Is Nexo available in the United Arab Emirates?
Residents of the United Arab Emirates can generally access Nexo's platform, including its crypto backed credit line, in app Exchange, and savings features. Nexo's Dubai entity, Nexo Services FZE, holds an Initial Approval from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and is progressing toward a full licence, so confirm the current product scope and authorisation.
Information, not advice. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.
How we checked this. We set this status by reading the platform's own terms of use and country eligibility, and the public register kept by the named regulator, then dated the result. Availability can change, so confirm directly with the platform and the regulator before acting. As of 26 June 2026.
Yes, with limits. As of 26 June 2026, residents of the United Arab Emirates can access Nexo's global platform, including its crypto backed credit line, an in app Exchange for swaps, and savings features. Nexo's Dubai entity, Nexo Services FZE, received an Initial Approval from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in March 2024 and is working toward a full licence, so confirm the current product scope and authorisation on the Nexo platform and with VARA before acting.
Availability for the United Arab Emirates residents
As of 26 June 2026, the United Arab Emirates is not on Nexo's list of restricted jurisdictions, and residents can generally reach Nexo's platform and products. The competent authority for virtual asset service providers in the Emirate of Dubai, outside the Dubai International Financial Centre, is the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), while the federal Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) oversees virtual assets at the national level. Separate regulators apply within the financial free zones, namely the Dubai Financial Services Authority in the Dubai International Financial Centre and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority in Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Nexo has expanded its presence in the United Arab Emirates. Nexo announced in March 2024 that its Dubai entity, Nexo Services FZE, received an Initial Approval from VARA covering activities such as virtual asset lending and borrowing, management and investment, and broker dealer services. An Initial Approval is a step in the VARA authorisation process and is not yet a full operating licence, so the precise scope of locally licensed services can change as the authorisation progresses.
Because the position is developing, treat the exact set of products offered to residents of the United Arab Emirates as something to confirm on the Nexo platform and with VARA. Holding, buying, and selling crypto is permitted for residents under the applicable Emirati frameworks, and the open question on this page is the licensing and product scope of the Nexo platform rather than whether owning crypto is allowed. The status here is stated as of 26 June 2026.
Access, KYC, and products
Nexo is a custodial platform, which means it holds the assets in your account on your behalf rather than giving you the private keys. Users in the United Arab Emirates typically open an account through the Nexo app or website, complete identity verification, known as know your customer or KYC, using a government issued identity document, and fund the account by transferring crypto from another wallet or by buying crypto with a card.
The core products available to eligible users include a crypto backed credit line, which lets a user borrow against crypto held as collateral without selling it, an in app Exchange for swapping one asset for another, and savings or yield features whose availability depends on local rules. The exact mix offered to residents of the United Arab Emirates depends on the authorisations Nexo holds and can change as its VARA licensing progresses.
Because availability of specific features can differ between the United Arab Emirates and other markets, confirm what is offered to residents on the platform itself before funding an account. This page describes general availability and does not recommend any product.
How crypto is taxed in the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates does not levy a personal income tax or a capital gains tax on individuals, so personal gains from crypto held by an individual are generally not taxed at the personal level, within the framework administered by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) (as of 26 June 2026). This general position does not remove other obligations, and the treatment of activity carried on as a business can differ.
A federal corporate tax of 9 percent can apply to qualifying business profits above a threshold, and value added tax can apply to certain goods and services, so individuals who trade through a company or as a business should take advice. Rules and thresholds change and depend on personal circumstances, so confirm the current treatment with the Federal Tax Authority or a qualified adviser. See the United Arab Emirates crypto tax page for a fuller explanation. This is general information, not tax advice.
Several major platforms serve residents of the United Arab Emirates. Availability and products vary, so compare the exchanges that are genuinely available in the United Arab Emirates before you choose.
Every availability status here is dated and checked against the named regulator's public register. We never place a link to a platform where it is not available.
Regulator and sources
The lead regulator for virtual assets in Dubai is the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), alongside the federal Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The position below is stated as of 26 June 2026 and should be confirmed on the primary sources.
- Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), the Dubai regulator for virtual asset service providers, including its public register and rulebooks.
- Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the federal authority overseeing virtual assets in the United Arab Emirates.
- Nexo announcement, March 2024, that its Dubai entity Nexo Services FZE received an Initial Approval from VARA.
- Nexo Help Center, the page on the jurisdictions in which its products are available.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nexo available in the United Arab Emirates?
Yes, with limits. As of 26 June 2026, residents of the United Arab Emirates can generally access Nexo's platform, including its crypto backed credit line, in app Exchange, and savings features. Confirm the current product scope on the Nexo platform and with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
Does Nexo hold a licence in the United Arab Emirates?
Nexo's Dubai entity, Nexo Services FZE, received an Initial Approval from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in March 2024. An Initial Approval is a step toward a full licence rather than a full operating licence, so verify the current status on the VARA register.
Who regulates crypto in the United Arab Emirates?
In Dubai, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) is the lead regulator, with the federal Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) at the national level. The Dubai Financial Services Authority and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority regulate within the financial free zones.
Is it legal to use crypto in the United Arab Emirates?
Yes. Holding, buying, and selling crypto is permitted for residents under the applicable Emirati frameworks. The open question on this page is the licensing and product scope of the Nexo platform, not whether owning crypto is allowed.
How is crypto taxed in the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates does not levy a personal income tax or capital gains tax on individuals, so personal crypto gains are generally untaxed, within the framework of the Federal Tax Authority. A 9 percent corporate tax can apply to businesses. See the United Arab Emirates crypto tax page. This is general information, not tax advice.
Where can I confirm the current position?
Check the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority register and rulebooks, the Securities and Commodities Authority, and Nexo's own Help Center. Those primary sources are the most current way to confirm availability before acting.
Rules change frequently. Exchange availability and authorisations can change at short notice, and Nexo's position in the United Arab Emirates is developing around its VARA licensing. The position on this page is dated 26 June 2026. Confirm the current status with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and the platform before you act.
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