Two Pillars Advisory FZCO › UAE Business Activity Finder

Virtual Asset & Crypto-Related Setup

Exchange, broker-dealer, custody, advisory or related virtual asset activity, with the exact permission depending on the model.

Commonly searched as: crypto licence dubai, vara licence dubai, virtual asset licence uae, crypto exchange licence dubai, web3 company dubai, vara licensed activities, crypto exchange setup dubai, digital asset custody licence dubai.

Activity at a glance

  • Canonical activity label: Virtual Asset & Crypto-Related Setup (plain-English label, not an official activity name)
  • Category: Financial & Regulated
  • Activity type: Regulated financial activity
  • Likely jurisdiction context: Regulated
  • Possible external approvals: Virtual asset activities require authorisation from the competent virtual asset or financial services regulator, with substance, governance and AML conditions.

What this licence is for

Exchange, broker-dealer, custody, advisory or related virtual asset activity, with the exact permission depending on the model.

In practice the licence follows the operating model rather than the job title. Before selecting an activity we look at what you sell, who you sell it to, where the work is performed, whether you need premises or staff on the ground, and whether any part of the scope falls into a supervised or restricted area.

A single commercial description can map to several activity entries across different authorities, and picking the wrong one creates friction later at banking, visa quota or renewal stage. We confirm the wording with the licensing authority before you commit to a jurisdiction.

Official reference and regulator context

Published authority sources relevant to this area. Two Pillars Advisory FZCO is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting on behalf of any authority listed here.

  • Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) (Dubai (excluding DIFC)): Licensed Activities. Official list of regulated virtual asset activities, including broker-dealer, custody, exchange, lending and borrowing, VA management and investment, transfer and settlement, and advisory services. A company is only VARA licensed once it holds an approval. https://www.vara.ae/en/licenses-and-register/licensed-activities/ Last checked by Two Pillars: 2026-09-12.

Confirming the official activity wording

Official activity names and codes are held by the licensing authority, not by us. Before filing, the wording is checked against the authority catalogue for the chosen jurisdiction.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Virtual Asset & Crypto-Related Setup licence in the UAE?
Exchange, broker-dealer, custody, advisory or related virtual asset activity, with the exact permission depending on the model. "Virtual Asset & Crypto-Related Setup" is the plain-English label this is commonly searched as; the exact activity wording on a licence varies by emirate, free zone and business model.
Is Virtual Asset & Crypto-Related Setup a mainland or free zone activity?
This sits in a regulated space, so the jurisdiction follows the regulator and the permitted scope rather than cost alone. The route depends on where your clients and assets sit, and authority confirmation is required before you commit.
Are external approvals needed for Virtual Asset & Crypto-Related Setup?
Virtual asset activities require authorisation from the competent virtual asset or financial services regulator, with substance, governance and AML conditions. We check the approval position for your specific scope with the relevant authority before any application is filed.
How do I confirm the correct activity wording?
Activity catalogues differ between authorities and are updated periodically. We match your intended operations to the closest available activity, confirm it with the licensing authority, and flag anything that needs a separate approval or a different structure.

Ask Two Pillars to confirm the correct activity

Tell us how you plan to operate under Virtual Asset & Crypto-Related Setup. We will confirm the available activity wording, the jurisdiction route and any approvals to plan for. Request a consultation.

Two Pillars Advisory FZCO is an independent consultancy and is not a government entity. The labels on these pages are plain-English descriptions of commonly searched activities, not official activity names, codes, fee schedules or regulator approvals. Applicability, permitted scope and any external approval requirement are confirmed with the relevant authority before an application is filed.