UAE stablecoin AE Coin enters professional services
Businesses can now settle invoices within seconds through AEC Wallet
ABU DHABI – The UAE’s regulated digital payments landscape is expanding further as AE Coin, the country’s first Central Bank-licensed and dirham-backed stablecoin, enters the professional services sector through a new partnership with Nephos Group.
The move makes Nephos Group the first professional services firm in the region to accept payments through AE Coin, marking another milestone for the adoption of regulated digital currencies beyond trading platforms and remittance services. The development also signals growing confidence in stablecoin-based transactions across mainstream business operations in the UAE.
Nephos Group, which serves around 500 businesses, is expected to provide a major gateway for AE Coin’s expansion into enterprise services. Through its wider client ecosystem, the integration could potentially reach approximately half a million end users as digital payment adoption accelerates across commercial sectors.
AE Coin
The partnership represents another step in the rapid expansion of AE Coin’s merchant ecosystem across the UAE. Through AEC Wallet, clients of Nephos Group can now complete invoice settlements in seconds using AE Coin instead of relying solely on traditional banking channels.
According to the companies, the integration is designed to provide faster payment processing, lower transaction costs and direct wallet-to-business transfers without intermediaries. The stablecoin is fully backed 1:1 by the UAE dirham, offering pricing transparency and stability for businesses using the platform.
Mohammed Wassim Khayata, Chief Executive Officer of Al Maryah Community Bank, said the partnership reflects the bank’s broader vision of building future-ready financial infrastructure that supports the UAE’s digital economy.
He said the expansion of AE Coin into professional services demonstrates how regulated digital payments are increasingly becoming practical business tools capable of improving settlement efficiency and customer experience.
AEC Wallet, developed to support compliant digital payment solutions, allows users to send, receive and spend AE Coin while maintaining direct parity with the UAE dirham.
Faster payments
Ramez Rafeek, General Manager of AED Stablecoin, said the stablecoin market is now moving beyond trading activity into real-world business transactions.
He described the addition of professional services firms to the AE Coin ecosystem as an important stage in making regulated digital payments more accessible for companies operating within structured and compliant financial environments.
The partnership also strengthens AE Coin’s growing presence across both public and private sectors. The stablecoin has already been integrated into government service payments and several industries including retail, hospitality and mobility.
Under the Nephos integration, businesses using AEC Wallet will benefit from invoice settlements completed within seconds rather than days. Companies are also expected to reduce costs typically associated with card transactions and international bank transfers.
Industry expansion
Joe David, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Nephos Group, said stablecoins are increasingly moving into core business operations as companies seek more efficient payment infrastructure.
He noted that for firms operating across multiple jurisdictions, the ability to settle transactions instantly using a regulated digital currency offers a significant improvement over conventional banking systems.
While digital currencies have seen early adoption across sectors such as retail and remittances, professional services firms have largely continued relying on traditional banking rails. The integration between AE Coin and Nephos Group points to an early shift in how advisory and consulting businesses may begin operating within a more digital-first financial environment.
AE Coin, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, describes itself as a next-generation stable digital currency regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. The company says it is focused on local payments, decentralised finance integration and digital reward systems aimed at expanding practical blockchain use cases.
AEC Wallet, powered by Emirates Coin Investment, was developed to support everyday payments using AE Coin, allowing users to convert, transfer, receive and spend the stablecoin through a simplified digital platform tailored for commercial transactions and daily use.