- UAE — Cabinet Resolution No. (83) of 2025
CMA VASP Licensing & Renewal Fees
Official UAE Cabinet fees for Virtual Asset Service Providers regulated at the federal level — covering platform operators, custodians, and brokers — as well as federal registration fees for VASPs licensed by a local licensing authority.
CMA Fee Framework — At a Glance
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Fees set under Cabinet Resolution No. (83) of 2025 — the official UAE federal fee schedule for VASPs
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Two tracks: federal CMA licensing fees and local-authority registration fees — both may apply
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Platform operators carry the highest fee burden — issuance from AED 450K to AED 525K
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Custodians and brokers — issuance AED 75K; renewal AED 55K per activity
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Fees are separate from capital requirements — both must be budgeted as distinct obligations
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Local licensing authorities may impose separate fees in addition to the federal schedule
We help founders and financial institutions budget accurately for CMA authorisation — including application, issuance, annual renewal, cancellation, and local-authority registration — and integrate these into a capital and runway plan.
Fee Framework Overview & Local-Authority Registration Fees
Two Fee Tracks — Federal CMA Licensing and Local-Authority Registration — Both May Apply to the Same VASP
The UAE Cabinet fee schedule distinguishes between two categories of VASP: those licensed by a local licensing authority (subject to federal registration fees), and those seeking federal CMA licensing for specific VASP activities (subject to the full licensing fee schedule). Understanding which track — or combination of tracks — applies is the starting point for accurate cost planning.
The Two Fee Tracks — How They Differ
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Track A — Federal CMA Licensing
VASPs seeking CMA authorisation for specific VASP activities pay the full federal licensing fee schedule — application, issuance, annual renewal, and cancellation fees per activity type. This is the primary pathway for platform operators, custodians, and brokers operating under CMA supervision at the federal level.
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Track B — Local Authority Registration
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Track B — Federal Registration Fees for Locally Licensed VASPs
Where a VASP is licensed by a local licensing authority, the following federal registration fees apply for registration with the federal regulator. These are the official amounts set under Cabinet Resolution No. (83) of 2025.
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Federal Registration — Locally Licensed VASPs
Set under Cabinet Resolution No. (83) of 2025 — applied by the federal regulator upon registration
Registration
AED 3K
Annual Registration Renewal
AED 1.5K
Registration Cancellation
AED 1K
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These Are Federal Registration Fees Only. The AED 3K / 1.5K / 1K schedule covers the federal regulator’s registration service charge alone. Local licensing authority fees are issued separately after coordination with the federal regulator — and are not included in or capped by the amounts above.
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2 Tracks
Federal CMA licensing fees vs. local-authority registration fees — both may apply to the same VASP structure
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AED 525K
Highest issuance fee — Platform Operator (All VASP Activities) tier under the federal CMA licensing schedule
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AED 75K
Issuance fee for Custodian and Broker activities — materially lower than platform operator licensing costs
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AED 3K
Federal registration fee for locally licensed VASPs — separate from and in addition to local authority charges
Track A — Federal CMA Licensing Fees by Activity Type
Official Application, Issuance, Renewal, and Cancellation Fees — Platform Operators, Custodians, and Brokers
The federal CMA licensing fee schedule applies per activity type — with fees differing materially between platform operators and the custodian and broker categories. A full-service platform operator conducting all VASP activities is subject to a distinct, higher fee tier. All amounts are set under Cabinet Resolution No. (83) of 2025.
