UAE
UAEThree layers, four regimes: federal rules from the CMA and the Central Bank, Dubai's VARA with 58 licensed firms, and the ADGM and DIFC free zones.
Key Regulatory Progress
Every law, rule and official guide on crypto in UAE: 19 apply today, and the rest show what's coming and how regulators read the rules. Each is explained in plain words and linked to the official original.
Last checked against the originals on 13 Oct 2026.
Core framework
The primary statutes that define crypto assets and who may deal in them.
- In forceApplies today
Federal Decree-Law No. (32) of 2025 on the Capital Market Authority
Establishes the Capital Market Authority in place of the Securities and Commodities Authority. Issued 1 October 2025, in force 1 January 2026.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2025 on the Regulation of the Capital Market
The new federal capital market law, issued 1 October 2025 and in force 1 January 2026. It brings virtual assets held for investment within its scope, requires a virtual asset to be registered with the CMA before it is traded, and gives existing firms until 1 January 2027 to adjust their status.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business
Replaces the 2018 Central Bank law and brings licensed financial activities carried out through any technology, including virtual asset payment services, within the Central Bank's licensing (Article 62); virtual assets held for investment are excluded. In force 16 September 2025, with one year to comply (Article 184).
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Virtual Assets and Related Activities Regulations 2023
VARA's core regulation, setting out the licensable virtual asset activities, issuance rules and supervisory powers. First issued 7 February 2023; the current version applies from 19 June 2025.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Law No. (4) of 2022 Regulating Virtual Assets in the Emirate of Dubai
Creates VARA and makes a licence mandatory for virtual asset services in Dubai, including special development zones and free zones but excluding the DIFC. Issued 28 February 2022, in force on publication on 11 March 2022.
Read the original
Exchanges & custody
Licensing, conduct and custody rules for trading platforms and service providers.
- In forceApplies today
VARA Public Register
Official list of licensed VASPs and in-principle approvals, with each firm's activities, permitted client classes and federal CMA registration number. On 13 October 2026 it showed 58 active VASP licences, 34 of them permitting retail investors; the latest were Rain MENA FZE (5 October 2026) and Payward FZCO, Kraken's Dubai entity (6 October 2026).
Read the original - In forceApplies today
ADGM FSRA Finalises Regulatory Framework for the Staking of Virtual Assets
Allows firms with Providing Custody or Managing Assets permissions to stake clients' Accepted Virtual Assets after notifying the FSRA, with rewards limited to Accepted Virtual Assets and Accepted Fiat-Referenced Tokens, following Consultation Paper No. 10 of 2025.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
The CMA Issues the Virtual Assets Framework, Establishing an Integrated Regulatory Regime Comprising Five Core Modules and Eight Regulated Activities
Announces the federal framework for virtual asset service providers and alternative trading system operators (CMA Resolution No. (04/Chairman) of 2026): five modules and eight activities, from dealing and custody to advice, portfolio management and operating a trading facility.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Exchange Services Rulebook
Rules for licensed exchanges on board governance, public disclosures, trading-venue participants, market surveillance, settlement and margin trading. The version effective 31 March 2026 adds a regime for exchange-traded derivatives, with leverage for retail investors capped at 5:1.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
The DFSA implements major updates to Crypto Token Regulatory Framework
From 12 January 2026 DIFC firms assess for themselves whether each crypto token is suitable, replacing the DFSA's list of recognised tokens; the DFSA still decides which fiat crypto tokens may be used.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
ADGM FSRA implements amendments to its Digital Asset Regulatory Framework
Moves to firm-led assessment of Accepted Virtual Assets with prior notice to the FSRA, aligns capital with the same activity in traditional assets, adds a product intervention power and codifies the ban on privacy tokens and algorithmic stablecoins, following Consultation Paper No. 11 of 2024.
Read the original - ConsultationDraft out for comment
Consultation Paper No. 5 of 2026: DeFi Risk Management Guidance
Proposes guidance on how authorised firms should manage the risks of decentralised finance activities. Comments are invited until 30 November 2026.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Guidance – Regulation of Virtual Asset Activities in ADGM (VER07.100625)
The FSRA's consolidated guide to its virtual asset regime: Accepted Virtual Assets, capital, custody, technology governance and AML/CFT for multilateral trading facilities, custodians, brokers and managers. Current version dated 10 June 2025.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
VARA Issues Updated Activity Rulebooks to Strengthen Market Integrity and Risk Oversight
Announces version 2.0 of the seven activity rulebooks and the issuance rulebook, strengthening margin trading and token distribution controls and clarifying collateral wallet arrangements, with compliance required by 19 June 2025.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
SCA and VARA set regulatory framework for the UAE's virtual assets sector
Cooperation agreement under which firms licensed by VARA can be registered by default with the federal regulator to serve the wider UAE, while firms operating from other emirates need a federal licence; it also covers joint supervision and information exchange.
Read the original
Stablecoins & payments
Issuance, reserve and redemption rules for fiat-referenced tokens and payment tokens.
