---
title: "UAE and Morocco sign MoUs to link payments, boost supervisory cooperation"
slug: "uae-and-morocco-sign-mous-to-link-payments-boost-supervisory-cooperati"
date: "2026-10-07"
category: "UAE"
author: "Tariq Al-Mansoor"
correspondent: "Tariq Al-Mansoor"
correspondentRole: "Gulf & Capital Correspondent"
readingTimeMinutes: 2
tags: ["Fintech"]
originalSourceUrl: "https://www.zawya.com/en/business/uae-morocco-central-banks-explore-linking-instant-payment-systems-1497928"
canonicalUrl: "https://aurav.ae/uae-and-morocco-sign-mous-to-link-payments-boost-supervisory-cooperati"
publisher: "Aura-V Intelligence (aurav.ae)"
---

# UAE and Morocco sign MoUs to link payments, boost supervisory cooperation

> The UAE and Morocco’s central banks have signed two MoUs to deepen supervisory coordination and explore interlinking payment systems and CBDCs.

## Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

- Two MoUs signed by the UAE and Moroccan central banks aim to tighten supervision and expand cross-border payment links.
- The agreements cover Islamic finance coordination, instant-payment platform interconnection, and joint CBDC exploration.
- Cooperation will also extend to fintech regulation, virtual-asset oversight and consumer-protection frameworks.

## Tightening supervisory and Islamic-finance ties

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and Morocco’s Bank Al-Maghrib signed two Memoranda of Understanding at the CBUAE headquarters in Abu Dhabi, a move designed to close gaps in regulatory oversight and Islamic-finance coordination [UAE-Morocco MoUs](https://www.zawya.com/en/business/uae-morocco-central-banks-explore-linking-instant-payment-systems-1497928). Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama and Governor Abdellatif Jouahri pledged to exchange supervisory information, harmonise practices, and strengthen Shariah-governance bodies. The first MoU also targets cross-border Shariah-compliant financing for trade and infrastructure projects.

## Linking payment infrastructure and digital currencies

The second MoU focuses on technical interconnection: instant-payment platforms, national card switches and financial-messaging systems could be linked to enable mutual acceptance of domestic payment cards and faster settlement of cross-border transactions. It further obliges the two banks to share expertise on retail and wholesale central-bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and to explore their use in bilateral payments.

Our read: The dual-MoU framework is notable for bundling traditional supervisory cooperation with forward-looking fintech initiatives. By pairing regulatory alignment with concrete steps toward payment-system interlinkage and CBDC pilots, the UAE and Morocco are positioning themselves to reduce transaction latency and create a testbed for digital-currency cross-border use. The agreements also extend to virtual-asset oversight, including crypto-assets and stablecoins, and outline consumer-protection mechanisms, indicating a comprehensive approach to emerging financial technologies. The next phase will likely involve technical integration work and joint policy development, setting a precedent for similar regional collaborations.

## Aura-V Editorial Verdict

The agreements mark a concrete step toward tighter regulatory alignment and faster cross-border payments between the Gulf and North Africa. They also signal a shared willingness to experiment with CBDCs and fintech standards.

---

*Original Think-Tank Source: [UAE, Morocco central banks explore linking instant payment systems](https://www.zawya.com/en/business/uae-morocco-central-banks-explore-linking-instant-payment-systems-1497928)*