Virtual Asset Platform Operator
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Platform Operator
Standard platform licence — crypto exchanges and trading venues operating as VAPO without the full all-activities bundle
Application
AED 10K
Licence Issuance
AED 450K
Annual Renewal
AED 220K
Cancellation
AED 10K
Best Suited For
- Crypto exchanges and trading platforms
- Order-book and matching venues
- VASP ecosystem operators
Virtual Asset Custodian
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Custodian
Custody licence — firms providing safekeeping, wallet infrastructure, and control of client virtual assets
Application
AED 5K
Licence Issuance
AED 75K
Annual Renewal
AED 55K
Cancellation
AED 1K
Best Suited For
- Custody providers and wallet infrastructure firms
- Safekeeping service providers
- Institutional asset custodians
Virtual Asset Broker
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Broker
Brokerage licence — execution intermediaries dealing as agent without taking principal risk or holding client assets
Application
AED 5K
Licence Issuance
AED 75K
Annual Renewal
AED 55K
Cancellation
AED 1K
Best Suited For
- Brokerage platforms and OTC desks
- Execution intermediaries
- Agency-model dealing firms
Platform Operator — All VASP Activities Tier
Distinct Licence Category
Platform Operator (All VASP Activities)
A platform operator conducting all VASP activities is subject to a distinct, higher fee tier than the standard platform licence — reflecting the expanded scope of regulated activities and the heightened regulatory oversight that applies. This is not an add-on to the standard VAPO licence; it is a separate category with its own issuance and renewal charges.
Application
AED 10K
Issuance
AED 525K
Annual Renewal
AED 275K
Cancellation
AED 10K
Complete Federal CMA Fee Schedule at a Glance
Activity Type
Application (AED)
Issuance (AED)
Annual Renewal (AED)
Cancellation (AED)
Platform Operator (All VASP Activities)
10K
525K
275K
10K
Platform Operator
10K
450K
220K
10K
Custodian
5K
75K
55K
1K
Broker
5K
75K
55K
1K
Federal registration only (locally licensed VASPs)
Local VASP — Registration
3K
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1.5K
1K
Critical Budgeting Notes
Three Budgeting Principles Every VASP Must Understand Before Modelling Licensing Costs
Regulatory fees are only one component of the total cost of CMA authorisation. They interact with paid-up capital requirements, ongoing compliance build-out costs, and local authority charges — all of which must be modelled together in an integrated licensing cost plan before any commitment to a licensing pathway is made.
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Fees Are Separate From Capital Requirements
Regulatory fees — application, issuance, annual renewal, and cancellation — are government charges payable to the CMA. They are entirely separate from paid-up capital requirements, which are prudential obligations under the General Framework Module. Both must be funded simultaneously — capital cannot be used to cover fees, and fee budgets do not reduce the required paid-up capital position.
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Platform Operators Carry the Highest Fee Burden
Platform licensing fees are significantly higher than those for brokers and custodians — reflecting the level of regulatory oversight applied to market infrastructure operators. A platform operator (all activities) pays AED 525K at issuance and AED 275K annually — compared to AED 75K and AED 55K for custodians and brokers. This disparity must be factored into the licensing strategy and annual operating cost model from the outset.
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"All VASP Activities" Is a Distinct Higher-Fee Tier
A platform operator conducting all VASP activities is subject to a separate, higher issuance (AED 525K vs AED 450K) and renewal (AED 275K vs AED 220K) fee tier compared to a standard platform licence. This is not an automatic upgrade — it is a distinct licence category with its own fee structure. The decision to apply for the all-activities tier must be made deliberately and costed accordingly within the licensing budget.
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What CRYPTOVERSE Legal Delivers
Activity Classification, Integrated Fee Mapping, Capital and Runway Modelling — Built Into a Complete CMA Cost Plan
We help founders and financial institutions budget accurately for CMA authorisation — integrating regulatory fees, capital requirements, compliance build-out costs, and local authority charges into a single, integrated licensing cost plan that supports commercially rational decision-making from the first structuring conversation.
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Activity Classification & Fee Mapping
We confirm the correct activity classification for the proposed business model — identifying whether the VASP is a platform operator, custodian, broker, or a combination — and map the applicable fee schedule to the confirmed activity classification. Getting the classification right before fee mapping ensures the cost plan reflects the actual regulatory pathway, not a misclassified one.
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Consolidated Government Fee Schedules
We produce a consolidated fee schedule for the proposed licensing structure — covering all applicable federal CMA fees (application, issuance, annual renewal, and cancellation), local-authority registration fees where applicable, and any additional regulatory charges. The consolidated schedule gives a single, accurate cost reference for all government fee obligations across the full licensing lifecycle.
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Capital + Fee + Runway Modelling
We build the integrated capital, fee, and runway model — combining the paid-up capital requirement for the applicable licensing categories, the full CMA fee schedule, compliance build-out cost estimates, and operating expense projections into a single financial model that shows the total cash requirement for licensing, go-live, and at least the first two years of post-authorisation operations.
