Regulatory landscape
One country, five licensing regimes
Where you set up and what you do decides which regulator you deal with. Two financial free zones have their own regulators. Dubai has a dedicated virtual-asset regulator for everywhere in the emirate outside the DIFC. Two federal authorities cover the rest of the country.
- CBUAECentral Bank of the UAEFederal, onshoreAbout the CBUAE
- CMACapital Market AuthorityFederal, onshoreAbout the CMA
- DFSADubai Financial Services AuthorityDubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)About the DFSA
- FSRAFinancial Services Regulatory AuthorityAbu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)About the FSRA
- VARAVirtual Assets Regulatory AuthorityDubai, outside the DIFCAbout VARA
Know your route before you apply
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15 November 2026
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