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Abu Dhabi, December 12, 2025.
ADNOC Distribution, the UAE’s leading fuel and convenience retailer, has signed a landmark agreement to accept AE Coin, the country’s first AED-pegged stablecoin, at nearly 980 service stations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
The move marks the largest real-world adoption of regulated stablecoins in the energy retail sector to date and accelerates cryptocurrency integration into everyday spending.
Key Takeaways
- ADNOC Distribution becomes the first major fuel retailer globally to enable stablecoin payments at scale.
- AE Coin (1:1 backed by UAE dirham) will be accepted at 562 stations in the UAE, 172 in Saudi Arabia, and 243 in Egypt.
- Payments cover fuel, convenience stores, car washes, lubricants, and other services.
- Instant, low-cost transactions with near-zero fees compared to traditional cards or remittances.
- Initiative aligns with UAE Central Bank’s regulated virtual asset framework and Vision 2031 digital economy goals.
News Update: What Happened and Why It Matters
During Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025, ADNOC Distribution and AED Stablecoin LLC (issuer of AE Coin) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate the licensed stablecoin across the retailer’s regional network.
CEO Eng. Bader Saeed Al Lamki described the partnership as “a natural evolution of our digital transformation strategy,” adding that it will deliver faster, more secure, and cost-effective payment options to millions of customers.
AE Coin, fully licensed by the UAE Central Bank, maintains perfect parity with the dirham through audited reserves, eliminating the volatility associated with Bitcoin or Ethereum while preserving blockchain benefits: transparency, speed, and traceability.
The rollout extends beyond the UAE’s borders, creating one of the largest cross-border stablecoin acceptance zones in the world.
For expatriate workers in the Gulf and Egypt, who sent over $50 billion in remittances last year, the integration could slash transfer costs from 6-8% (traditional channels) to under 1%.
Implementation Timeline and Customer Experience
The companies confirmed a phased rollout beginning in Q1 2026:
- Phase 1 (UAE): Early 2026 at select Dubai and Abu Dhabi flagship stations
- Phase 2 (Full UAE network + KSA flagship sites): Mid-2026
- Phase 3 (Egypt + remaining KSA stations): End of 2026
Customers will pay by scanning QR codes or tapping NFC-enabled wallets at existing POS terminals, no hardware upgrades required for station operators.
Broader Impact on MENA Crypto Adoption
The announcement follows AE Coin’s earlier integrations with e& UAE (telecom bills), Air Arabia (flight bookings), and logistics platform 7X, creating a growing ecosystem of daily-use merchants.
Industry analysts view ADNOC’s decision as a tipping point. Once consumers regularly use stablecoins to fill their tanks, adoption in grocery, dining, and transport is expected to accelerate dramatically.
Conclusion
By bringing regulated stablecoins to fuel pumps across three nations and nearly 1,000 locations, ADNOC Distribution is not just modernizing payments, it is building critical infrastructure for the Middle East’s digital economy.
The message to consumers is simple: cryptocurrency has moved from trading screens to the real world, and the journey starts at your local petrol station.
Read Next:
- The Neobank Transition Report
- USDT November 2025 Market Report
- Where Stablecoins Are Being Spent (2025 New Report)
FAQs:
1. What is AE Coin?
AE Coin is the first UAE dirham-pegged stablecoin fully licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, backed 1:1 by AED reserves.
2. How many ADNOC stations will accept AE Coin?
980 stations total: 562 in UAE, 172 in Saudi Arabia, and 243 in Egypt.
3. What can I pay for with AE Coin at ADNOC?
Fuel, convenience store items, car washes, lubricants, EV charging (where available), and all other on-site services.
4. Do I need a special app or wallet?
Any wallet supporting AE Coin (including those issued by licensed UAE exchanges and banks) will work via QR or NFC.
5. Are the transactions instant and low-cost?
Yes, settlements occur in seconds with fees typically below 0.5%, compared to 2-3% for credit cards.
6. Is this available now?
Phased rollout begins Q1 2026, starting in the UAE, with full regional coverage by end of 2026.
7. Is AE Coin safe and regulated?
Yes. It operates under full Central Bank oversight with regular reserve audits and compliance with UAE anti-money laundering rules.
