Revolut Crypto in the UAE — VARA update

On 15 July 2026, Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) gave Revolut in-principle approval to offer crypto services in the UAE. This is a real milestone — but it does not mean you can buy crypto through Revolut in the UAE today. Here is what changed, and what still has to happen.

What just happened

VARA is the crypto-specific regulator in Dubai. It licenses everything from exchanges and brokers to custodians and NFT marketplaces. Any company that wants to offer crypto services to UAE users needs VARA approval.

Revolut applied and, on 15 July 2026, got what regulators call 'in-principle' approval — the middle stage between an application and a full licence.

What 'in-principle' means (and doesn't mean)

In plain English, in-principle approval is a green flag. VARA has read Revolut's application and said: yes, we are prepared to license you — as long as you finish the remaining conditions.

What it is not:

• It is not a full licence.
• It is not permission to onboard UAE customers.
• It is not a guarantee that final approval will follow — approvals can still fail if the applicant cannot meet the final conditions.

In practical terms, Revolut still has to finish its UAE-specific compliance, custody and disclosure setup before VARA will convert the in-principle approval into a full licence. Only then can UAE users see 'Crypto' as a tab inside a Revolut UAE account.

How this fits into the wider UAE launch

The two CBUAE licences Revolut received on 17 June 2026 cover money-transfer and payment services — accounts, cards, transfers. Those are the pieces you need for a consumer neobank launch.

VARA covers crypto. Revolut does not need VARA approval to launch its non-crypto product. So it is possible — even likely — that Revolut UAE will open first with accounts, cards and transfers, and add crypto later once VARA gives full approval.

What Revolut Crypto looks like elsewhere (with a caveat)

In the UK and EU, Revolut Crypto is a beginner-friendly wallet, not a serious trading platform:

• A curated list of the largest coins.
• Buy / sell in a couple of taps.
• Fees are a percentage on the trade, tiered by subscription plan.
• Withdrawals to external wallets are supported in some markets, not others.

The caveat: the UAE version does not have to look like the UK or EU version. VARA imposes its own disclosure, custody and marketing rules, and Revolut will design the UAE product to fit those rules. Assume overlap with the European product — but do not assume identical.

What's unclear about the UAE version

• Which coins will be supported.
• Whether withdrawals to self-custody wallets will be allowed.
• The fee schedule.
• Whether staking is included.
• Whether Revolut Business customers get crypto — Revolut Business availability in the UAE is not announced.

What to do today

If you want to buy crypto in the UAE right now, use one of the VARA-licensed exchanges. This site is not a crypto-exchange comparison, so we don't recommend a specific one — but you can find the current VARA-licensed list on vara.ae.

For sending money home from the UAE, Revolut's crypto approval is not directly relevant. Use one of the money-transfer options we cover: Wise, Remitly, WorldRemit, Al Ansari, LuLu, Western Union. See /compare for the side-by-side.