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Qatar vs Saudi Arabia

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Qatar | Saudi Arabia
Qatar

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

Restricted
Restricted

Qatar has a restrictive stance on cryptocurrency. The Qatar Central Bank banned crypto trading and services in 2018, and the QFC Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) prohibits virtual asset services within the Qatar Financial Centre. However, Qatar has shown interest in blockchain technology for non-crypto applications and is exploring a potential CBDC. The Qatar Financial Centre issued a Digital Assets Framework in 2024 focused on tokenized real-world assets, not cryptocurrencies.

Saudi Arabia has an ambiguous but generally restrictive approach to cryptocurrency. SAMA has not licensed any crypto exchanges, and financial institutions are warned against dealing in crypto. However, crypto is not explicitly banned by law, and Saudi Arabia has participated in blockchain initiatives (Project Aber with the UAE central bank). No personal income or capital gains tax exists in Saudi Arabia.

Tax Type None
Tax Type None
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 0%
Exchanges No No
Exchanges No No
Mining No No
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator QCB (Qatar Central Bank), QFCRA
Regulator SAMA (Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority), CMA Saudi Arabia
Stablecoin Rules Not permitted under current QCB regulations
Stablecoin Rules No regulation; crypto trading not authorized
Key Points
  • QFCRA prohibited authorized firms from providing virtual asset services (2019 alert, reaffirmed 2024)
  • QFCRA prohibits virtual asset services within the Qatar Financial Centre
  • QFC introduced a 2024 Digital Assets Framework for tokenized securities (not crypto)
  • No personal income or capital gains tax in Qatar (but crypto trading is banned)
  • Qatar exploring blockchain and CBDC applications separate from crypto
Key Points
  • SAMA has not authorized or licensed any cryptocurrency exchanges
  • Financial institutions warned against crypto transactions
  • Crypto not explicitly banned but not regulated; exists in a legal gray area
  • No personal income or capital gains tax in Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi Arabia participated in CBDC experiments (Project Aber with UAE)
Sources
Sources