United Arab Emirates
Zero personal income tax and zero capital gains tax on all crypto activities for individuals. Dubai's VARA provides world-class regulatory framework.
FATCA Partner
Yes
FATF Status
Clear
EU Blacklist
No
Dual Nationality
Allowed
CARF Status
Committed
Bitizenship
Not yet
CARF Reporting
Committed
United Arab Emirates has committed to implementing CARF but has not yet specified an exact timeline. When active, crypto service providers will be required to report user transactions to tax authorities.
Tax Rates
Activity Taxes
Staking
0% for individuals
Mining
0% for individuals; VAT not exempt for mining
DeFi
0% for individuals
NFTs
0% for individuals
Taxable Events
Crypto → Fiat
Not taxable
Crypto → Crypto
Not taxable
Holding Period
No holding period benefit
No holding period needed - all gains are tax-free
Regulation & Residency
Regulatory Body
VARA (Dubai), ADGM (Abu Dhabi), SCA (Federal)
Residency Requirement
Must be UAE tax resident (183+ days or Golden Visa)
Reporting Requirements
Minimal for individuals; CARF compliance coming
Citizenship & Residency Path
Golden Visa (10yr) via AED 2M+ investment; citizenship rarely granted to foreigners
Resilience & Plan B
Jurisdictional Resilience
How well-equipped this jurisdiction is for a crypto holder who wants stability, access, and protection.
JRS
Institutions (25%), banking (20%), tax clarity (20%), business (15%), privacy (10%), geopolitical (10%). Full methodology →
Plan B Readiness
How fast you can go from “I want to move” to “I’m a tax resident with banking and optionality.”
PBR
Business ease (25%), citizenship path (20%), dual nationality, quality of life & safety (15% each), Bitizenship (10%). Full methodology →
Notable Conditions
- →Corporate crypto income taxed at 9% above AED 375,000 threshold
- →Free zones (DMCC, DIFC, RAK DAO) offer 0% corporate tax for qualifying businesses
- →5% VAT applies to goods/services purchased with crypto
- →Mining activities excluded from VAT exemption
- →From July 2025, only dirham-backed stablecoins allowed for payments
- →VARA Rulebook V2.0 compliance required for all VASPs in Dubai
Living & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
High (Dubai ranks among world's most expensive cities)
Banking Access
Excellent - Emirates NBD and other major banks now offer crypto services
Quality of Life
Very High
Lifestyle Scores