D
Digital Asset Intelligence
Regulation · Compliance · Risk
Suggest an edit
← Country Intelligence Center
🇦🇪

United Arab Emirates

Middle East · Comprehensive

Global benchmark for activity-based, risk-tiered VASP regulation.

DAI Methodology v2.1 Last updated Q2 2026
DAI Readiness Score™
88.0
out of 100
Regulatory & Enforcement Agencies

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority

VARA

Primary VASP licensing authority for Dubai (ex-DIFC)

Official website Crypto / VASP section
VASP applications: YesSAR reports: No

Central Bank of the UAE

CBUAE

Federal AML/CFT supervisor and payment token regulator

Official website Crypto / VASP section
VASP applications: NoSAR reports: No

UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (goAML)

UAE FIU

Financial Intelligence Unit — STR/SAR reporting via goAML

Official website Crypto / VASP section
VASP applications: NoSAR reports: Yes

Securities and Commodities Authority

SCA

Federal securities regulator; virtual asset service oversight outside Dubai

Official website Crypto / VASP section
VASP applications: YesSAR reports: No
Regulatory status

Comprehensive

Source
Primary regulator

VARA (Dubai) · FSRA (ADGM) · DFSA (DIFC) · SCA (Federal)

Source
Licensing requirements

Multi-tier: VARA Rulebooks 2023; ADGM Virtual Asset Framework; DFSA Crypto Token regime.

Source
AML requirements

Federal Decree-Law 20/2018; VARA Compliance & Risk Management Rulebook.

Source
Travel Rule status

Implemented — VARA Rulebook mandates Travel Rule with AED 3,500 threshold.

Source
Tax treatment

Corporate Tax (9%) applies; VAT exemption for virtual asset transfers (Nov 2024).

Source
Consumer protection

VARA Marketing Regulations; mandatory risk disclosures and complaint handling.

Source
Key legislation
2022
Dubai Law 4/2022

Establishes VARA as dedicated virtual asset regulator.

Source
2023
VARA Rulebooks

Seven activity-based rulebooks (custody, exchange, broker-dealer, etc.).

Source
Recent developments
2026-04-15
VARA fines Desert Bloom AED 14m

Travel Rule failures across cross-border counterparties.

Source
2026-02-11
DIFC tokenisation regime live

DFSA permits tokenised investment products under updated regime.

Source
Primary Sources & Official Documents
  1. 01
    VARA Compliance and Risk Management Rulebook
    Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai) · 2025 edition
    https://vara.ae/en/rules-and-regulations/rulebooks/
  2. 02
    Cabinet Decision No. 111/2022 on the Regulation of Virtual Assets
    UAE Cabinet · 2022
    https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en
  3. 03
    CBUAE AML/CFT Guidance for Licensed Financial Institutions
    Central Bank of the UAE · Ongoing
    https://www.centralbank.ae/en/cbuae-amlcft/
  4. 04
    goAML STR/SAR reporting portal
    UAE Financial Intelligence Unit · Live system
    https://www.uaefiu.gov.ae/en/goaml/
  5. 05
    FATF Recommendations (including Recommendation 15 — new technologies)
    Financial Action Task Force · Updated periodically
    https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/topics/fatfrecommendations.html
  6. 06
    FATF Targeted Update on Implementation of the Standards on VAs and VASPs
    Financial Action Task Force · Annual
    https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Fatfrecommendations.html
  7. 07
    High-Risk and Other Monitored Jurisdictions (grey and black lists)
    Financial Action Task Force · Updated three times a year
    https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/High-risk-and-other-monitored-jurisdictions.html

Never miss a change

Track United Arab Emirates

Get an email when United Arab Emirates publishes a new rulemaking, licensing decision, enforcement action, or sanctions designation. Every alert links to the primary source.

Jurisdictions (leave blank for all)
Topics (leave blank for all)
Delivery

Free. Unsubscribe in one click from any alert.

Page history
Suggest an edit →

Loading revision history…

Spotted something out of date? Practitioner corrections are reviewed against the cited source.

Suggest an edit
Professional disclaimerDigital Asset Intelligence content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, or compliance advice. Regulatory positions change frequently; verify all material with primary sources and qualified counsel before relying on it for licensing, supervisory, or compliance decisions.