BTC $67,398.00 (-1.66%)
ETH $1,943.79 (-2.15%)
XRP $1.38 (-3.85%)
BNB $611.91 (-2.25%)
SOL $83.16 (-3.37%)
TRX $0.29 (+0.46%)
DOGE $0.09 (-4.62%)
BCH $569.42 (+0.92%)
ADA $0.27 (-3.91%)
LEO $8.20 (-1.57%)
HYPE $28.90 (-3.08%)
LINK $8.63 (-3.33%)
CC $0.16 (+0.08%)
XMR $322.97 (-1.65%)
XLM $0.16 (-4.44%)
RAIN $0.01 (+0.97%)
HBAR $0.10 (-2.78%)
LTC $53.15 (-3.98%)
ZEC $243.15 (-6.49%)
AVAX $8.81 (-4.76%)

United Arab Emirates vs Cyprus

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | United Arab Emirates | Cyprus
United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

Cyprus

Cyprus

Legal
Legal

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.

Cyprus regulates crypto under the EU MiCA framework (fully applicable since December 2024). CySEC authorizes crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) while the Central Bank of Cyprus oversees e-money tokens and asset-referenced tokens. Crypto gains from occasional transactions are currently not taxed; active trading is taxed as income at 0-35%. A proposed 8% flat tax on crypto gains is pending parliamentary approval for 2026.

Tax Type None
Tax Type Varies
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 0-35% (proposed 8% flat rate from 2026)
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator VARA (Dubai), ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi), SCA (Federal), CBUAE
Regulator CySEC, Central Bank of Cyprus
Stablecoin Rules VARA regulates stablecoins in Dubai; ADGM has separate framework
Stablecoin Rules Regulated under 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
Key Points
  • CySEC authorizes and supervises crypto-asset service providers under MiCA
  • No capital gains tax on crypto for occasional transactions; active trading taxed as income
  • EU MiCA regulation applies as an EU member state
  • AML/CFT requirements enforced for all crypto businesses
  • Proposed 8% flat tax on crypto gains pending parliamentary approval for 2026
Sources
Sources