Crypto & Blockchain in the UAE

Key points

the UAE is located in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Dubai — central business district, and the authority's processing time for a standard file is around 7 working days. Office options in the UAE range from flexi-desk, office suite, showroom or warehouse, so you only pay for the space your visa quota actually needs. One of the reasons we suggest the UAE is its world's #1 free zone (Fitch), which matters more than most founders realise once the business is running.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Consultation and activity selection

   As a rule, we confirm that your activity is available in the UAE, choose the licence type and agree the visa package and office option that match your plan. We keep a written record of this step so your file for starting a crypto or blockchain company in the UAE is audit-ready.

2. 
   Step 2

   Name reservation and initial approval

   We submit your preferred trade names to the UAE and secure initial approval, normally within a day or two of submission.

3. 
   Step 3

   Document submission and payment

   In short, you sign the application forms and memorandum, we submit the attested documents and the licence fee is paid to the authority. Nothing is submitted for starting a crypto or blockchain company in the UAE until you have reviewed and approved it.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence issued and next steps

   Once the the UAE licence and company supporting documents are released, we move immediately to the immigration file, residence visas and the bank meeting.

Documents required

Gather these documents and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of starting a crypto or blockchain company in the UAE.

• A passport-size photograph on a white background
• Attested parent-company documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
• The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
• Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones
• A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
• Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident

Pricing

For most clients, use the table below to compare packages for starting a crypto or blockchain company in the UAE; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. The figures below for starting a crypto or blockchain company in the UAE are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.

Pricing available on request — message us for a written quotation.

Where to license crypto & blockchain

Technology development and consultancy can run on a standard free zone licence. Any custody, exchange, broker or advisory service involving virtual assets requires a VARA licence in Dubai or FSRA licence in ADGM, with substantial capital requirements.

DMCC Free ZoneWorld's #1 free zone — the premium choice for commodity tr…IFZA Free ZoneDubai's fastest-growing free zone — multi-activity licence…RAKEZRAK's all-in-one economic zone — business, industrial and …Meydan Free ZoneDubai's entrepreneurial free zone at the iconic Meydan rac…

Examples of this activity

• Blockchain development
• Web3 consultancy
• NFT platform
• Mining hardware trading

Crypto & Blockchain guides by nationality

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Why the UAE

The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for starting a crypto or blockchain company in the UAE and makes international pricing simple. Banking, logistics, telecoms and digital government services in the UAE are among the most advanced in the region, which keeps the running costs of starting a crypto or blockchain company in the UAE predictable.

Why GoldenKey

GoldenKey's consultants have handled starting a crypto or blockchain company in the UAE for traders, consultants, tech business owners and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves promptly. Our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for starting a crypto or blockchain company in the UAE happen the same day they are ready. If a document is missing or an approval is delayed on your the UAE file, we tell you immediately and explain the fix, rather than letting the submission sit.

Frequently asked questions