UAE Crypto & Financial Licence Guides
The UAE has several regulators for virtual asset and financial businesses. The right licence depends on what you do and where you are based. Use these guides to find your regulator, see the requirements, and learn how VAF Global prepares your compliance framework.
Which UAE regulator applies?
Virtual asset activities: exchange, broker-dealer, custody, advisory, lending, management, transfer and issuance
Read guide →DMCC (or the free zone) issues the company licence; VARA licenses the virtual asset activities
Read guide →Financial services incl. crypto tokens, broker-dealers, asset managers and custodians
Read guide →Financial services incl. virtual assets: trading venues, dealing, custody, asset management
Read guide →Securities and virtual assets for investment: brokerage, trading platforms, custody, management
Read guide →Payment tokens (stablecoins), payments and stored value
Read guide →| Regulator | Where | What it licenses | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARA | Dubai (excluding DIFC) | Virtual asset activities: exchange, broker-dealer, custody, advisory, lending, management, transfer and issuance | Guide → |
| VARA via DMCC | DMCC and other Dubai free zones | DMCC (or the free zone) issues the company licence; VARA licenses the virtual asset activities | Guide → |
| DFSA | DIFC | Financial services incl. crypto tokens, broker-dealers, asset managers and custodians | Guide → |
| FSRA | ADGM, Abu Dhabi | Financial services incl. virtual assets: trading venues, dealing, custody, asset management | Guide → |
| CMA (formerly SCA) | UAE federal, outside Dubai's VARA regime and the DIFC/ADGM | Securities and virtual assets for investment: brokerage, trading platforms, custody, management | Guide → |
| CBUAE | UAE onshore and non-financial free zones (not DIFC/ADGM) | Payment tokens (stablecoins), payments and stored value | Guide → |
Licence guides by regulator
Dubai: VARA & DMCC
Every virtual asset activity VARA licenses in Dubai, including DMCC and other free zones (outside the DIFC).
VARA Licence in Dubai: Requirements and Compliance Support
How to get a VARA licence in Dubai: licensed crypto activities, rulebooks, AML/CFT, key staff and the application process, with VAF Global.
Read guideVARA Exchange Services Licence: Run a Crypto Exchange in Dubai
VARA Exchange Services licence for crypto exchanges in Dubai: market surveillance, token listing, custody, AML/CFT and the application process.
Read guideBroker-Dealer Licence in Dubai
Broker-dealer licence in Dubai: which regulator applies (VARA for crypto, DFSA in DIFC, CMA federally), key requirements and the process.
Read guideVARA Custody Services Licence for Crypto Custodians
VARA Custody licence for crypto custodians and wallet providers in Dubai: key management, segregation, reconciliation and AML/CFT requirements.
Read guideVARA Advisory Services Licence
VARA Advisory Services licence for firms giving crypto investment recommendations in Dubai: suitability, disclosures and conflicts of interest.
Read guideVARA Management & Investment Services Licence
VARA Management and Investment Services licence for crypto asset managers and portfolio managers in Dubai: mandates, valuation, client protection and AML/CFT.
Read guideVARA Lending & Borrowing Services Licence
VARA Lending and Borrowing Services licence for crypto lending platforms in Dubai: scope, collateral, risk disclosure, client protection and AML/CFT.
Read guideVARA Transfer & Settlement Services Licence
VARA Transfer and Settlement licence for crypto transfer, remittance and payment providers in Dubai: Travel Rule, sanctions and AML/CFT.
Read guideVARA Token Issuance: Launching a Token in Dubai
How VARA regulates virtual asset issuance in Dubai: issuance categories, whitepaper disclosure, licensed distribution and AML/CFT for token launches.
Read guideVARA Proprietary Trading: NOC and Registration for Crypto Prop Traders
Trading crypto with your own funds in Dubai: the VARA NOC, mandatory registration at USD 250m invested in 30 days, and what prop traders can't do.
Read guideDMCC Crypto Licence: Setting Up a Crypto Business in DMCC
How to set up a crypto or blockchain company in DMCC Dubai: DMCC licence activities, when you also need a VARA licence, and the AML/CFT compliance you need.
