a key infrastructure choice, underscoring its strength in handling serious financial applications.

The project is already in its pilot stage with Ripple, Ctrl Alt, and active support from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. This pilot is a part of a larger regional effort to digitize public records and further entwine real-world operations with blockchain utility. Dubai aims to expand this tokenization approach across other public sectors, including financial services and broader technological applications.

Ripple’s momentum in the area has been building. Earlier, it earned the distinction of being the first officially licensed blockchain payments provider under the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). Now, its role in supporting government-level blockchain usage only expands its reach.

Beyond its engagement with the DLD, Ripple has also forged key financial partnerships in the UAE, collaborating with Zand Bank and Mamo. These initiatives aim to weave XRP even deeper into UAE’s digital payments ecosystem. Further strengthening its position, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin recently gained regulatory approval for use within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), where financial innovation is blooming.

The XRPL’s role as a foundational layer for these initiatives is unmistakable. As a high-performance blockchain optimized for payment and asset tracking, XRPL enables the secure and transparent ledgering of ownership certificates — a use case rapidly gaining traction among forward-thinking cities like Dubai striving to lead in Web3 adoption.

As of the latest data, excitement around these developments has triggered a rally in XRPL’s native asset, XRP, which saw nearly a 4% increase in value and hovers close to the $3 mark. This price movement reflects renewed confidence and growing investor interest driven by real-world utility rather than market speculation alone.

With Ripple’s technology now embedded into a pivotal government initiative, the UAE emerges as a central figure in integrating blockchain into formal, large-scale public infrastructure. This collaboration between Ripple and the Dubai Land Department not only elevates XRPL’s standing in the blockchain ecosystem but also signals what may become a transformative blueprint for similar blockchain applications globally.

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For more on Ripple’s ongoing developments in the region, make sure to follow verified updates from reputable sources like the Ripple company page and XRPL partners.