• The entry of " DDSC " into actual operation, based on the stablecoin digital currency initiative announced by International Holding Company and First Abu Dhabi Bank in April 2025
• The currency is designed for institutional uses, including payments, settlements, treasury management, and trade flows.
• DDSC will operate on ADI's blockchain network, which provides a scalable and regulatory-compliant infrastructure to support the UAE's digital economy.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: International Holding Company, Sirius International Holding, and First Abu Dhabi Bank announced today that the UAE dirham-backed digital stablecoin “ DDSC ” has received approval from the Central Bank of the UAE, allowing for its official launch, in a move that constitutes a pivotal milestone in the journey of regulated digital finance in the country.

The new currency is based on the ADI Foundation's blockchain network, an advanced Layer 2 technology developed by the Abu Dhabi-based organization.

“ DDSC ” is based on the digital stablecoin initiative first announced in April 2025 by International Holding Company and First Abu Dhabi Bank, and today it enters its operational phase, with “Sirius International Holding,” the technology arm of International Holding Company, joining the project to support deployment and integration processes, and to promote the adoption of the currency at the institutional level.

This currency is designed to be a digital financial instrument that complies with regulatory frameworks and is intended for institutional and governmental uses, enabling support for high-value applications within a reliable regulatory framework, including payments and collections, high-value settlements, treasury management operations, trade flows and supply chains, as well as programmable financial services for regulated entities.

This currency is expected to be made available to First Abu Dhabi Bank customers through a number of approved platforms, supporting institutional and corporate uses, while adhering to the highest standards of compliance, transparency and operational integrity.

The currency will operate on ADI's proprietary blockchain network, which was specifically developed to meet governance, scalability, and institutional performance requirements. The network aims to connect traditional financial systems with blockchain-based digital asset ecosystems, enabling regulated entities to participate in the digital economy without compromising oversight, security, or compliance.

The launch of " DDSC " reinforces the UAE's position at the forefront of the regulated digital finance landscape and reflects the growing maturity of digital stablecoins as a key component of modern financial infrastructure.

Commenting on this step, Syed Basar Shuaib, CEO of International Holding Company, said: “The digital stablecoin ‘ DDSC ’ represents a pivotal milestone in the digital transformation of the financial sector in the UAE. With the approval of the Central Bank of the UAE and our move to the operational phase, we are working to provide a reliable infrastructure with institutional standards that enhances agility, accelerates innovation, and expands the horizons of regulated digital payments. As a programmable stablecoin backed by the UAE dirham, this currency is designed to modernize payment, settlement, and treasury management processes, while enabling secure and automated value transfers, including in the future machine-to-machine ( M2M ) transactions and AI-agent commerce, as the autonomous economy develops.”

For her part, Fatoon Hamdan Al Mazrouei, Head of Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Premium Banking at First Abu Dhabi Bank, said: “This achievement confirms that stablecoins can be responsibly integrated into the financial system when designed in accordance with strict regulatory frameworks and advanced risk management standards. As the UAE’s global bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank enables DDSC to seamlessly integrate regulatory oversight with blockchain infrastructure, providing secure and scalable solutions that support corporate and government clients as the country’s digital economy develops.”

Ajay Hans Raj Bhatia, CEO of Sirius International Holding Group, said: “With DDSC now operational, we are moving into a new phase of regulated digital finance. Sirius is proud to support this national initiative by accelerating adoption and enabling practical, on-the-ground institutional applications, based on the sovereign blockchain architecture developed by ADI and backed by the clear regulatory leadership of the UAE.”

With official approval for the launch of the new currency, it enters its operational phase, embodying a fundamental step towards aligning corporate finance with the evolving digital economy based on digital assets.

About the Global Holding Company :

Founded in 1999 , International Holding Company (IHC) has built a prestigious reputation, becoming the most valuable holding company in the Middle East and one of the world's largest investment companies, with assets under management of AED 876.3 billion (US$239 billion). Since its inception, the company has undergone significant strategic transformations, representing a new generation of investors. IHC is firmly committed to sustainability, innovation, and supporting economic diversification through its extensive portfolio of over 1,300 subsidiaries, all of which contribute to development across four key sectors: technology, infrastructure, financial services, and consumer goods .

The Global Holding Company’s approach focuses on the continuous search for opportunities through the integration of its asset portfolio, overcoming obstacles and moving away from traditional methods and approaches, enabling it to build a vital network of relationships and partnerships to enhance value, record better results and achieve broad-based growth across various sectors .

The International Holding Company is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities towards shareholders, customers and employees, and is keen to invest with a high sense of responsibility to ensure sustainable value is achieved through continuous engagement with the communities in which it operates, and to make a positive impact with every investment .

www.ihcuae.com

About Sirius International Holding:

Sirius International Holding, a subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC), headquartered in Abu Dhabi, is a leading company at the forefront of shaping a sustainable future through technology and digital transformation. Sirius International Holding's vision is to drive transformative change and unlock a brighter, more sustainable future through its more than 20 subsidiaries worldwide, which are shaping the health, climate, and digital ecosystems of today's world. www.siriusholding.com

About First Abu Dhabi Bank:

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the financial and commercial gateway to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, FAB operates in 22 markets worldwide. With total assets of AED 1.40 trillion (US$382 billion) as of the end of December 2025, FAB is one of the world’s largest banking groups. The bank offers financial expertise to its corporate and individual clients through three business units: Investment and Markets Banking, Corporate and Institutional Banking, and Retail, Business and Wealth Banking, as well as a portfolio of premium clients.

The bank is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and is rated Aa3/AA-/AA- by Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch, respectively, with a stable outlook. In terms of sustainability, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has received an " AA " rating for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) from MSCI, and is ranked among the top 6% of banks globally according to Refinitiv's ESG ratings. It is also ranked as the best diversified bank in the MENA region for ESG risk assessment.

For more information, please visit the website: www.bankfab.com

For the latest disclosures and data from the bank, please visit: www.bankfab.com/en-ae/about-fab/investor-relations

For investor-related inquiries, please contact the Investor Relations team via email at ir@bankfab.com

For media inquiries, please contact the Public Relations team via email at PRandmedia@bankfab.com

About the ADI Foundation:

The ADI Foundation is a non-profit organization established by Sirius International Holding, a subsidiary of International Holding Company, and headquartered in Abu Dhabi. ADI aims to empower governments and institutions in emerging markets by developing blockchain-based infrastructure and building strategic partnerships that help governments build and develop national digital economies and promote social and economic inclusion. ADI's mission is to enable the participation of approximately one billion people in the digital economy by 2030, building on a solid foundation of over 500 million people within its existing network.

Through strategic partnerships in more than 20 countries and a growing portfolio of use cases such as the UAE’s new dirham-backed stablecoin, the organization is redefining what can be achieved at the intersection of technology and social impact.

ADI is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, a rapidly rising global hub for inclusive fintech, and prides itself on leading the transformation by turning visionary policies into practical and scalable systems that empower individuals, businesses, and governments alike. For more information, please visit: https://adi.foundation/ .

Media communication

Simon Hiles

General Manager and President of Edelman Smithfield in the Middle East region

IHC@edelmansmithfield.com

-I finish-

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