Andorra vs United Arab Emirates
Crypto regulation comparison
Andorra
United Arab Emirates
Legal
Legal
Andorra enacted the Digital Assets Act (Law 24/2022) providing a comprehensive framework for crypto. The AFA licenses exchanges, custodians, and stablecoin issuers. Aligning with EU MiCA.
The UAE has become a global crypto hub with multiple regulatory frameworks. Dubai's VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority), established in 2022, is the world's first dedicated crypto regulator and licenses exchanges, brokers, and other VASPs. Abu Dhabi's ADGM regulates crypto through the FSRA. The federal SCA also oversees crypto at the national level. The UAE has no personal income or capital gains tax. Major global exchanges (Binance, Bybit, OKX, Crypto.com) have obtained UAE licenses.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
0%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Andorran Financial Authority (AFA)
Regulator
VARA (Dubai), ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi), SCA (Federal), CBUAE
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under Digital Assets Act with specific stablecoin licenses
Stablecoin Rules
VARA regulates stablecoins in Dubai; ADGM has separate framework
Key Points
- Digital Assets Act (Law 24/2022) effective Oct 2022
- AFA licenses and regulates all digital asset service providers
- Three categories of stablecoins with specific licensing requirements
- Low electricity costs make mining attractive
- Aligning regulations with EU MiCA framework
Key Points
- VARA (Dubai) — world's first standalone virtual asset regulator; comprehensive licensing framework
- ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi) — separate regulatory framework for digital assets in the financial free zone
- No personal income tax or capital gains tax in the UAE
- 9% corporate tax (from 2023) may apply to crypto businesses but not individual investors
- Major exchanges licensed: Binance, Bybit, OKX, Crypto.com, BitOasis