;

© 2025, design with by 7awi Media Group

Sheikh Mansour Makes UAE’s First Digital Currency Payment to China

Sheikh Mansour carried out the UAE’s first cross-border payment using central bank digital currency, marking a major step in the country’s financial innovation efforts.

  • Publish date: Friday، 21 November 2025 Reading time: two min read
Sheikh Mansour Makes UAE’s First Digital Currency Payment to China

The UAE has completed its first-ever cross-border payment using digital currency, led by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The transaction was made during his meeting with Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People’s Bank of China, at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.

As Chairman of the Central Bank’s Board of Directors, Sheikh Mansour executed the digital transfer using the central bank digital currency (CBDC) through the new mBridge platform—marking a major turning point in how the UAE conducts international payments.

What the mBridge Network Aims to Deliver

The mBridge platform was developed with participation from Emirati and Chinese banks. It is designed to speed up international payments, reduce transaction costs, and enable instant settlements between countries.

A wider expansion is already planned for 2026, with more central banks expected to join the system as it grows.

The ceremony was also attended by Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, who joined the announcement of the first multi-scheme prepaid card, named Jaywan–UnionPay. Its first transaction was completed during the event.

UAE and China Strengthen Financial Cooperation

Sheikh Mansour said the new digital initiatives reflect the strong economic relationship between the UAE and China. He explained that the launch of mBridge and the introduction of Jaywan–UnionPay help build a modern, secure, and innovative financial infrastructure for the UAE.

These moves support the country’s goal of becoming a global leader in financial technology and cross-border payments.

Part of the UAE’s Wider Digital Finance Push

Last week, the UAE government carried out its first national transaction using the Digital Dirham, processed by the Ministry of Finance and the Dubai Department of Finance.

Both initiatives signal the UAE’s broader plan to integrate next-generation financial technology across public and private sectors, pushing the country further toward a digital-first financial system.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel for latest news
 

Related videos

Related articles