UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations
The Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), established by Law No. 4 of 2022, is the world's first independent regulator dedicated to virtual assets. VARA regulates virtual asset service providers (VASPs) operating in or from Dubai (excluding DIFC). Comprehensive rulebooks cover: company, compliance and risk management, market conduct, technology and information, issuance, exchange, broker-dealer, lending/borrowing, custody, management/investment, and transfer/settlement services.
Framework summaries on this platform are AI-assisted interpretations for educational and compliance planning purposes. They do not reproduce or replace the official standards. Refer to the authoritative source for the definitive text. Framework names and trademarks belong to their respective organisations.
Framework Domains (21)
Activity-Specific Rulebooks
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AS-1 | Advisory Services |
| AS-2 | Exchange Services |
| AS-3 | Custody Services |
| AS-4 | Broker-Dealer Services |
| AS-5 | Lending and Borrowing |
Assurance
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-20 | Independent Audit and Assurance |
Client Protection
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-04 | Client Asset Segregation |
| VARA-17 | Complaints and Dispute Resolution |
Company Rulebook
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CR-1 | Legal Entity Requirements |
| CR-2 | Minimum Capital Requirements |
| CR-3 | Fitness and Propriety |
| CR-4 | Corporate Governance |
Compliance and Risk Management Rulebook
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CRM-1 | AML/CFT Compliance |
| CRM-2 | Sanctions Compliance |
| CRM-3 | Risk Management Framework |
| CRM-4 | Business Risk Assessment |
| CRM-5 | FATF Travel Rule |
Conduct
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-09 | Disclosures and Marketing |
| VARA-10 | Suitability and Onboarding |
| VARA-11 | Conflicts of Interest |
Custody
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-05 | Custody Arrangements |
Financial Crime
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-06 | AML, CFT and Sanctions |
| VARA-07 | Travel Rule Compliance |
Governance
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-02 | Fit and Proper Senior Management |
Licensing
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-01 | Licensing and Permitted Activities |
Market Conduct Rulebook
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| MC-1 | Senior Management Support |
| MC-2 | Compliance Culture |
| MC-3 | Dedicated Compliance Officer |
| MC-4 | Resource Allocation |
| MC-5 | Disclosure Requirements |
Market Integrity
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-08 | Market Conduct and Surveillance |
Operational Resilience
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-12 | Technology and Cyber Risk |
| VARA-13 | Business Continuity and Resilience |
Product Governance
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-18 | Token and Product Approval |
Prudential
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-03 | Capital and Prudential Requirements |
Recordkeeping
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-19 | Recordkeeping and Audit Trails |
Reporting
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-16 | Regulatory Reporting |
Risk Governance
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-15 | Risk Management Framework |
Technology and Information Rulebook
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| TI-1 | STIX Framework for Space |
| TI-2 | TAXII Transport Protocol |
| TI-3 | Indicator of Compromise Sharing |
| TI-4 | Threat Correlation and Analysis |
Third Party Management
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VARA-14 | Outsourcing and Third Party Risk |
Virtual Asset Issuance Rulebook
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| VAI-1 | Whitepaper Requirements |
| VAI-2 | Issuer Obligations |
| VAI-3 | Prohibition on Privacy Coins |
| VAI-4 | Investor Protection |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations, you already cover:
European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882)
17%
8 controls mapped
Compare →US SEC Digital Assets and Crypto Regulatory Framework
17%
8 controls mapped
Compare →NIS2 Directive
17%
8 controls mapped
Compare →+ 475 more: Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme (Australia) (17%), EU Digital Markets Act (17%)
See all 478 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 478 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations?
UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations is a compliance framework from United Arab Emirates — Dubai with 21 domains and 47 controls. The Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), established by Law No. 4 of 2022, is the world's first independent regulator dedicated to virtual assets. VARA regulates virtual asset service providers (VASPs) operating in or from Dubai (excluding DIFC). Comprehensive rulebooks cover: company, compliance and risk management, market conduct, technology and information, issuance, exchange, broker-dealer, lending/borrowing, custody, management/investment, and transfer/settlement services. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations have?
UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations has 47 controls organised across 21 domains. The largest domains are Activity-Specific Rulebooks (5 controls), Compliance and Risk Management Rulebook (5 controls), Market Conduct Rulebook (5 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations map to?
UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations maps to 478 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) (17% coverage), US SEC Digital Assets and Crypto Regulatory Framework (17% coverage), NIS2 Directive (17% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations compliance?
Start your UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about UAE Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) Regulations requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 47 controls and track your progress.
Start Your Compliance Journey
Create a free account to run self-assessments, get AI advisory, and track your compliance progress across 718 frameworks.
Get Started Free →Free forever — no credit card required