Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right route - a licensed UAE base for the Saudi market - and leads it to a compliant launch, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has no retail crypto licence - and we say so plainly. SAMA and the CMA have warned the public that crypto trading is not authorised or supervised, and no provider is licensed for it. It is a large, wealthy market on restrictive terms. The realistic route is a licensed hub next door in the UAE, and we build it honestly.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Saudi Arabia in brief
No licence - a warned market, the UAE next door.
Saudi Arabia does not license crypto-asset services for the retail market, and no one can sell you a Saudi crypto licence. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) have taken a cautious line: SAMA has warned the public that trading virtual currencies is not authorised or regulated, a standing government committee has stated that no party is licensed to deal in them, and financial institutions have been directed to keep their distance. The activity is not criminalised the way it is in some neighbours, but it sits outside any supervised, licensable perimeter. Anyone offering a «Saudi crypto licence» in 2026 is describing something that does not exist.
What the Kingdom is doing is exploring the infrastructure rather than opening a retail regime. SAMA ran Project Aber, a wholesale central-bank digital currency trial with the UAE; the CMA has been examining tokenisation of securities; and in late 2025 officials signalled work on nationally regulated stablecoins under SAMA and CMA oversight, aligned with Vision 2030. All of that is wholesale and policy-stage, not a licence a private operator can apply for today. For a business that wants the Saudi market now, the honest structure is a licensed base in a hub that already regulates crypto - the UAE, next door, under VARA, ADGM or DMCC - paired with any permitted, non-crypto presence in the Kingdom and close monitoring of where Vision 2030 leads. That is what we build.
No retail crypto licence in Saudi Arabia - honestly. SAMA and the CMA have warned that trading is not authorised, and no provider is licensed for it.
A large, wealthy market on restrictive terms. The route is a licensed UAE base next door, with readiness as Vision 2030 develops.
The honest picture
The UAE hub today - readiness as Vision 2030 develops.
Two workstreams: a licensed UAE base that can serve the region now, and the monitoring that positions you if Saudi Arabia opens a regime. Where a Saudi presence is permitted and useful, we arrange it alongside.
A licensed UAE base serves the market now; readiness positions you if the Kingdom opens a regime.
01 - THE UAE LICENSED HUB · TODAY
VASP licence next door
The working structure: a UAE company licensed by VARA, ADGM or DMCC, with the substance, AML and banking a regulated platform runs on. A real licence in a jurisdiction that regulates the activity - a short flight from Riyadh, not a Saudi licence, because none exists.
The working structure: a UAE company licensed by VARA, ADGM or DMCC, with the substance, AML and banking a regulated platform runs on. A real licence in a jurisdiction that regulates the activity - a short flight from Riyadh, not a Saudi licence, because none exists.
- ✓UAE VASP licence - VARA, ADGM or DMCC
- ✓A regulated base a short flight from Riyadh
- ✓Substance, staff and banking in the hub
- ✓Serve the GCC from a supervised perimeter
- ✓9% UAE corporate tax; 0% personal
- ✓Credibility with banks and counterparties
02 - THE SAUDI READINESS FILE
20% CIT + Zakat 2.5%Readiness as the Kingdom moves
There is no retail crypto licence in the Kingdom, and we say so. The readiness file keeps governance and compliance ready to convert if SAMA and the CMA open a regime, and tracks the Vision 2030 workstreams so you can respond first.
No retail licence in the Kingdom. Vision 2030 tokenisation and stablecoin work tracked - first movers if it opens.
- ✓No retail crypto licence in the Kingdom
- ✓SAMA and CMA stance tracked closely
- ✓Vision 2030 tokenisation and stablecoin work
- ✓Permitted non-crypto KSA presence where useful
- ✓Governance built to licence-grade anyway
- ✓First movers if a regime opens
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. The UAE hub operates now; the Saudi readiness file is scoped separately and updated as SAMA and the CMA move - nothing built now is wasted if a regime opens.
Why Saudi Arabia
A large market, approached with clear eyes.
No retail licence and an official warning - but the GCC's biggest economy and a clear direction of travel, if the structure is built honestly next door.
