Ripple executive Reece Merrick has highlighted BlackRock's inaugural board meeting in Abu Dhabi as a significant indicator of increasing institutional interest in the region. The meeting, attended by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, underscores Abu Dhabi's growing role in global finance and technology sectors. Ripple has been actively expanding in the Middle East, recently obtaining a license in Dubai to offer regulated crypto payment services.Speculation has arisen about the potential impact of a BlackRock XRP ETF, with analysts suggesting it could attract $2 billion in its first day. However, BlackRock has not confirmed any plans to launch such a product.