World Crypto Rankings 2025 Names UAE as MENA’s Crypto Adoption Leader

The United Arab Emirates has been identified as the Middle East and North Africa’s leading country for cryptocurrency adoption, ranking fifth globally in the World Crypto Rankings 2025 report released by Bybit and DL Research. The findings position the UAE as a regional centre for digital assets and a key link between Asia, Europe and Africa in tokenised finance.

Globally, the UAE ranks behind Singapore, the United States, Lithuania and Switzerland, placing it among countries recognised for institutional-grade digital asset ecosystems. The report attributes the UAE’s position to a combination of high user penetration, remittance-driven usage, and policy-led development of crypto infrastructure. It also highlights the country’s role in asset tokenisation pilots and settlement systems, supported by clear anti-money laundering requirements and legal frameworks for digital asset providers.

The report notes that the UAE’s regulatory clarity and innovation-focused environment have made it a preferred destination for crypto firms, investors and specialised talent. This policy-first approach has helped integrate digital assets into broader financial activity, moving adoption beyond retail trading into areas such as tokenised assets and institutional finance.

Across the wider region, Saudi Arabia is cited as strengthening its digital asset ecosystem through expanding licensing regimes and infrastructure development. The kingdom shows high crypto ownership and user participation, reflecting strong domestic interest in digital assets. In North Africa, countries such as Morocco demonstrate significant grassroots adoption despite stricter regulatory environments, driven largely by everyday financial needs.