✓
A large, wealthy market
Saudi Arabia is the GCC's biggest economy, and Vision 2030 is pushing diversification and fintech hard. The demand is real - which is why serving it lawfully, from a licensed base, is worth doing properly.The GCC's biggest economy - real demand.
✓
The UAE, next door
The UAE regulates crypto under VARA, ADGM and DMCC and sits a short flight from Riyadh. It is the natural licensed base from which to reach the Saudi and wider GCC market.A regulated hub a short flight away.
✓
Vision 2030 direction
The CMA has studied tokenisation and officials signalled work on regulated stablecoins in late 2025. The direction is set, even if a retail licence is not yet available - and we track it.Tokenisation and stablecoin study signal intent.
✓
Wholesale groundwork
SAMA ran Project Aber, a wholesale CBDC trial with the UAE. The Kingdom is building the plumbing first, which tells you where policy is heading over time.Project Aber CBDC trial with the UAE.
✓
Substance you can bank
A UAE licence gives real substance, AML standards and banking - the things counterparties and banks accept, which a Saudi structure cannot provide today.A supervised base banks accept.
✓
The honest structure wins
With no licence to hide behind, what banks and partners read is the structure itself - a clean, supervised UAE base. That is the product, and we build it to that standard.The clean regulated base is the product.
How it compares
How Saudi Arabia differs from other routes.
Saudi Arabia is a large, wealthy market with no retail licence and an official warning - the honest comparison is below.
Saudi Arabia vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Saudi Arabia | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Retail licence | None - warned market | Licensing regimes |
| Regulator stance | Not authorised for retail | Supervised VASPs |
| Route | UAE hub next door | Onshore licence |
| Direction | Vision 2030 - wholesale first | Retail frameworks live |
Retail licence
Saudi ArabiaNone - warned market
Other jurisdictionsLicensing regimes
Regulator stance
Saudi ArabiaNot authorised for retail
Other jurisdictionsSupervised VASPs
Route
Saudi ArabiaUAE hub next door
Other jurisdictionsOnshore licence
Direction
Saudi ArabiaVision 2030 - wholesale first
Other jurisdictionsRetail frameworks live
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | No retail regime - UAE hub route | 20% CIT + Zakat 2.5% | Not authorised for retail crypto |
 UAE (Dubai) | VARA VASP by activity | 9% CIT · 0% personal | Substance-heavy, 3-9 months |
 Bahrain | CBB crypto-asset (CRA) licence | 0% - DMTT for large MNEs | Central-bank regime, 4-6 months |
 Qatar | QFC Digital Assets 2024 (tokenisation) | 10% (QFC) | QFC framework, tokenisation-led |
Saudi ArabiaLicense typeNo retail regime - UAE hub route
Taxation20% CIT + Zakat 2.5%
RequirementsNot authorised for retail crypto
UAE (Dubai)License typeVARA VASP by activity
Taxation9% CIT · 0% personal
RequirementsSubstance-heavy, 3-9 months
BahrainLicense typeCBB crypto-asset (CRA) licence
Taxation0% - DMTT for large MNEs
RequirementsCentral-bank regime, 4-6 months
QatarLicense typeQFC Digital Assets 2024 (tokenisation)
Taxation10% (QFC)
RequirementsQFC framework, tokenisation-led
Doing it properly
What the compliant structure contains.What the compliant structure contains.
No Saudi licence does not mean no standards - the licensed base sits in the UAE, and it is built to a real regime. The checklist below is what we build.
01
UAE operating company - the licensed vehicle in VARA, ADGM or DMCC that actually holds the permission.
02
VASP licence by activity - broking, exchange, custody or advisory, scoped to what you do.
03
Substance in the hub - office, qualified staff and local directors the regulator expects.
04
AML/CFT programme - KYC, monitoring and reporting to UAE and FATF standards.
05
Banking file - hub accounts arranged on full disclosure, matched to the flows.
06
Saudi counsel - a read on what presence and marketing are permitted inside the Kingdom.
07
Permitted KSA layer - any non-crypto entity or representative presence where it genuinely helps.
