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UAE Central Bank Licensees Permitted to Conduct Regulated Virtual Asset Activities

The UAE Capital Market Authority issued Resolution No. (16/Chairman) of 2026 permitting Central Bank-licensed institutions, excluding insurance firms, to conduct regulated virtual asset operations. Regulated activities include trading, brokerage, custody, and operating alternative trading systems. The measure removes the requirement for banks to establish separate licensed legal entities.

Published Source: Clyde & Co
Issuing authority
UAE Capital Market Authority
Jurisdiction
United Arab Emirates
Publication date
September 30, 2026
Stage
Final rule
Official document
Resolution No. (16/Chairman) of 2026
Portrait of a businessman in a pinstripe suit and tie against a blurred office window background
Photo: Clyde & Co

The UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA) has issued Resolution No. (16/Chairman) of 2026 governing the virtual asset activities of banking institutions, according to Clyde & Co.

The resolution allows institutions licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, excluding insurance companies, to conduct CMA-regulated virtual asset operations following proper authorization. The authorized activities covered under the regulatory framework include virtual asset trading, brokerage, custody, and the operation of alternative trading systems.

According to the report, the rule bridges the regulatory boundary between the Central Bank's mandate over payment tokens and the CMA's broader market jurisdiction. UAE banking institutions were previously required to establish separate legal entities licensed by the CMA to offer virtual asset investment products.

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