Ripple Extends UAE Partnership in Order to Facilitate RLUSD and AEDZ Stablecoin Liquidity

• Ripple’s UAE partnership with Zand expands to include RLUSD in the regulated digital assets custodial of Zand.
• The firms will work on direct liquidity links between RLUSD and Zand’s AED-backed stablecoin AEDZ to simplify USD–AED stablecoin conversion and settlement.

Ripple has extended its partnership with UAE-based digital banks Zand in order to investigate stablecoins custody, cross-stablecoin liquid, and the potential issuance of XRP Ledger. Reece Merrick is the Middle East and Africa Managing Directors of Ripple. She shared this update. The work involves extending an earlier collaboration in payments and focusing on initiatives involving Ripple’s USD pegged stablecoin RLUSD as well as Zand’s AED backed stablecoin AEDZ.

Last Year @Ripple A partnership in payments was agreed with an UAE bank @Official_Zand

We’re now extending this partnership to explore a range of initiatives, from enabling support for Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin within Zand’s regulated digital asset custody, to direct liquidity solutions… https://t.co/4o7nZ0z9oM

— Reece Merrick (@reece_merrick) February 10, 2026

Zand was formerly known as Zand integrated The XDC Network said that the company will be evaluating enabling RLUSD within their regulated digital assets custody service. It also stated that it would work with Ripple to find direct liquidity solutions for RLUSD-AEDZ in order to smoothen the conversion of the U.S. Dollar and UAE dirham. Zand has also stated that they are considering issuing AEDZ through the XRP Ledger. They will be referencing compliance, risk, and monitoring controls as part of their approach.

It builds on the payments partnership reached last year. This earlier partnership was focused on blockchain-based business settlement. Stablecoin infrastructure is the focus of this new phase. It could be utilized for cross-border transactions, tokenized financing, and treasury.

Custody Support & XRPL issuance under Review

Zand described AEDZ, the UAE’s first multi-chain AED stablecoin is now available on public Blockchains. The bank stated that AED reserves are backed in a 1:1 ratio by the token, which is held on segregated and regulated accounts. Audited smart contracts, reserve attestations, etc., were included. Ripple stated that RLUSD was fully backed with high-quality reserve assets such as U.S. Dollar deposits, U.S. Government bonds for short periods of time, and equivalent cash, as well as monthly attestations from third parties.

Zand CEO Michael Chan says the partnership will support the UAE’s digital economy via stablecoins. Blockchain technology and tokenization. 

Merrick says the collaboration has expanded. Ripple’s Work in the UAE, a focus of secure and efficient financial tools based on the blockchain. Also stablecoins and tokenized assets have emerged as key areas for financial development.

Some responses on X hailed the partnership as a great win for XRP and the entire ecosystem. Robert W., posting under “XRP Facts & Figures,” The rollout is expanding in stages, with a focus on custody, the use of stablecoins, and connections to liquidity. XRP Healthcare – an AI healthcare company based on Dubai – is a part of the rollout. said It is encouraging to see that regulated stabilitycoins are discussed, as well as local-currency liquidities and XRPLs.

As RLUSD gains formal recognition throughout the region, this update is timely. Previously, reportedThe Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi has recognized RLUSD. “Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token,” Permitting its use for certain activities regulated under licensing requirements. 

Ripple or Zand, however, haven’t provided a timeframe for when decisions on custody support and liquidity links as well as XRPLs may be moved from the evaluation stage to deployment. The partnership has, however, revived XRP, as the price of the currency rose over 2% The trade of $1.41.