DDSC and Network International have introduced the UAE's first in-store pilot for payments using a Central Bank-licensed, AED-backed stablecoin. The trial allows customers to spend DDSC through existing point-of-sale terminals at selected retailers, marking a significant step from blockchain settlement infrastructure to physical checkout locations.
The pilot went live at the Marks & Spencer branch at Al-Futtaim's Dubai Festival City and LuLu Hypermarket at Khalidiyah Mall in Abu Dhabi. Customers with supported wallets can choose DDSC at checkout, after which the point-of-sale device generates a QR code. Once the customer approves the payment, Network International's acceptance infrastructure sends confirmation to the merchant.
Participating merchants can settle transactions either in DDSC or UAE dirhams, depending on their commercial arrangements with Network International. This flexibility lets retailers test regulated stablecoin payments without fully restructuring their accounting, payment, and treasury systems.
DDSC is pegged 1:1 to the UAE dirham and operates on ADI Chain. It was developed through a collaboration between International Holding Company, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Sirius International Holding. The stablecoin is licensed under the Central Bank of the UAE's Payment Token Services Regulation and is backed by a segregated reserve of assets maintained under the applicable regulatory framework.
Network International plans to expand DDSC acceptance across its UAE merchant network after testing is completed. The payment company works with more than 240,000 merchants and over 250 financial institutions across more than 50 countries. Group CEO Murat Cagri Suzer said the integration is expected to give merchants more options for accepting and settling payments. LuLu Retail CEO Saifee Rupawala emphasized that the retailer was among the first in the UAE to enable the payment option, while Al-Futtaim Group Director of Financial Services Eric Shehadeh noted the company handles tens of millions of customer payments each year across more than 200 brands.
ADI Chain launched its mainnet in December 2025 as an institutional Layer 2 network designed for stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. Its native ADI token is used for gas and smart contract execution across the network and associated Layer 3 environments. The retail pilot extends DDSC's use from blockchain settlement to everyday payments, while other UAE regulated stablecoins and crypto payment systems are also gaining access to payment channels.