- In forceApplies today
ADGM FSRA finalises regulatory framework for Regulated Activities involving Fiat-Referenced Tokens
Sets how the FSRA accepts fiat-referenced tokens and which Regulated Activities firms may carry on with them, following Consultation Paper No. 9 of 2025. Effective 1 January 2026; firms may use only Accepted Fiat-Referenced Tokens.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
FSRA introduces a regulatory framework to support the issuance of Fiat-Referenced Tokens in ADGM
Creates the Regulated Activity of Issuing a Fiat-Referenced Token, with reserve, redemption and disclosure requirements, following Consultation Paper No. 7 of 2024.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Payment Token Services Regulation
Licenses payment token issuance, conversion, custody and transfer; only licensed dirham payment tokens may be used for payments onshore, and foreign payment tokens must be registered. Issued as Circular No. 2/2024 on 7 June 2024, in force 31 August 2024.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
FSRA Consolidated List of Accepted Fiat-Referenced Tokens (September 2026)
Lists the nine fiat-referenced tokens ADGM firms may use, each on specified networks: USDC, EURC, USDT, RLUSD, PYUSD, USDG, USDP, USD1 and USDU.
Read the original
Tokenisation & securities
Security tokens, RWA, funds and ETFs.
- In forceApplies today
Virtual Asset Issuance Rulebook
Governs token issuance in Dubai: Category 1 issuance of fiat-referenced and asset-referenced tokens needs a VARA licence, other tokens must be distributed through a licensed firm, and dirham-referenced tokens are left to the Central Bank.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Dubai Land Department launches Phase II of the Real Estate Tokenisation Project
Allows about 7.8 million tokenised title-deed tokens to be resold from 20 February 2026 within a controlled pilot, after a first phase launched with VARA in March 2025.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Guidance – Regulation of Digital Securities Activities in ADGM (VER02.240220)
Treats any token with the features of a security as a Security under ADGM's Financial Services and Markets Regulations, covering offerings, trading venues and custody for digital securities.
Read the original
AML & travel rule
Anti-money-laundering obligations and the FATF travel rule.
- In forceApplies today
Federal Decree-Law No. (10) of 2025 Regarding Anti-Money Laundering, and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing
Replaces Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018 and places VASPs under the full set of preventive AML/CFT duties alongside banks. In force 14 October 2025.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring, 23 February 2024
Removes the UAE from the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring after it completed its action plan.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Guidance for Licensed Financial Institutions on Risks Related to Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers
Tells banks and other licensed institutions how to assess and manage money laundering risk when serving VASPs or handling virtual asset flows.
Read the original
Tax
How gains, income and transactions are taxed.
- In forceApplies today
VATP040: Amendments to the Executive Regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on Value Added Tax (Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2024)
Public clarification of the amendments that exempt the transfer and conversion of virtual assets from VAT, effective from 15 November 2024 with retroactive effect to 1 January 2018; paid custody and wallet services remain taxable.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses
Introduces corporate tax for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023, at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000 (the threshold set by Cabinet Decision No. 116 of 2022); individuals' personal investment gains are not taxed.
Read the original - EnactedPassed, not yet in force
Automatic Exchange of Information: Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF)
The UAE ratified the CARF agreement by Federal Decree No. 60 of 2026 on 4 May 2026. Implementing Cabinet and Ministerial Decisions are targeted to take effect on 1 January 2027, with first reports due by 30 June 2028 and the first exchange of information on 1 September 2028.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
UAE signs Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Automatic Exchange of Information under the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework
Announces that the UAE signed the OECD CARF agreement on 21 July 2025 and opened a consultation on domestic rules that ran to 8 November 2025.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
VATP039: Crypto Currency Mining (VAT Public Clarification)
Mining crypto for one's own account is outside the scope of VAT and its input tax is not recoverable, while mining for someone else is a taxable supply of services.
Read the original
Investor protection
Market abuse, disclosure, advertising and retail safeguards.
- In forceApplies today
Regulations on the Marketing of Virtual Assets and Related Activities 2024
Applies to all marketing of virtual assets or virtual asset activities in or targeting the UAE, by any entity, licensed or not, domestic or foreign. Dated 31 August 2024 and in force from 1 October 2024, with fines of up to AED 10 million per violation.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
VARA Regulatory Notices: Licensing and Enforcement Notices, and Warnings
VARA's public enforcement record, including fines on 19 unlicensed firms in October 2025, on the operators of MEXC and KuCoin in June 2026 for serving Dubai customers without a licence, and on licensee CoinMENA for AML failures.
Read the original
CBDC & tokenised money
Central-bank digital currency and tokenised deposit programmes.
- GuidanceNot binding law
CBUAE Publishes Comprehensive Report on Progress Made Towards Issuing the "Digital Dirham"
Sets out the Digital Dirham's two-tier, non-interest-bearing design with offline and smart-contract features, and says the official launch will come in the near term.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
The CBUAE successfully launches Project mBridge Minimum Viable Product platform for early adopters
Launches the multi-CBDC platform for wholesale cross-border payments and records the first Digital Dirham payment to China, worth AED 50 million, in January 2024.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
CBUAE launches the Central Bank Digital Currency Strategy "The Digital Dirham"
Starts the CBDC programme with G42 Cloud and R3, covering mBridge, a bilateral bridge with India and domestic wholesale and retail issuance.
Read the original
Spotted on regulators' sites · All changes
- 2026.10.15CMA Enhances Access to Capital Market Regulatory Frameworks
- 2026.10.14Standard Chartered Bank added to VARA Public Register
- 2026.10.14CMA Enhances Access to Capital Market Regulatory Frameworks
- 2026.10.13VARA Public Register Update: Payward FZCO listed with new license number
- 2026.10.07VARA issues guidance on reserve assets audit reports
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