Bahrain
Oman
Qatar
Saudi ArabiaNikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the DMCC registration and, where needed, the VARA decision, including banking and payment rails.
Set up your crypto business in DMCC, Dubai.
A DMCC crypto license is a free-zone company licence in Dubai's Crypto Centre, the Middle East's largest web3 cluster at 650-plus companies: set up in 2-4 weeks, flexi-desk to full office, residence visas included, 9% corporate tax with 0% only on qualifying income. It is not a regulatory licence: where your model serves clients, VARA's activity licence sits on top, and we run both from our own Dubai office.
30 yrs
of experienceof experience
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated · Reviewed by the Prifinance team
DMCC in brief
DMCC crypto license: the Middle East's largest web3 cluster, with VARA on top.
DMCC - Dubai Multi Commodities Centre - is the emirate's flagship free zone, and its Crypto Centre hosts the region's densest web3 community: exchanges' regional arms, market makers, funds, infrastructure and development studios, more than 650 firms in all. A DMCC licence gets you a company in two to four weeks, flexi-desk to full office, residence visas included - the fastest respectable base in the Gulf.
The distinction matters: DMCC is a commercial free zone, not a financial regulator. Proprietary trading, development, consulting and Web3 services run on the DMCC licence alone; the moment you hold client assets, trade for others or act as a dealer (an OTC desk or a market maker), Dubai law routes you to VARA. We do both sides - the DMCC base and, where the model needs it, the VARA licence on top - from our own Dubai office.
The Middle East's largest web3 cluster: a DMCC company stands in 2-4 weeks - prop trading (not dealing), development and web3 run on it directly.
Client-facing services route to VARA - we run both layers from our own Dubai office and model which income qualifies for 0%.
The structure
A DMCC base - plus VARA where clients appear.
Think of it as two layers. The DMCC company covers trading with your own money and building your own code. Client-facing virtual-asset services. Custody, exchange, brokerage, dealing, management. Need VARA authorisation in DMCC and every other Dubai free zone except DIFC, where the DFSA regulates them.
Two layers: the DMCC base for your own money and code; VARA on top for clients or dealing.
01 - DMCC LICENCE
Proprietary & web3 activities
The base layer: a DMCC free-zone company for everything outside VARA's regulated activities - from proprietary trading to protocol development. Set up in weeks, not months.
The base layer: a DMCC free-zone company for everything outside VARA's regulated activities - from proprietary trading to protocol development. Set up in weeks, not months.
- ✓Proprietary trading in crypto-assets (not dealing)
- ✓Blockchain development and web3 studios
- ✓Consulting, marketing and community services
- ✓Mining, nodes and infrastructure operations
- ✓Flexi-desk to full office · residence visas
- ✓0% only on qualifying income, 9% on the rest
02 - + VARA LICENCE
When you serve clientsClient-facing VA services
Custody, exchange, broker-dealer, lending or management for clients is regulated activity in Dubai. The VARA layer on top of your DMCC base, licensed per activity.
Custody, exchange or brokerage for clients. VARA classes with AED 100k-1.5M+ capital each.
- ✓Eight VARA activity classes, licensed separately
- ✓Capital AED 100,000 - 1,500,000+ per activity
- ✓Approval to Incorporate, then the VASP licence
- ✓Resident executives and a pre-approved MLRO
- ✓4-9 months depending on the class mix
- ✓We run the whole stack - base plus licence
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. The DMCC layer is a free-zone setup: the Crypto Centre package costs AED 31,000 (company, licence and a desk, VAT included) and AED 32,584 to renew in years 2-5. The VARA layer adds paid-up capital for each activity - AED 100,000 to 1,500,000, or 15-25% of fixed annual overheads if higher, summed across activities - and VARA's own fees: AED 40,000-100,000 to apply and AED 80,000-200,000 a year per activity. Third-party costs are itemised in your quote.
Why DMCC
Speed, cluster and the cleanest tax base in Dubai.
DMCC's pitch is operational: the fastest respectable company setup in the Gulf, a ready-made crypto community, and the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime that keeps qualifying income at 0% - though crypto trading and development are not qualifying activities.
✓
Two to four weeks to exist
Name, licence, flexi-desk, bank introduction and residence visas. A DMCC company stands in weeks. For teams relocating from hostile jurisdictions, speed is the feature.Licence, desk, visas. The fastest respectable Gulf base.
