Etisalat’s blockchain arm crosses Dhs10bn transactions

Etisalat Digital’s blockchain arm UAE Trade Connect (UTC) has handled over Dhs10bn worth of invoices in its first eight months of operation. This amount represents the value of invoices presented by member banks into the UTC system for fraud analysis and duplicate financing checks.

The consortium banks include Commercial Bank of Dubai, Commercial Bank International, EmiratesNBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreq Bank, National Bank of Fujairah, and National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah. The Central Bank of UAE is an observing member of the UTC Steering Committee.

Zul Javaid, CEO of UAE Trade Connect, commented: “We are pleased to announce that in just a few months since UTC’s launch, our consortium banks have performed their invoice-level due diligence in real time. Crossing the AED10 billion mark represents a landmark achievement for this nationwide platform that is aligned with the UAE government’s vision to bring futuristic technologies such as blockchain and is set to be another enabler for economic growth.”

UTC is a nationwide trade finance platform built on advanced technologies, namely blockchain and artificial intelligence.

Launched commercially on 19th April 2021, the platform was co-created by Etisalat Digital along with seven UAE banks and initially ideated by First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Several other banks are currently piloting the platform and have expressed an interest in joining the consortium in 2022.

Read: What’s ahead for blockchain in the Middle East?