Money exchangers and remittance houses in the UAE operate within a strict legal and regulatory framework designed to safeguard the financial system, protect customers, and prevent misuse for money laundering or terrorist financing. The framework rests on two complementary pillars: (a) the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) licensing and supervision regime for exchange businesses;...
A New Chapter in Crypto Regulation In a groundbreaking development for the UAE’s digital asset sector, the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) have agreed on a unified regulatory framework. The move signals a significant leap toward a truly nationwide, cohesive system for governing virtual assets and streamlining Virtual...
The UAE has introduced a new compliance requirement for visiting influencers and content creators: anyone not residing in the UAE who intends to publish paid promotional content while in the country—even temporarily—must now obtain a Visitor Advertiser Permit. This update is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to regulate digital advertising, protect consumers, and ensure...
Introduction The UAE is one of the most dynamic financial hubs in the Middle East, supported by a well-regulated banking and financial services sector. With its strategic location, strong demand for remittance services, and a sizable expatriate population, the money exchange business in the UAE has proven to be both lucrative and competitive. This...
In a landmark ruling reinforcing the sanctity of corporate confidentiality, the Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court has mandated that a former employee pay AED 50,000 in compensation to her former employer. The decision follows a legal claim brought by the company after discovering that she had leaked sensitive internal data via her work...
In the dynamic landscape of the UAE’s business environment, choosing the right structure for incorporation can have a lasting impact on a venture’s regulatory flexibility, strategic positioning, and governance. Among various incorporation options, foundations are increasingly gaining prominence for asset protection, legacy planning, and governance structuring, especially among high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), family offices, and cross-border...
The UAE’s real estate market is a hub for local and international investors due to its attractive tax environment. While the country does not levy personal income tax or federal corporate tax on most real estate transactions, Value Added Tax (VAT) was introduced on 1 January 2018 through Federal Decree-Law No. (8) of 2017 on...
On 10 April 2025 the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Board published the Commercial Licensing Regulations (Exemptions) Order 2025 (“2025 Order”), issued under section 8(1) of the Commercial Licensing Regulations 2015. The new instrument revokes and replaces the 2024 order, tightening the criteria for who may operate in ADGM without holding a commercial licence (en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com). ...
Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) has completed the most far-reaching rewrite of its crypto rules since 2018. A notice published on 10 June 2025 confirms that the Board has enacted a new suite of rules and companion amendments that now sit inside the core ADGM rulebooks.(en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com) The changes are already in...
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has enacted a cluster of rule changes this spring that reshape how digital-asset businesses, family offices and exempt vehicles operate on Al Maryah Island. Below is a practitioner-focused tour of the four key instruments now in force. Digital-Asset Framework Overhaul – 10 June 2025 A fresh FSRA announcement details...
This website provides general information only, may not reflect current law, and should not be acted upon without professional advice.
