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Matrix / United Arab Emirates (Dubai - VARA)

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (Dubai - VARA)

Dubai VARA, VASP licence, per activity

Last verified 2026-07-01 Next review 2026-07-15

Licence type

VARA VASP licence under the Virtual Assets and Related Activities Regulations 2023 - licensed PER ACTIVITY (Advisory, Broker-Dealer, Custody, Exchange, Lending & Borrowing, Management & Investment, Transfer & Settlement, plus VA Issuance). A DET/free-zone commercial licence is also required.

Verified 2026-07-01 Source: VARA Rulebooks - Schedule 2 fees: https://rulebooks.vara.ae/rulebook/schedule-2-supervision-and-authorisation-fees

Regulator

VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority) - sole authority across the Emirate of Dubai except the DIFC. Parallel UAE regimes exist: ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi), DFSA (DIFC), and federal SCA/Central Bank.

Verified 2026-07-01 Source: VARA - About: https://www.vara.ae/en/about-vara/

Capital requirement 🔒

Timeline to authorisation 🔒

Local substance 🔒

Application cost 🔒

Ongoing cost 🔒

Passporting 🔒

MiCA CASPs approved 🔒

Key restrictions 🔒

Recent changes

'Rulebook 2.0' reissued all twelve rulebooks effective 19 Jun 2025 (mandatory Travel Rule, wind-down plans, TLPT, a new VA Issuance rulebook). AML circular (Mar 2026) and token-issuance guidance (Apr 2026). VARA penalised ~19 unlicensed firms.

Verified 2026-07-01 Source: Linklaters - VARA rulebook updates (Jun 2025): https://techinsights.linklaters.com/post/102kd40/virtual-assets-regulation-in-dubai-vara-issues-updates-to-its-rulebooks

Difficulty rating 🔒

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Informational only, not legal advice. Entries marked as placeholder or awaiting verification must not be relied on. Confirm all requirements with United Arab Emirates (Dubai - VARA)'s regulator and qualified local counsel before acting.