✓
650+ crypto neighbours
The Crypto Centre concentrates exchanges' regional offices, funds, OTC desks and studios in one district. Hiring, partnerships and deal flow live next door.Hiring and deal flow live next door in the Crypto Centre.
✓
A clear regulatory perimeter
DMCC itself is commercial: proprietary and build-side activity only. Client-facing services route to VARA, and pretending otherwise is how firms get shut. We structure it right the first time.Prop and build on DMCC; client services route to VARA.
✓
0% only on qualifying income
A DMCC entity meeting the Qualifying Free Zone Person tests pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on everything else - without the 0% band up to AED 375,000.QFZP regime; crypto trading and development usually pay 9%.
✓
Visas and hiring built in
The free zone processes residence visas against your office tier. Founders and staff get status in days, with no personal income tax on what you pay them.Status in days; no income tax on pay.
✓
One office for both layers
Our Dubai team sets up the DMCC company and, where your model needs it, carries the VARA file. One project, one accountable team.DMCC company and VARA file. One accountable team.
How it compares
DMCC against Dubai's other bases.
Inside the UAE the base also sets the rulebook. Client-facing VA services go to VARA from DMCC and the Dubai mainland, to the DFSA in DIFC and to the FSRA in ADGM. What else differs is speed, cost, cluster and courts.
DMCC vs other setups
| Feature |  DMCC | Other setups |
|---|---|---|
| Setup speed | 2-4 weeks | 6 weeks - 4 months |
| Crypto cluster | 650+ firms in the Crypto Centre | Dispersed |
| Client-facing services | VARA licence on top | VARA, DFSA (DIFC) or FSRA (ADGM) |
| Qualifying tax | 0% on qualifying income only | Same in free zones · mainland 9% over AED 375k |
Setup speed
DMCC2-4 weeks
Other setups6 weeks - 4 months
Crypto cluster
DMCC650+ firms in the Crypto Centre
Other setupsDispersed
Client-facing services
DMCCVARA licence on top
Other setupsVARA, DFSA (DIFC) or FSRA (ADGM)
Qualifying tax
DMCC0% on qualifying income only
Other setupsSame in free zones · mainland 9% over AED 375k
Base by base
| Base | What it is | Taxation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMCC | Commercial free zone + Crypto Centre | 9% · 0% on qualifying income | Prop trading, web3, regional HQs |
| ADGM | Financial free zone (FSRA) | 9% · 0% on qualifying income | Institutions, funds, venues |
| DIFC | Financial free zone (DFSA) | 9% · 0% on qualifying income | Token issuers, asset managers |
| Dubai mainland | Onshore + VARA | 9% CIT | Retail-facing VASPs |
DMCCWhat it isCommercial free zone + Crypto Centre
Taxation9% · 0% on qualifying income
Best forProp trading, web3, regional HQs
ADGMWhat it isFinancial free zone (FSRA)
Taxation9% · 0% on qualifying income
Best forInstitutions, funds, venues
DIFCWhat it isFinancial free zone (DFSA)
Taxation9% · 0% on qualifying income
Best forToken issuers, asset managers
Dubai mainlandWhat it isOnshore + VARA
Taxation9% CIT
Best forRetail-facing VASPs
Middle East
Crypto licences in neighbouring jurisdictions
Crypto license in all 137 jurisdictions →
VASP license: what it is and where to get one →
Crypto license cost: official fees and capital by country →
Crypto mining license in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus →
Before you start
DMCC crypto license requirements: what the free-zone setup needs.DMCC crypto setup requirements.
The DMCC layer is administrative; the discipline arrives with the VARA layer if your model serves clients. The checklist covers both, in the order they hit you.
01
Activity selection. DMCC licence activities matched to what you will actually do; crypto activities flagged to the Crypto Centre.
02
Shareholder KYC. Passports, source of wealth and corporate documents for founders and parent entities.
03
Office tier. Flexi-desk, serviced or full office; the tier drives visa quota and QFZP substance.
04
Share capital. A practical AED 50,000 standard for the free-zone company itself.
05
Residence visas. Establishment card, medicals and Emirates ID for founders and staff.
06
Banking file. Business plan and flows description banks accept; crypto-friendly options shortlisted.
07
Qualifying-income analysis. QFZP tests, audited accounts and substance to hold the 0% rate.
08
Perimeter check. A written opinion on whether any activity crosses into VARA-regulated territory.
09
If VARA applies: activity classes, capital floors per activity (AED 100k-1.5M+, summed), resident executives and MLRO.
10
If VARA applies: the two-stage file. Approval to Incorporate, then the VASP licence with its operating conditions.
