Dubai’s DMCC and VARA partner to drive tokenisation of commodities

DMCC, Dubai’s leading international business district, has entered a strategic partnership with the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to accelerate the development of global infrastructure for tokenised commodities.

The collaboration marks a major milestone in Dubai’s efforts to integrate physical commodities such as gold and diamonds into blockchain-based financial systems.

As tokenisation gains traction in global markets, the partnership combines DMCC’s commodities expertise and extensive 26,000-member network with VARA’s regulatory framework.

The two entities will work together to establish a secure, transparent, and scalable system for tokenised commodities that enhances access to international markets and supports the broader adoption of blockchain-powered trading.

Under the agreement, DMCC and VARA will launch pilot projects to explore how commodities including gold and diamonds can be tokenised and traded on blockchain infrastructure.

These pilots will assess technical and regulatory needs, market viability, and investor protection requirements, providing the foundation for practical and investable tokenisation models.

Education and investor protection are central to the collaboration. A series of joint workshops, seminars, and awareness programmes will be organised to deepen institutional and public understanding of tokenisation, its benefits and risks, and the associated regulatory landscape.

Partnering with VARA is a key milestone for digital-asset ecosystem

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman and CEO of DMCC, said: “Partnering with VARA is a pivotal step in the evolution of Dubai’s digital-asset landscape. By combining VARA’s world-class regulatory oversight with DMCC’s 26,000-member community and unmatched expertise in commodities, blockchain and Web3, we are creating a secure, scalable framework to tokenise assets such as gold, diamonds and other high-value commodities. In doing so, we will unlock a new era of real-world, investable products that expand global market access, enhance liquidity and trust, and cement Dubai’s position at the forefront of trade and blockchain innovation.”

The initiative builds on DMCC’s existing work in digital commodities, including its gold-backed digital asset offerings via the Tradeflow platform.

With more than 1,500 companies in the gold and precious metals sector and over 700 Web3 firms based in its Crypto Centre, DMCC is well positioned to advance the tokenisation of real-world assets across Dubai’s financial ecosystem.

Matthew White, CEO of VARA, said: “Dubai has long been where global trade meets global innovation and tokenisation is the next chapter in that story. By working with DMCC, we are bringing together deep commodities expertise with regulatory foresight to create a framework that can turn tokenised assets from concept into trusted market infrastructure. This is not about experimenting at the edges; it is about setting global benchmarks for how physical and digital markets converge.

“Our role at VARA is to ensure that as these new products emerge, they do so in a way that is safe, transparent, and credible, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leader in shaping the future of finance and trade.”

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Agreement highlights

The agreement also covers collaboration on aggregated data sharing, sector growth analysis, and economic impact reporting.

DMCC will contribute industry benchmarks and insights to inform VARA’s policy development, supporting a data-driven approach that balances innovation with market integrity.

As the two entities work to build trusted frameworks for tokenised commodities, the partnership strengthens Dubai’s status as a global hub for digital assets. DMCC’s Crypto Centre has seen 38 per cent year-on-year growth in registered crypto firms, solidifying its position as the region’s leading Web3 hub.

DMCC hosts nearly 26,000 companies and contributes about 15 per cent of Dubai’s total foreign direct investment and 7 per cent of its GDP, underscoring its central role in the emirate’s economy and its growing influence in shaping the future of global trade and finance.