meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Navigating the impact of digital currencies on forex markets

23 July 2024

 

The financial landscape is undergoing a seismic shift with the advent and increasing adoption of digital currencies, and as they gain traction, their influence on traditional foreign exchange (forex) markets is becoming more pronounced.

This transition presents both challenges and opportunities for traders and investors, particularly in markets like the UAE, which are rapidly evolving.

The integration of digital currencies into traditional forex markets is already reshaping the financial landscape. For traders and investors in the UAE, this transition necessitates a strategic approach to navigate the volatility, manage risks, diversify portfolios and address liquidity issues effectively.

Digital currencies are characterised by a high degree of volatility and can fluctuate within short period of time. This is unlike traditional fiat currencies, which tend to experience gradual value changes influenced by macroeconomic factors.

Market sentiment can have a significant impact, especially on the less liquid digital currencies. Bitcoin, the most well-known digital currency, has seen its value swing wildly, driven by market sentiment in relation to regulatory news and market developments.

High volatility is a double-edged sword – it carries opportunities, but also amplifies risks. It also creates opportunities, and traders leveraging technical analysis and quick decision-making can capitalise on price swings.

Disparities in liquidity across different exchanges can create arbitrage opportunities for savvy traders, but this requires a high level of research, resources and technical knowledge to be adequately exploited.

Digital currencies can also serve as a hedge against fiat currencies.

In the UAE, where the dirham is pegged to the US dollar, digital currencies can be a means to hedge against dollar exposure. At the same time, the volatility can also expose traders to significant losses, so managing this risk requires sophisticated strategies and tools.

Managing risk

The relative novelty of digital currencies means that they can be subject to speculative bubbles, making it challenging to predict long-term value trends.

Effective risk management is therefore crucial when dealing with digital currencies. The high volatility and 24/7 nature of digital currency markets require traders to adopt robust risk management practices, including the traditional tools that more than ever are key to protection and success.

Implementing stop-loss orders helps to limit potential losses by automatically selling a position when it reaches a predetermined price. Proper position sizing ensures that a single trade does not disproportionately impact the overall portfolio, mitigating the risk of significant losses.

When it comes to using such tools in digital currency trading, traders need to factor in that considerable gaps might form between prices and the available liquidity, making it difficult to trigger stop-losses at the desired prices. Therefore, the position sizing should be determined accordingly.

Another aspect to be considered is the relative lack of historical data: unlike traditional forex markets, digital currencies lack extensive historical data, making it harder to apply conventional risk models.

Even the data set of the most established digital currencies, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, which have a longer history, are to be analysed with caution as the older data refers to a completely different market in terms of liquidity, volume of transaction and actual status of the asset.

Additionally, while major digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum enjoy increasingly higher levels of liquidity, many altcoins suffer from low trading volumes.

Low liquidity in certain digital currencies can lead to significant slippage, where trades are executed at prices different from those expected.

Furthermore, the regulatory environment for digital currencies is still evolving, meaning that unexpected regulatory changes can significantly impact market dynamics and trader positions.

Ensuring the use of reputable exchanges with robust liquidity is essential.

UAE potential

The UAE has shown a progressive attitude towards digital currencies, positioning itself as a hub for blockchain innovation and digital asset adoption.

The government’s proactive stance, coupled with a robust financial infrastructure, creates a healthy and reliable environment for integrating digital currencies as an asset for investment portfolios and trading.

The UAE has established comprehensive regulations to govern digital currencies, enhancing market integrity and investor protection. This regulatory clarity attracts global investors and fosters confidence in digital currency markets.

The involvement of institutional players in the UAE – such as banks and financial institutions – in digital currency markets is also set to grow, and this institutional interest will bring additional liquidity and stability and help mitigate some of the volatility and liquidity issues.

The UAE’s infrastructure supports digital currency transactions and innovation, and this is crucial for the efficient functioning of digital currency markets and their integration with traditional forex trading.

In approaching digital currency for trading and investment, it is crucial for traders to understand the characteristics of the various currencies and ensure that exposure is in line with the investors’ risk appetite and tolerance.

As digital currencies continue to evolve, staying informed and adaptable will be key.

The UAE’s supportive regulatory environment and technological advancements position it well to leverage the benefits of this shift while mitigating the associated risks.

By embracing these changes with a well-rounded strategy, traders and investors can leverage the potential of digital currencies to enhance their trading and investment outcomes.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12177946/main.jpg

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Rabigh 2 IPP expansion secures $2.58bn financing

    5 October 2026

    Saudi Arabia’s Rabigh 2 combined-cycle gas-turbine (CCGT) independent power project (IPP) expansion has reached financial close.

    In a disclosure to the Saudi Exchange, Acwa said it had secured SR9.69bn ($2.58bn) in long-term financing for the project, which has a generation capacity of 2,313.5MW.

    In April, MEED reported that Acwa and Saudi Energy (formerly Saudi Electricity Company) had signed a 31-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Saudi Arabia’s principal buyer, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), for the project.