08
Governance - ownership disclosed to UBOs, with fit-and-proper management.
09
Regulatory monitoring - SAMA, CMA and Vision 2030 tracked, the file updated as they move.
10
Custody and systems documentation - wallet architecture described to licence standards.
01
UAE company in VARA, ADGM or DMCC.
02
VASP licence scoped to your activity.
03
Substance - office, staff, directors.
04
AML/CFT to UAE and FATF standards.
05
Hub banking on full disclosure.
06
Saudi counsel on what is permitted.
07
Permitted KSA layer where it helps.
08
Ownership disclosed to UBOs.
09
SAMA, CMA and Vision 2030 monitoring.
10
Custody and systems documentation.
Reflects the SAMA/CMA stance and UAE licensing practice as of 2026. Saudi Arabia licenses no retail crypto service - in writing, not in small print. The licensed base is in the UAE.SAMA/CMA stance + UAE practice, as of 2026. No retail licence in the Kingdom.
How it works
From first call to a working structure.
01
Strategy and honesty
The real Saudi status, whether a hub base fits, and any permitted KSA presence - fixed in writing before anything is set up.Status, route, any KSA presence - in writing.
02
The UAE base
The VARA, ADGM or DMCC company and VASP licence - the regulated vehicle built to scope.The company and VASP licence, to scope.
03
Compliance architecture
AML/CFT programme, substance, custody and governance - assembled to the hub regulator's standards.AML, substance, custody, governance.
04
Banking and operations
Hub accounts arranged on disclosure; the business live on rails that hold.Hub accounts that hold.
05
Monitor and convert
SAMA, CMA and Vision 2030 tracked - the readiness file moves first if the Kingdom opens a regime.First if the Kingdom opens a regime.
Quick facts
Retail crypto licenceNone
RegulatorsSAMA · CMA
Public stanceNot authorised
RouteUAE licensed hub
Corporate tax20% + Zakat 2.5%
UAE hub tax9% · 0% personal
DirectionVision 2030 · tokenisation
FrameworkWholesale, policy-stage
Saudi Arabia is a large, wealthy market on restrictive terms. The honest product is a licensed UAE base that serves it - plus readiness for whatever Vision 2030 brings.
On the ground in Saudi Arabia
Run from our Dubai office, with Saudi counsel.
Prifinance - Saudi Arabia desk
Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
01
Status and Saudi counsel
The honest read on the SAMA and CMA position - what is permitted, what is not, and what marketing rules apply.What is permitted, in writing.
02
The UAE licensed hub
A VARA, ADGM or DMCC VASP licence next door - the regulated base that serves the region a short flight from Riyadh.VARA, ADGM or DMCC - next door.
03
Banking and substance
Hub accounts on full disclosure and the office, staff and governance a regulator expects - the substance that makes it real.Real, disclosed, bankable.
04
Vision 2030 monitoring
SAMA, the CMA and the stablecoin and tokenisation work tracked - the readiness file updated as the Kingdom moves.Tracked; the file updated.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in Saudi Arabia.
There is no crypto-specific tax because there is no licensed crypto activity. What matters is the general system - and, in practice, the tax of the UAE hub where the licensed business actually sits.
20% corporate tax
Corporate income tax applies at 20% on the profits attributable to foreign ownership - the standard rate for non-GCC investors in a Saudi company.On foreign-owned profits.
Zakat at 2.5%
Saudi and GCC ownership is subject to Zakat at 2.5% of the Zakat base rather than corporate tax - the split follows the ownership, and mixed structures are apportioned.On Saudi and GCC ownership.
No crypto-specific regime
There is no VDA tax or crypto licence fee, because retail crypto is not authorised. Any crypto business is structured in the hub, not the Kingdom.Because retail crypto is not licensed.
The UAE hub: 9%
The licensed base pays UAE corporate tax at 9% above the threshold, with 0% personal income tax - the numbers that actually apply to the operating company.Where the operating company sits.
VAT at 15%
Saudi VAT runs at 15% on domestic supplies - relevant to any permitted local entity, planned where it applies.On domestic supplies.
