Inside the UAE's First Central Bank-Licensed Stablecoin: Building AECoin (Ramez Rafeek)

In this episode, we're joined by Ramez Rafeek, General Manager of AED Stablecoin LLC, the issuer of AECoin, the UAE's first Dirham-backed stablecoin, licensed directly by the Central Bank of the UAE. We dig into what it actually took to build a regulated stablecoin from scratch alongside a central bank, how the escrow-backed, one-to-one Dirham peg works day to day, and why AECoin's daily reporting and monthly attestation model sets a different bar for transparency. From government fee payments and merchant adoption to a standout use case, topping up your wallet with crypto and spending it instantly as AECoin, we explore how real-world distribution was won across retail, institutional, and B2B channels. We also examine the broader Dirham stablecoin landscape, how the UAE's central bank licensing differs from free-zone regimes like VARA and ADGM, and where Ramez sees digital Dirham adoption heading by 2030.Follow Stablecoin Partners Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/ StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck AE CoinWebsite: https://aecoin.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ad-coinuae/ Ramez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramez-rafeek-18651541/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AECoin and Its Significance03:04 Regulatory Framework and Compliance in the UAE11:50 Impact of Regulation on Innovation12:21 Competitive Landscape of Stablecoins in the UAE15:35 Use Cases and Adoption of AECoin20:21 Future of AECoin and Market Demand26:01 Vision for the Future of Digital Payments in the UAE30:42 Conclusion and Resources for AECoin