11
Ongoing: licence renewals, audits and AML registrations kept current.
01
Activity selection flagged to the Crypto Centre.
02
Shareholder KYC and source of wealth.
03
Office tier. Drives visas and substance.
04
AED 50,000 practical share capital.
05
Residence visas and Emirates IDs.
06
Banking file crypto banks accept.
07
QFZP analysis to hold the 0% rate.
08
Written perimeter check against VARA.
09
If VARA: classes, capital, resident MLRO.
10
If VARA: ATI → VASP licence.
Reflects DMCC and VARA practice as of 2026. The expensive mistake is running client-facing services on a bare DMCC licence. We structure the perimeter before the regulator asks.DMCC and VARA practice, 2026. Client-facing services on a bare DMCC licence is the expensive mistake.
Verify it yourself
Official sources
Regulator pages, legal texts and public registers the figures on this page are based on.
- RegulatorDMCC - Crypto and blockchain ecosystem (Crypto Centre)dmcc.ae
- RegisterDMCC - Register of DMCC entitiesdmcc.ae
- RegulatorVARA - Licence applications for virtual asset service providersvara.ae
- LawVARA Rulebooks - Virtual Assets and Related Activities Regulations 2023rulebooks.vara.ae
- LawVARA Company Rulebook - Paid-Up Capital (Part VI.B)rulebooks.vara.ae
- LawUAE Ministry of Finance - Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 on Qualifying Activities and Excluded Activitiesmof.gov.ae
How it works
From first call to a working Dubai base.
01
Model and perimeter
We map what you will do, split it into DMCC-only and VARA-regulated activities, and fix the structure in writing.DMCC-only vs VARA-regulated. Fixed in writing.
02
DMCC company
Application, licence and office tier; establishment card and visa processing start immediately.Licence, office tier, visas - underway immediately.
03
Banking and operations
Accounts with banks that accept crypto-linked free-zone companies; accounting and QFZP substance set up.Crypto-tolerant banks, accounting, QFZP substance.
04
VARA layer (if your model needs it)
Activity classes, capital and MLRO. Approval to Incorporate, then the VASP licence, run in parallel with your build.Classes, capital, MLRO. ATI to licence, in parallel.
05
Launch and ongoing compliance
Renewals, audits and AML registrations - plus rulebook compliance where the VARA layer applies.Renewals, audits, AML, and rulebooks if licensed.
Quick facts
Free zoneDMCC Crypto Centre
Company setup2-4 weeks
Company capitalAED 50,000 practical
VisasBy office tier
Client-facing servicesVARA on top
VARA capitalAED 100k - 1.5M+
Qualifying tax0% QFZP · rest 9%
Personal taxNone
The DMCC layer is fast; the VARA layer, where needed, sets the real timeline - 4-9 months by activity class.
On the ground in Dubai
Local expertise, not a faceless agency.
Prifinance - UAE
Dubai · Al Saqr Business Tower
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
01
DMCC setup end to end
Name, activities, licence, office tier and visas. A standing company in two to four weeks, banking file included.Company in 2-4 weeks, banking file included.
02
The perimeter opinion
A written answer to the only dangerous question: does your model cross into VARA territory. Before you launch, not after.Does your model cross into VARA? Answered in writing.
03
The VARA layer when needed
Activity classes, capital, MLRO and the two-stage file. The same team that runs our other VARA mandates.Classes, capital, MLRO. Same team as our VARA mandates.
04
Tax and substance
QFZP structuring, audited accounts and the substance that keeps qualifying income at 0%.QFZP tests: which income stays at 0%, which pays 9%.
We also have offices in
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in the UAE.
The UAE wrapper is the simplest of any major hub: 9% federal corporate tax with a 0% band, no personal income tax at all, and free-zone regimes that can bring qualifying income to zero.
Corporate tax 9%
Federal corporate tax applies at 9% above AED 375,000 of profit (Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022); below that band the rate is 0%.Above AED 375k; 0% below the band.
Free zones: 0% on qualifying income
A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% only on qualifying income, such as deals with other free-zone companies; crypto trading, development and consulting with mainland or foreign counterparties are taxed at 9%. Substance and audited accounts are the price.Qualifying income only; crypto trading and development usually 9%.
No personal income tax
Salaries, dividends and personal crypto gains bear no UAE income tax. The founders' side of the equation is unmatched among serious jurisdictions.Salaries, dividends and crypto gains untaxed.
