Dubai launches pilot projects to tokenise gold and diamonds under a new DMCC–VARA partnership, advancing the city’s blockchain-driven future
Dubai’s DMCC and the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VAR A) are joining forces to pilot the tokenisation of gold and diamonds, a landmark move aimed at creating a secure, regulated framework for trading real-world commodities on blockchain platforms.
The partnership will test how high-value physical assets can be digitally represented, traded, and settled under a unified regulatory model — a step that positions Dubai at the forefront of global efforts to merge traditional commodities with digital-asset finance.
The agreement combines DMCC’s commodities expertise and 26,000-member community with VARA’s regulatory oversight.
Tokenised assets in Dubai
Together, they will establish a transparent and scalable infrastructure for tokenised commodities, enhancing access to global markets and supporting the long-term integration of digital assets into mainstream finance.
Pilot programmes will evaluate the technical and regulatory requirements, market viability, and investor protections needed to create trusted, investable tokenisation models.
Education and investor protection also form a central pillar of the collaboration.
A series of joint workshops, seminars and awareness initiatives will raise institutional and public understanding of tokenisation — including its benefits, risks and regulatory considerations.
DMCC and VARA partnership
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.”
Matthew White, CEO of the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VAR A), 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.”
Dubai digital-asset ecosystem
The initiative builds on DMCC’s experience in gold-backed digital assets via its Tradeflow platform and its wider role as a hub for asset-backed innovation.
More than 1,500 companies operate in the gold and precious metals sector and over 700 Web3 firms are based in its Crypto Centre, underscoring Dubai’s depth in both commodities and blockchain.
The partnership also includes cooperation on data-sharing, sector-growth analysis and economic-impact reporting, with DMCC providing market insights to inform VARA’s data-driven regulatory design.
DMCC’s Crypto Centre recorded 38 per cent year-on-year growth in registered crypto companies, reinforcing its position as the region’s premier Web3 hub.
Today, DMCC hosts nearly 26,000 member companies and contributes around 15 per cent of Dubai’s total foreign direct investment and 7 per cent of its GDP.
By establishing trusted frameworks for tokenised commodities such as gold and diamonds, DMCC and VARA are strengthening Dubai’s position as a global destination for digital assets and a leader in blockchain-enabled trade.
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