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Licensing Submission Support
We support the preparation and submission of CMA licensing applications — ensuring that all fee payments are correctly calculated, timed, and processed within the application and IPA timelines, that fee-related conditions are satisfied before the issuance stage, and that the annual renewal calendar is built into the post-authorisation compliance programme from day one.
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Regulatory Planning Aligned with Cost Structure
We integrate regulatory fee planning into the broader licensing strategy — advising on whether the all-activities platform tier is commercially appropriate, whether a phased licensing approach reduces short-term fee exposure, and how the interaction between fees, capital, and operating costs should inform the timing and sequencing of the licensing pathway from classification through go-live.
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Local Authority Fee Advisory
For VASPs considering a locally-licensed structure — whether in a UAE free zone or under a local licensing authority — we advise on the applicable federal registration fees, assist in identifying the relevant local authority fee schedule, and integrate both into the consolidated cost plan alongside the paid-up capital and compliance build-out requirements for the specific structure.
From Activity Classification and Fee Mapping Through Capital Modelling, Runway Planning, and Submission Support — Complete CMA Licensing Cost Planning
- We confirm the correct activity classification before fee mapping — because classification determines which fee tier applies, and an incorrect classification produces an inaccurate cost plan
- We produce a consolidated government fee schedule covering all federal CMA fees and, where applicable, local authority registration charges — giving a single accurate reference for the full licensing cost
- We build the integrated capital, fee, and runway model — so the total cash requirement for licensing, go-live, and post-authorisation operations is understood before any commitment is made
- We integrate fee planning into the broader licensing strategy — advising on timing, tier selection, and the interaction between fees and capital so the licensing pathway is commercially rational from the first structuring conversation
Regulatory fees and paid-up capital are separate obligations — both must be funded simultaneously. Budget for both from day one of licensing strategy design.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions — CMA VASP Licensing Fees (UAE)
Yes. The fees set out on this page are the official UAE federal fee schedule for VASP services, issued under Cabinet Resolution No. (83) of 2025. They apply to all VASPs seeking CMA licensing or federal registration and are not subject to negotiation or waiver. All amounts are denominated in AED and are payable as specified in the resolution — application fees are non-refundable in the case of the in-principle approval stage.
Yes. Where a VASP is licensed by a local licensing authority — such as a UAE free zone authority — the federal registration fees set out in the Cabinet Resolution apply for registration with the federal regulator. However, local licensing authorities issue their own separate fee schedules after coordination with the federal regulator. The total fee obligation for a locally licensed VASP therefore includes both the federal registration fees (AED 3K registration, AED 1.5K annual renewal, AED 1K cancellation) and the applicable local authority charges. Both sets must be researched and budgeted separately.
These are two distinct licence categories within the VAPO fee tier. A standard Platform Operator licence covers operation of a virtual asset platform as a VAPO — with an issuance fee of AED 450K and annual renewal of AED 220K. A Platform Operator (All VASP Activities) licence covers a platform operator conducting all VASP activities under a single licence — with a higher issuance fee of AED 525K and annual renewal of AED 275K. The all-activities tier is not an automatic upgrade from a standard platform licence; it is a distinct category that must be applied for specifically and costed as a separate, higher-fee commitment in the licensing budget.
Yes — they are entirely separate obligations. Licensing fees are government charges payable to the CMA for the provision of licensing, registration, and renewal services. Paid-up capital is a prudential obligation under the General Framework Module — the minimum capital that must be maintained by the licensed entity as part of its ongoing regulatory capital adequacy. Both must be funded from the firm’s own resources simultaneously. Capital cannot be used to cover regulatory fees, and fee payments do not reduce or offset the required paid-up capital position. Founders and financial institutions must budget for both in full as distinct line items from the outset of the licensing strategy.
Ready to Build an Accurate CMA Licensing Cost Plan?
Book a Licensing Cost Call
Whether you are modelling fees for an initial licensing application, evaluating the all-activities platform tier, or building an integrated capital and runway plan — we map the full cost of CMA authorisation around your specific activity classification and operating model.