Federal Decree No. 6 of 2025 extends UAE Central Bank oversight to decentralized finance and Web3, with licensing required for crypto payment and digital value services by 2026.
On Nov. 25, 2025, the United Arab Emirates issued Federal Decree No. 6 of 2025, bringing decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3 activities under the supervision of the UAE Central Bank. The regulation mandates licenses for crypto payment services and digital stored value offerings. Enforcement begins September 16, 2025, with a compliance deadline of September 2026. Non-licensed operators may face fines up to 1 billion dirhams ($2.72 billion).