In 2026, launching a crypto exchange in the UAE requires licensing and strict compliance with both federal and emirate-level regulators. Depending on jurisdiction, firms must be licensed by Dubai’s VARA, Abu Dhabi’s ADGM (FSRA), or DIFC’s DFSA. The SCA and UAE Central Bank oversee federal matters, especially for payment tokens and stablecoins. Mandatory requirements include AML/KYC, FATF Travel Rule compliance, cybersecurity controls, client asset segregation, and appointment of a Money Laundering Reporting