UAE Crypto Licence FAQ (Dubai VARA)

Short answers on which crypto firms hold a VARA licence in Dubai, who may serve retail investors, VARA fines and the UAE's other regulators.

Which crypto exchanges are licensed in Dubai?

59 companies hold an active VASP licence on VARA's public register (read 21 Oct 2026); 16 of the licences cover exchange services, including Binance, OKX, Crypto.com, Gate, Deribit and HashKey (register).

Is Bybit licensed by VARA?

No Bybit company is on VARA's public register (read 21 Oct 2026). Licences from other UAE authorities are not covered here.

Is Kraken licensed in Dubai?

Yes. VARA licensed Payward FZCO, which lists kraken.com/ae as its website, on 6 October 2026 for broker-dealer and management and investment services (Kraken).

Which VARA-licensed firms can serve retail investors?

34 of them are permitted to serve retail investors, according to the licence condition on each firm's VARA page. Filter the table by Clients.

Has VARA fined MEXC and KuCoin?

Yes. VARA fined MX Global LTD (MEXC) on 22 June 2026 and Peken Global Limited (KuCoin) on 24 June 2026 for unlicensed services to Dubai customers; it did not publish the amounts (notices).

Does VARA cover all of the UAE?

No. VARA covers Dubai except the DIFC. The SCA licenses virtual asset firms elsewhere in the country, except those licensed in financial free zones, and says Dubai firms need only a VARA licence (explainer).

What changed with the CBUAE law?

Federal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025 took effect on 16 September 2025; Article 184 gave persons subject to it until 16 September 2026 to comply, unless extended (CBUAE Rulebook).

Where can I check a firm?

VARA's public register. Our table lets you search by brand or legal name.