    The project involves developing a CCGT plant in the Mecca region. It is being developed by Al-Morjan Two Electricity Company, with Acwa and Saudi Energy each owning a 40% stake in the project.

    The contract is valued at SR11.5bn ($3.07bn), the companies said in separate stock exchange filings at the time. The carbon-capture-ready power plant will be implemented under a build, own and operate contract.

    The financing has a tenor of about 34 years and was provided by a consortium of local, regional and international lenders.

    The lenders are:

    • Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
    • Alinma Bank
    • Boubyan Bank
    • China Minsheng Banking Corporation, Hong Kong Branch
    • Commercial Bank of Dubai
    • HSBC Bank Middle East
    • Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
    • Industrial Bank, Beijing Branch
    • National Bank of Greece, Cyprus
    • Riyad Bank
    • Saudi Awwal Bank
    • Saudi National Bank
    • Standard Chartered Bank, Taiwan
    • Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, London Branch

    The project scope also includes financing and expanding a 380kV electrical substation.

    According to regional project tracker MEED Projects, construction works have commenced on the project, and a joint venture of Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric and China’s Sinohydro has been working as the main contractor.

    Rabigh 1 extension

    In January, Saudi Energy announced a separate energy conversion agreement with SPPC for the purchase of electricity from the Rabigh 1 power plant expansion.

    The contract is valued at SR5.33bn ($1.42bn).

    It covers the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of the gas-fired power plant, which will have a generation capacity of 1,179MW.

    A joint venture of Elsewedy Electric and Germany’s Siemens Energy is undertaking the engineering, procurement and construction work for the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

    US/India-based Synergy Consulting is the financial advisory consultant to Saudi Energy on this project.

    Acwa also recently started initial commercial operations at the Taiba 1 and Qassim 1 CCGT power plants, as reported by MEED.

    The plants have a combined generation capacity of about 3.8GW and are two of four projects procured under the first round of Saudi Arabia’s gas-fired IPP programme by SPPC.

    A team of Saudi Energy and Acwa won the contract to develop and operate the projects in 2023.

    MEED’s October 2026 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

    > COMMENT: Saudi projects hold steady
    > GOVERNMENT: Riyadh looks to reset its regional defence outlook
    > ECONOMY: Conflict bolsters case for Saudi economic diversification
    > BANKING: Saudi lenders readjust to lower lending and deposit climate
    > UPSTREAM: Aramco upstream spending gathers pace
    > DOWNSTREAM: Sabic steps up Saudi petchems investment
    > POWER: Saudi Arabia’s power award activity slows
    > WATER: Saudi water sector hits sharp slowdown
    > CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction defies the headwinds
    > TRANSPORT: Saudi infrastructure pushes forward amid conflict
    > DATABANK: Saudi data indicates project spending shift

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20270643/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Dubai announces $490m e-commerce hub expansion plan

    5 October 2026

    Dubai CommerCity has launched a second expansion phase valued at more than AED1.8bn ($490m), adding over 91,000 square metres (sq m) of office, retail and logistics space across the free zone’s business, social and logistics clusters.

    Dubai CommerCity is a joint venture of Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (Dafza) and Dubai government-owned Wasl Asset Management Group.

    The expansion is scheduled for delivery between the first quarter of 2027 and the fourth quarter of 2028.

    The developer said the move builds on sustained demand at Dubai CommerCity, where occupancy has reached nearly 96% across its office, logistics and retail assets.

    Phase two will comprise a series of developments across Dubai CommerCity’s three districts: the Business Cluster, Logistics Cluster and Social Cluster.

    The Business Cluster comprises 13 office buildings with a total leasable area of 108,000 sq m. The Logistics Cluster consists of 84 logistics units with a leasable area of 68,000 sq m, while the Social Cluster features art galleries, restaurants and cafes. The development will also include 4,000 parking spaces.

    Dafza and Wasl Asset Management Group announced plans to develop the AED2.7bn ($735m) e-commerce free zone In 2017. 

    READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20270228/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Iraq and Turkiye discuss oil and gas deal

    5 October 2026

    Iraq and Turkiye have opened talks in Ankara on a framework agreement for oil, gas and energy cooperation, according to a statement from the Iraqi Oil Ministry.

    Iraq’s Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair Al-Abadi led the Iraqi side, while the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar led the Turkish side.

    Officials discussed a proposed roadmap to deepen work on oil and gas infrastructure, petrochemicals, and trade in oil, gas and power.

    Discussions about a future long-term deal to govern the Iraq-Turkiye Pipeline (ITP) were central to the talks.

    The ITP exports oil from northern Iraq to the port of Ceyhan in Turkiye.

    In July, Turkiye and Iraq signed a temporary agreement to allow crude flows through the ITP for a period of 12 months.

    Before the temporary agreement was signed, the previous deal governing oil exports through the pipeline was due to expire on 27 ​July.

    Speaking last month, Ali Al-Shatri, director general of Iraq’s state organisation for marketing oil (Somo), said the temporary deal was “a prelude” to a much bigger agreement.

    As well as governing pipeline exports, the new agreement is expected to cover electricity, chemicals and gas deals as well as the construction of a new oil refinery in Ceyhan.

