Apr 16, 2026The UAE’s New VASP Framework: A Comprehensive Revision of the CMA’s Regulations
KEY TAKEAWAYS INTRODUCTION The Capital Market Authority of the United Arab Emirates (“CMA“) has issued the CMA’s Board of Directors Resolution No. (04/Chairman) of 2026 Concerning the Regulation of Virtual Asset Service Providers and the Alternative Trading System Operator (the “Resolution“), accompanied by three dedicated rulebooks governing the conduct, licensing, and operations of Virtual Asset […]
Apr 1, 2026Dubai’s Derivatives Framework: VARA is now open for Crypto Futures, Perps, Options and CFDs
The CMA has introduced a unified and comprehensive licensing regime for VASPs, requiring all virtual asset service providers to register and comply with updated AML and governance standards.
Mar 3, 2026Function Over Form: What the UAE’s New CBUAE Law Means for Fintech, DeFi and Technology Providers
KEY TAKEAWAYS BACKGROUND Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025 (“New CBUAE Law”)1 was enacted by the CBUAE, repealing the 2018 Central Bank Law2 and the 2023 Insurance Decree-Law.3 It consolidates banking, payments, and insurance regulation under one statute, expands the CBUAE’s licensing perimeter, and significantly increases penalties for non-compliance. WHAT CHANGED: THE REGULATED ACTIVITIES The table below compares […]
Feb 23, 2026IEMS and VASPs: VARAs’ Next Step in AML Enforcement
KEY TAKEAWAYS INTRODUCTION “At 9 AM, a compliance officer at a Dubai crypto exchange logs into a government portal and sees an urgent message: freeze wallet XYZ linked to a suspected ransomware payment. There are no calls or emails; it is just a digital directive through the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit’s (“FIU“) Integrated Enquiry Management […]
Nov 14, 2025What VARA’s Latest Circular Means for VASPs: Integrating the UAE’s National Risk Assessment into Practice
KEY TAKEWAYS UAE’S NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT Background The United Arab Emirates (“UAE“) has firmly established itself as a global leader in virtual asset regulation with multiple regulators. Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (“VARA“) has issued 39 active licences and 6 in-principle approvals to virtual asset service providers (“VASPs“) as of the date of this article and numerous other entities […]
Nov 10, 2025The New UAE AML Law 2025: Key Amendments and Compliance Obligations for VASPs
The New AML Law replaces the 2018 framework, retaining existing regulations where consistent with updated FATF standards and introducing new obligations for virtual asset service providers.
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