UAE Telecom Giant e& Launches Dirham-Backed AE Coin Pilot for Bill Payments

Highlights:

• UAE telecom e& plans to pilot AE Coin for everyday consumer payments.
• Customers can use AE Coin for bills, prepaid, postpaid, and digital services.
• The pilot aligns with the UAE’s push for regulated and transparent digital finance.

United Arab Emirates’ telecom company e& is preparing to explore the use of regulated stablecoins for everyday consumer payments. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Al Maryah Community Bank to trial AE Coin, a dirham-backed token licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE within its payment network.

A global first in telecom payments
AE Coin partners with e& UAE, making it the world’s first telecom giant to accept a Central Bank–licensed stablecoin
Millions of users will soon pay bills recharge & transact digitally using via AEC Wallet
Born in the UAE Built for the world pic.twitter.com/xeOW5PsOij

— AE Coin (@AECoin_UAE) December 10, 2025

UAE Pilot Brings Stablecoins to Real-World Payments

The company’s customers will be able to complete fast, secure, and fully regulated blockchain transactions. The stablecoin can be used to pay mobile and home service bills, recharge prepaid and postpaid accounts, access e& digital platforms, use smart self-service kiosks, and support upcoming digital services or e-commerce features.

According to Gulf News, the initiative matches the UAE’s push toward regulated digital finance. Hatem Dowidar, e& Group CEO, said the “With the Central Bank-licensed stablecoin, e& UAE is setting a new standard for regulated digital finance: instant settlement, complete transparency, and frictionless access. For our customers, this means choice, trust, and speed.”

Al Maryah Community Bank CEO Mohammed Wassim Khayata said the project is a step toward using licensed digital assets in real-world applications. The pilot is still in an early phase and is several steps away from wider adoption.

The company is also planning to add e-commerce services with AE Coin in the future. This would make the stablecoin a possible alternative payment method in one of the UAE’s largest consumer networks. Ramez Rafeek, General Manager of AED Stablecoin LLC, said AE Coin delivers fast, clear, and regulated digital payments. He called the partnership with e& UAE a key step to show how licensed stablecoins can serve everyday consumer services.

UAE Moves Toward Cashless Society with AE Coin Pilot

The pilot supports the UAE’s goals for secure blockchain adoption and wider access to regulated digital payments. Integrating AE Coin reflects the country’s long-term vision for a cashless society. It also offers a model that could expand to other industries as digital finance grows. This development makes the UAE one of the early adopters in the Middle East exploring stablecoins for daily consumer payments. It shows the country’s active approach to financial innovation and digital transformation.

AED Stablecoin was one of the first companies to get preliminary approval from the Central Bank under its Payment Token Service Regulation framework. This early approval makes the company a leader in the UAE’s growing stablecoin market.

UAE CENTRAL BANK GREENLIGHTS AED STABLECOIN

– The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has officially granted in-principle approval to AED Stablecoin under its Payment Token Service Regulation framework.

– This approval makes AED Stablecoin the frontrunner to… https://t.co/UnScFEkPLf pic.twitter.com/hKyCwoT4MT

— BSCN (@BSCNews) October 14, 2024

Despite gaining interest, it remains in its initial stage. The memorandum of understanding signals plans but does not indicate a full launch. The schedule, scale, and expected results are still unspecified. A successful trial would hopefully reveal how regulated tokens can operate in the background of day-to-day finance.