No withholding taxes
The UAE levies no withholding on dividends, interest or royalties. Profits move to holding structures without leakage.Profits move to holdings without leakage.
VAT at 5%
The standard VAT rate is 5%; transfers and conversions of virtual assets are exempt (with retrospective effect to 2018), so token trades stay clean.VA transfers exempt, retrospective to 2018.
130+ tax treaties
One of the world's densest treaty networks. With real substance in Dubai or Abu Dhabi behind it, treaty access is genuine.Real substance makes access genuine.
Tax summary
Corporate tax9% over AED 375k
Qualifying free zone0%
Personal income taxNone
Withholding taxesNone
VAT on VA transfersExempt
Standard VAT5%
Tax treaties130+
*Figures as of 2026. Qualifying Free Zone Person status depends on substance, audited accounts and income mix. We model it before you commit.
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: DMCC free-zone company, 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 live Dubai operation.
Follow Prifinance
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Dubai · DMCC Crypto Centre
Set up your DMCC crypto company with expert support.
Full-service assistance - company, visas, banking, and the VARA licence where your model needs it.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is DMCC the right base for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which base, structure, or licence stack fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The DMCC crypto setup: the practical answers.
Is a DMCC licence a crypto licence?+
No, and that distinction protects you. DMCC is a commercial free zone: its licence covers proprietary trading, development, consulting and web3 services. Client-facing virtual-asset services in Dubai are regulated by VARA in every free zone except DIFC, where the DFSA is the regulator.
What can I run on a DMCC licence alone?+
Trading with your own funds, protocol and product development, mining and infrastructure, consulting, marketing and community operations - everything that never touches client assets or orders and stops short of dealing, such as an OTC desk or market making.
When exactly does VARA kick in?+
The moment you hold, exchange, transfer or manage virtual assets for someone else, deal in them as an OTC desk or market maker, or advise on them commercially. We issue a written perimeter opinion before launch so the answer is never a surprise.
How fast is the setup?+
A DMCC company stands in two to four weeks including the licence and establishment card; visas follow in days. The VARA layer, where needed, runs 4-9 months in two stages.
What does the company cost to capitalise?+
AED 50,000 share capital is the practical standard for the free-zone company. VARA activities add their own paid-up capital, summed across activities - AED 100,000 for advisory, AED 600,000 for custody, AED 800,000 to 1,500,000 for an exchange, or a share of fixed overheads if higher.
How is a DMCC company taxed?+
As a Qualifying Free Zone Person - 0% on qualifying income, with substance and audited accounts, and 9% on all other taxable income, without the 0% band up to AED 375,000. Crypto trading, development and consulting are not qualifying activities, so for most DMCC crypto companies the working rate is 9%. No personal income tax on salaries or dividends.
Can I get visas for the team?+
Yes - the visa quota follows your office tier, from flexi-desk upwards. Founders and staff receive residence visas and Emirates IDs; there is no personal income tax on their pay.
Will banks open accounts?+
For clean structures, yes - UAE and international banks serve DMCC crypto companies, and licensed VASPs more readily still. We shortlist banks that match your flows before incorporation.
DMCC or ADGM or DIFC?+
DMCC for speed, cluster and cost; ADGM for institutional finance under common law; DIFC for issuers and asset managers under the DFSA. The client-facing layer goes to VARA from DMCC, to the FSRA in ADGM and to the DFSA in DIFC - we compare bases in writing.
Can Prifinance run the whole stack?+
Yes - that is the point. One team, our own Dubai office: DMCC company, visas, banking, QFZP tax structure and, where your model needs it, the VARA licence on top.
Is DMCC a crypto licence?+
No - commercial free zone. Client-facing services need VARA.
What runs on DMCC alone?+
Prop trading, development, mining, consulting - no client assets, no dealing.
When does VARA kick in?+
Holding, exchanging or managing assets for others, or dealing - checked in writing.
How fast?+
Company in 2-4 weeks; VARA layer 4-9 months if needed.
Capital?+
AED 50k for the company; each VARA class adds AED 100k-1.5M+.
Taxes?+
0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest; 0% personal.
Visas?+
By office tier - status in days, untaxed pay.
Banking?+
Yes for clean structures - shortlisted before incorporation.
DMCC vs ADGM vs DIFC?+
Speed vs institutions vs issuers - compared in writing.
Who runs the stack?+
One team, our Dubai office - base plus VARA where needed.
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
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Google
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Google
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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 jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Dubai base and licence stack fit your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, 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 DMCC or VARA or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.