Read guideADGM licences (Abu Dhabi)
Crypto and virtual asset permissions from the FSRA in Abu Dhabi Global Market.
ADGM Virtual Asset Licence (FSRA)
ADGM FSRA crypto licensing explained: regulated activities, Financial Services Permission, approved persons, AML/CFT and how to apply.
Read guideADGM Crypto Exchange Licence: Operating a Virtual Asset MTF
How to run a crypto exchange in ADGM: FSRA permission to operate a virtual asset MTF, market surveillance, custody and AML/CFT requirements.
Read guideADGM Crypto Custody Licence (Providing Custody)
FSRA permission to provide custody of virtual assets in ADGM: key management, segregation, reconciliation, technology controls and AML/CFT requirements.
Read guideADGM Crypto Broker-Dealer Licence
FSRA permissions for crypto brokers and dealers in ADGM: Dealing in Investments, Arranging Deals, client money and assets, conduct rules and AML/CFT.
Read guideADGM Crypto Asset Management Licence
FSRA permissions for virtual asset managers and crypto fund managers in ADGM: Managing Assets, managing funds, custody arrangements and compliance requirements.
Read guideDIFC, CMA (formerly SCA) & Central Bank
DFSA, CMA and CBUAE regimes for crypto, securities and stablecoins.
DFSA Crypto Licence in the DIFC
How the DFSA regulates crypto tokens in the DIFC after the 2026 update: token suitability, permitted activities, AML/CFT and the licensing process.
Read guideCMA Virtual Asset Licence (formerly SCA)
The SCA is now the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA). What the 2026 regime means for crypto firms, who needs a CMA licence and how to prepare.
Read guideCBUAE Payment Token Services Licence
The CBUAE Payment Token Services Regulation explained: stablecoin issuance, conversion, custody and transfer, and compliance requirements.
Read guideFrequently Asked Questions
Which regulator do I need for a crypto licence in the UAE?
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It depends on where you operate. VARA regulates virtual assets in Dubai, including DMCC and other free zones (excluding the DIFC). The DFSA regulates the DIFC. The FSRA regulates ADGM in Abu Dhabi. The Capital Market Authority (CMA, formerly the SCA) covers virtual assets for investment at federal level outside Dubai. The Central Bank of the UAE regulates payment tokens (stablecoins) onshore, while ADGM's FSRA and the DFSA have their own stablecoin regimes.
What does a VASP need besides a licence?
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Regulators expect a working AML/CFT framework: risk assessments, KYC and due diligence, transaction monitoring (KYT), sanctions screening, Travel Rule compliance, suspicious transaction reporting via goAML, a qualified MLRO and regular training and audits.
Do I need a licence to trade crypto with my own money in Dubai?
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Not a full licence. Proprietary trading with your own funds needs a VARA No Objection Certificate, usually applied for through your commercial licensor, and VARA registration is mandatory before, or within three working days of, investing USD 250 million or more in any rolling 30-day period. Trading for anyone else requires a VARA licence.
How long does a crypto licence take in the UAE?
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It depends on the regulator, the activities and how complete the application is. Most applicants should plan for several months. Having a complete compliance framework ready before applying is the most effective way to avoid delays.
How does VAF Global help with licensing?
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We map your business to the right regulator and activities, prepare the compliance framework the regulator expects (AML/CFT policies, risk assessments, KYC, sanctions and Travel Rule procedures), and support you through the application and after launch with outsourced MLRO and KYT monitoring.
Can VAF Global act as our outsourced MLRO?
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Yes, where your regulator permits it. We act as outsourced MLRO for VASPs and DNFBPs and support your in-house Compliance Officer. Some regulators require the Compliance Officer to be your own employee; under VARA, for example, it must be a full-time, UAE-resident employee.
What is KYT and do I need it?
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Know Your Transaction (KYT) is the monitoring of blockchain transactions and wallet addresses for risk such as sanctions exposure, scams or illicit funds. UAE regulators expect VASPs to monitor transactions; our KYT tool at wallet.vaf.global helps you do this.
Not sure which licence you need?
Tell us about your business model and we will map it to the right regulator and activities.
Last reviewed October 2026. General information only, not legal advice. VAF Global is a compliance consultancy and does not provide legal services.