    Under current plans, the new refinery will process Iraqi crude in order to produce refined products that can be exported to Europe.

    Bayraktar said: “Following the crude oil transportation agreement signed between our national company … we are clarifying our roadmap for a new, longer-term and more comprehensive agreement.

    “In this regard, we plan to activate our joint working groups to rapidly finalise oil and natural gas infrastructure, exploration and production, oil trading, refining-petrochemical and electricity projects.

    “In close cooperation with the new Iraqi Government, we will strongly continue to implement these concrete projects for the stability and prosperity of our shared geography.”

    Bayraktar said it was important to consider extending the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to reach Basra in southern Iraq.

    He also said it was important to consider expanding the capacity of the ITP to create a strong alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.

    The Strait of Hormuz is a key oil export route that has been disrupted by a regional war since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February.

    Bayraktar also said that he wanted state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) to expand its footprint in Iraq.

    He said: “We aim for our national company TPAO to play an active role not only in the Kirkuk fields but also in different fields in Iraq, to ​​reach the target of supplying one million barrels of crude oil as stated by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali ez-Zeydi; and to transform Ceyhan into a global energy hub by increasing trade volume.”

    Bayraktar said that Turkiye wanted energy to be a key part of the plan for a north-south trade corridor from the Grand Faw Port to the Turkish border.

    Under current plans, the corridor will combine a new railway and highway system.

    Bayraktar said that Turkiye also wants the route to include oil and gas pipelines as well as electricity transmission lines.

    READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20268590/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • RTCC/Ictas wins $214m King Salman airport private aviation terminal

    5 October 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia’s King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC) has awarded an estimated SR800m ($214m) construction contract to build the private aviation terminal.

    The contract was awarded to a joint venture of Riyadh-based Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting (RTCC) and Turkiye’s IC Ictas.

    The scope includes constructing a central courtyard, grand boulevard, parking facilities, access-control checkpoints, logistics and ground-support facilities, internal road networks and landscaping.

    It also includes all civil, structural, architectural, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works, along with testing, commissioning and handover activities.

    KSIADC is making rapid progress on its overall project masterplan. In July, it reported major progress on landside and airside infrastructure works linked to its third runway and private aviation facilities, as part of the wider airport expansion programme.

    Project scale

    The project covers an area of about 57 square kilometres (sq km), allowing for six parallel runways, and will include the existing terminals at King Khalid International airport. It will also include 12 sq km of airport support facilities, residential and recreational facilities, retail outlets and other logistics real estate.

    The airport aims to accommodate up to 100 million passengers by 2030. The cargo target is to process 2 million tonnes a year by 2030.

    Saudi Arabia plans to invest significantly in its aviation sector. Riyadh’s Saudi Aviation Strategy, announced by Gaca, aims to triple Saudi Arabia’s annual passenger traffic to 330 million travellers by 2030.

    It also aims to increase air cargo traffic to 4.5 million tonnes and raise the country’s total air connections to more than 250 destinations.

    MEED’s October 2026 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

    > COMMENT: Saudi projects hold steady
    > GOVERNMENT: Riyadh looks to reset its regional defence outlook
    > ECONOMY: Conflict bolsters case for Saudi economic diversification
    > BANKING: Saudi lenders readjust to lower lending and deposit climate
    > UPSTREAM: Aramco upstream spending gathers pace
    > DOWNSTREAM: Sabic steps up Saudi petchems investment
    > POWER: Saudi Arabia’s power award activity slows
    > WATER: Saudi water sector hits sharp slowdown
    > CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction defies the headwinds
    > TRANSPORT: Saudi infrastructure pushes forward amid conflict
    > DATABANK: Saudi data indicates project spending shift

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20268414/main.jpeg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Contractors submit bids for Libya refinery

    5 October 2026

     

    Bids have been submitted for the main contract for Libya’s planned South Refinery project and are currently under technical evaluation, according to industry sources.

    The project, located in Ubari in southern Libya, has gained momentum over the past year, and the main contract is anticipated to be worth more than $600m.

    The main contract is expected to use the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model.

    The EPC work is expected to take 50 months, and the facility will be designed to process 30,000 barrels a day (b/d) of crude oil.

    In March, US-based engineering company KBR was awarded a contract by Zallaf Exploration, Production & Refining of Oil & Gas Company to provide project management and technical services for the project.

    Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide contract management, project management and supporting technical services throughout the project’s EPC phases.

    The refinery is expected to produce:

    • Propane and butane for domestic and industrial uses
    • Gasoline
    • Kerosene
    • Diesel
    • Fuel oil

    In March, KBR said that the project was aligned with its “long-standing commitment to advancing vital oil and gas infrastructure in Libya”.

    Libya currently operates five main refineries with a combined nameplate capacity of 380,000 b/d, but actual throughput is closer to 180,000 b/d due to poor maintenance and damage from military clashes.

    In addition to the South Refinery project, Libya also plans to upgrade the Zawiya refinery and carry out projects at the Serir, Brega, Tobruk and Ras Lanuf refineries.

    READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20267178/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp