MIDDLE EAST · JURISDICTION PROFILE
United Arab Emirates
Overview
The UAE runs several complementary regimes: Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) licenses virtual-asset activities across the emirate, while the ADGM (FSRA) and DIFC (DFSA) financial free zones and the federal Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) each operate crypto frameworks.
Regulatory framework
VARA's rulebooks cover custody, exchange, broker-dealer, lending, advisory and management activities; ADGM and DIFC apply their own detailed regimes.
Licensing & authorisation
Providers obtain a licence from the relevant authority for their location and activity (VARA, FSRA, DFSA or SCA).
AML & Travel Rule
AML/CFT obligations and a Travel Rule apply across the regimes.
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