Cabinet Resolution No. 83 of 2025 · UAE Federal
Cabinet resolution setting the fees for services provided to virtual asset service providers, with provisions on amendment and collection of the fees.
Cabinet Resolution No. 83 of 2025 sets the federal fees that the Securities and Commodities Authority, now the Capital Market Authority (CMA), charges virtual asset service providers (VASPs). It was issued on 16 June 2025 under Cabinet Resolution No. 111 of 2022 on virtual assets and entered into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette (Article 4). It is in force and has not been amended.
Article 1 has two fee tables. The first applies to VASPs licensed by a local (emirate-level) licensing authority, which must register with the Authority: AED 3,000 for registration, AED 1,500 for annual renewal of the registration and AED 1,000 for cancellation. The second applies to all other VASPs, which are licensed by the Authority itself. A virtual asset platform operator pays AED 10,000 on application, AED 450,000 on issue of the licence, AED 220,000 for each annual renewal and AED 10,000 on cancellation; if the platform operator carries out all VASP activities, the issue fee rises to AED 525,000 and renewal to AED 275,000. A virtual asset custodian and a virtual asset broker each pay AED 5,000 on application, AED 75,000 on issue, AED 55,000 on annual renewal and AED 1,000 on cancellation.
Article 1(3) leaves each local licensing authority to set its own fees, after coordination with the Authority. Article 1(4) applies the fees to services from the resolution's entry into force and also lets the Authority collect fees for services it provided from the entry into force of Cabinet Resolution No. 111 of 2022 up to that date, so VASPs served in the interim period are liable for back fees. The Cabinet may add, delete or modify fees (Article 2), and fees are collected through the means set by the Ministry of Finance (Article 3).
The table uses the activity labels in force when it was issued: platform operator, custodian and broker. Decision No. 4/Chairman of 2026 has since reorganised CMA virtual asset licensing into six categories, so applicants should confirm with the CMA which fee line applies to their category.
Virtual asset service providers licensed by the CMA (platform operators, custodians and brokers) and VASPs licensed by a local emirate licensing authority that must register with the CMA, including those that received CMA services after Cabinet Resolution No. 111 of 2022 took effect.
English official text in 4 articles. Open the full text or jump to a provision:
| Article 1(1) | VASPs licensed by a local licensing authority pay the Authority AED 3,000 for registration, AED 1,500 for annual renewal and AED 1,000 for cancellation of registration. |
| Article 1(2) | A virtual asset platform operator pays AED 10,000 to apply, AED 450,000 on licence issue, AED 220,000 annual renewal and AED 10,000 to cancel; AED 525,000 and AED 275,000 if it carries out all VASP activities. |
| Article 1(2) | A virtual asset custodian and a virtual asset broker each pay AED 5,000 to apply, AED 75,000 on issue, AED 55,000 annual renewal and AED 1,000 to cancel. |
| Article 1(3) | The local licensing authority sets its own fees for services to licensed VASPs after coordination with the Authority. |
| Article 1(4) | Fees apply from entry into force, and the Authority may also collect fees for services provided since Cabinet Resolution No. 111 of 2022 came into force. |
| Articles 2–4 | The Cabinet may amend the fees; the Authority collects them through means set by the Ministry of Finance; the resolution takes effect the day after publication. |
We use this resolution to give virtual asset clients a realistic budget before they commit to a CMA licence: AED 460,000 in the first year for a platform operator, and AED 80,000 for a custodian or broker, before capital, staff and compliance costs. For a VASP licensed by an emirate-level authority, the federal registration fees come on top of the local licence. Polaris is not licensed by the CMA or VARA and does not provide virtual asset services. We form and administer the applicant company, coordinate with licensed compliance advisers on the application, track renewal deadlines and keep the company's accounts, UBO, AML and tax filings in order.
| Cites | Federal Virtual Assets Regulation · Former SCA Law |
| Cited by | Virtual Asset Service Providers and ATS Regulation |
“Cites” and “Cited by” are built automatically from references in the full texts held in this library; they cover only instruments in the library.
Federal Virtual Assets Regulation
The federal framework for virtual assets outside the financial free zones. It makes the Securities and Commodities Authority the federal licensing authority for virtual a…
Virtual Asset Service Providers and ATS Regulation
Issues the regulation of virtual asset service providers and alternative trading system operators: licensing categories and in-principle approval, systems, controls and c…
Virtual Assets Administrative Penalties
Sets the list of violations and administrative penalties the Securities and Commodities Authority may impose on virtual asset service providers and other persons breachin…
Capital Markets Law
Regulates the onshore capital market from 1 January 2026: financial activities subject to CMA licensing, capital market institutions, offering and listing of securities, …
CMA Technical Service Fees
Sets the technical service fees payable to the Authority for licensing, registration and other services, in an annexed fee table amended many times since 2018.
Former Virtual Assets Regulation (2023)
Chairman decision regulating virtual assets and their service providers, repealed by Decision No. 04/Chairman of 2026 on virtual asset service providers and alternative t…
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