Where the tax really sits
For a crypto model the meaningful tax analysis is the hub's, not the Kingdom's - we model both so the structure is deliberate.The hub's, not the Kingdom's.
Tax summary
Saudi corporate tax20%
Zakat (Saudi/GCC)2.5%
Crypto-specific taxNone
UAE hub corporate tax9%
Saudi VAT15%
CurrencySAR
*As of 2026. Retail crypto is not licensed in Saudi Arabia - the operating tax analysis is the UAE hub's, and we model both.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: the UAE VASP file, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a clean, compliant business.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Saudi Arabia · restrictive market
Launch your crypto project for Saudi Arabia with expert support.
Full-service setup - a licensed UAE base that serves the Kingdom, plus readiness for whatever Vision 2030 brings.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is a UAE base the right fit for the Saudi market?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which hub, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Saudi crypto route, answered honestly.
Can I get a Saudi crypto licence today?+
No - Saudi Arabia does not license retail crypto services. SAMA and the CMA have warned that trading is not authorised or supervised, and a government committee has stated no party is licensed. Anyone selling a «Saudi crypto licence» is selling something that does not exist.
Is crypto illegal in Saudi Arabia?+
It is not criminalised the way it is in some neighbours, but it is unregulated and officially discouraged - SAMA has warned the public and directed banks to avoid it. There is simply no supervised, licensable perimeter for a private operator to enter.
So what is the realistic route?+
A licensed base in the UAE - under VARA, ADGM or DMCC - a short flight from Riyadh, serving the GCC from a supervised jurisdiction. Where a permitted, non-crypto Saudi presence helps, we arrange it alongside.
Why the UAE rather than the Kingdom?+
Because the UAE already regulates crypto and Saudi Arabia does not. The hub gives you a real licence, bankable substance and credibility with counterparties - the things a Saudi structure cannot provide today.
What is Vision 2030 doing for crypto?+
The Kingdom is exploring the infrastructure - Project Aber was a wholesale CBDC trial with the UAE, the CMA has studied tokenisation, and officials signalled work on regulated stablecoins in late 2025. It is wholesale and policy-stage, not a retail licence yet.
Can I market to Saudi clients from the UAE?+
That depends on the activity and how it is offered, and it is exactly where local counsel matters. We map what is permitted before you launch, rather than assume - the marketing rules are the sensitive part.
How is a Saudi company taxed?+
Corporate tax is 20% on foreign-owned profits, while Saudi and GCC ownership is subject to Zakat at 2.5%. There is no crypto-specific tax because there is no licensed crypto activity - the meaningful tax is the UAE hub's.
What if Saudi Arabia opens a regime?+
Then the readiness file moves first. We track SAMA, the CMA and the Vision 2030 workstreams, and keep your structure ready to convert - preparation costs little, being late costs position.
Is a stablecoin licence available?+
Not yet. Officials signalled work on nationally regulated stablecoins under SAMA and CMA oversight in late 2025, but the rules on licensing, reserves and consumer protection have not been published. We monitor it closely.
Why Saudi Arabia with you?+
Because we are honest about what the Kingdom does and does not offer, and we build the licensed UAE base that actually serves it - to the standard banks and regulators read as real, with readiness for whatever comes next.
A licence today?+
No - Saudi Arabia licenses no retail crypto.
Is crypto illegal?+
Unregulated and discouraged, not a licensable perimeter.
The realistic route?+
A licensed UAE base under VARA, ADGM or DMCC.
Why the UAE?+
It regulates crypto; the Kingdom does not.
Vision 2030?+
Wholesale and policy-stage - not a retail licence yet.
Market to Saudis?+
Depends on activity - counsel maps it first.
Company tax?+
20% foreign; Zakat 2.5% Saudi/GCC.
If a regime opens?+
The readiness file moves first - we track it.
Stablecoin licence?+
Not yet - signalled in 2025, rules unpublished.
Why with us?+
Honest on the Kingdom; we build the UAE base.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
Start today
One message away from your Saudi Arabia structure.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which hub, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which UAE hub and route fit the Saudi market, and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear, honest read on the right route - not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of SAMA, the CMA or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.