The UAE’s central bank is close to launching its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital dirham, for domestic and cross-border payments. The CBUAE has partnered with G42 Cloud and R3 to be the infrastructure and technology providers for the CBDC implementation, which will boost financial inclusion and help the country become a cashless society. The first phase of the CBDC strategy includes the soft launch of “mBridge,” proof-of-concept work for bilateral CBDC bridges with India, and domestic CBDC issuance for wholesale and retail use. (Read More)