Saudi Central Bank

China–UAE News

Saudi Central Bank Concludes mBridge Role Amid China Cross-Border Payment Initiative

Saudi Arabia announced on September 19, 2026, that it had completed its participation in the China-led mBridge CBDC initiative over a year prior. The Saudi Central Bank stated its involvement was limited to the proof-of-concept phase finished in May 2025. An analysis by Small Wars Journal noted that technical participation in emerging payment systems does not ensure long-term geopolitical alignment.

Policy & Legal Updates

Saudi Central Bank Concludes Participation in Cross-Border mBridge Digital Currency Platform

The Saudi Central Bank has concluded its formal participation in Project mBridge following the completion of a proof-of-concept phase in May 2025. The cross-border digital currency initiative was developed jointly with China and the UAE to facilitate non-dollar trade settlements. Operations continue among the remaining participants, including the central banks of the UAE, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

China–UAE News

Questions Mount Over Saudi Arabia’s Withdrawal From China-Led mBridge Payment Project

The Saudi Central Bank has ended its formal participation in Project mBridge, the multilateral central bank digital currency platform developed with China and the UAE. While the central bank stated that its exit was planned following a completed proof-of-concept phase in May 2025, the disclosure has prompted debate over geopolitical pressures and non-dollar settlement systems. The platform continues operations among remaining central banks, including China, the UAE, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

China–UAE News

Saudi Arabia mBridge Exit Highlights Realities of Cross-Border Payment Diversification

Saudi Arabia's central bank ended its participation in the mBridge multi-CBDC platform after finishing a proof of concept in May 2025, according to an analysis published by the South China Morning Post citing the Financial Times. The project continues with participants including mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the UAE, alongside the recent activation of the Monetary Authority of Macao. The author argues that payment diversification reflects practical settlement efficiency rather than an outright abandonment of the US dollar.