Bitcoin first, crypto at scale: Inside the UAE’s layered digital asset strategy
Abu Dhabi is anchoring Bitcoin for institutions, while Dubai builds payments, stablecoins and Web3 use cases into daily commerce.
The United Arab Emirates is not trying to choose between Bitcoin and broader crypto. Instead, it is deliberately building both in different cities and for different stages of adoption.
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, has positioned itself as a hub for Bitcoin (BTC)-focused institutional infrastructure, emphasizing custody, over-the-counter (OTC) liquidity, mining and regulated capital markets. Dubai, by contrast, has built a broader crypto economy that spans payments, stablecoins, Web3 apps, gaming, tokenization and consumer-facing products.
While this shows a distinction, industry participants noted that it reflects a layered strategy and not fragmentation. “The two approaches are complementary,” said Gregg Davis, producer of Bitcoin MENA, the largest Bitcoin-focused event in the UAE.
