Dubai (VARA virtual-asset scope, outside DIFC)
VARAUnited Arab Emirates
Regimes
3
Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai)
Companies
2
4 active licences
Passporting in
0
0 home states
Activities
3
/ 25
PROVENANCE
0% registry100% document0% inferred
REGIMES IN THIS JURISDICTION
click a tier for its sourceREGIME · STATUTEACTSMIN CAPITALTIMELINEAPPLICATION FEE
VA Exchange Services Licence / Dubai / VARAVARA Virtual Assets and Related A… · Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai)
Operate a trading platform for crypto-assets1/25 · 2 holders
AED 800,000–1,500,000 source
no data
no data
→VA Broker-Dealer Services Licence / Dubai / VARAVARA Virtual Assets and Related A… · Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai)
Exchange crypto-assets for funds1/25 · 2 holders
AED 400,000–600,000 source
no data
no data
→VA Custody Services Licence / Dubai / VARAVARA Virtual Assets and Related A… · Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai)
Provide custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients1/25 · 0 holders
AED 600,000 source
no data
no data
→Licences issued here
4 activeSource: Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai)’s public register, read 1 Sep 2026
| Company | Regulator | Licence | Covers | Granted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance FZE | Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai) | VA Exchange Services Licence | Crypto | 15 Apr 2024 |
| Binance FZE | Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai) | VA Broker-Dealer Services Licence | Crypto | 15 Apr 2024 |
| OKX Middle East Fintech FZE | Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai) | VA Exchange Services Licence | Crypto | 17 Sep 2024 |
| OKX Middle East Fintech FZE | Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai) | VA Broker-Dealer Services Licence | Crypto | 17 Sep 2024 |
INBOUND PASSPORTING — REGIMES ELSEWHERE THAT REACH THIS MARKET
HOME REGIMENo inbound passporting reaches this jurisdiction.
ACTIVITIES PERMITTED IN THIS JURISDICTION
3Exchange crypto-assets for fundsConferred by VA Broker-Dealer Services Licence / Dubai / VARA (for consumer, sme, corporate)
Operate a trading platform for crypto-assetsConferred by VA Exchange Services Licence / Dubai / VARA (for consumer, sme, corporate, regulated-fi)
Provide custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clientsConferred by VA Custody Services Licence / Dubai / VARA (for corporate, regulated-fi)
PRODUCTS AVAILABLE HERE
1PRODUCTCLIENT TYPESTATUSMISSING ACTIVITIES
Stablecoin custodycorporate · regulated FIconditionalhypothetical—
consumer · SMEnoneProvide custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients
Card issuingconsumer · SME · corporate · regulated FInoneIssue payment instruments and/or acquire payment transactions, Issue card-based payment instruments (card issuing)
Cross-border remittanceconsumer · SME · corporate · regulated FInoneCross-border remittance as a distinct commercial activity, Money remittance
Crypto off-ramp (crypto to fiat payout)consumer · SME · corporatenoneExecute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers)
regulated FInoneExchange crypto-assets for funds, Execute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers)
Crypto on-ramp (fiat to crypto)consumer · SME · corporatenoneExecute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers)
regulated FInoneExchange crypto-assets for funds, Execute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers)
IBAN accountsconsumer · SME · corporate · regulated FInonePlace cash on a payment account, Cash withdrawal from a payment account, Execute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers), Issue IBAN accounts in the institution's own name
Merchant collectionsconsumer · SME · corporate · regulated FInoneAcquire card-based payment transactions (card acquiring), Execute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers)
Payoutsconsumer · SME · corporate · regulated FInoneCurrency conversion (FX) as a service, Execute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers)
Stablecoin orchestrationconsumer · SMEnoneProvide custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients, Execute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers)
corporatenoneExecute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers)
regulated FInoneExchange crypto-assets for funds, Execute payment transactions (direct debits, card payments, credit transfers)
CHANGES
Nothing to show yet. A change log needs two snapshots to compare, and history only began being recorded on 2026-08-14 — the builds captured so far differ by zero values. Rather than back-fill invented history, this fills in as the corpus actually moves.
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Jurisdiction: Dubai (VARA virtual-asset scope, outside DIFC)