Best Crypto Exchanges in the United Arab Emirates (October 2026): 18 Ranked
We checked which crypto exchanges, brokers and apps accept residents of the United Arab Emirates, which hold a local licence, and which exclude the country in their own terms. 18 are ranked below; 0 well-known platforms are not available there.
By Vahe Hakobyan Updated How we rank No affiliate links · no paid places
Which crypto exchange is best in the United Arab Emirates?
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#18.9/10
Binance
VARA VASP licence (Binance FZE: exchange, broker-dealer, lending & borrowing, management & investment); ADGM FSRA: Nest Exchange Ltd (Recognised Investment Exchange), Nest Clearing and Custody Ltd (Recognised Clearing House), Nest Trading Ltd (broker-dealer)
Taker fee0.10%
LicenceLicensed
App ratings68K
Read review
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#28.5/10
OKX
VARA VASP licence (OKX Middle East Fintech FZE: exchange, broker-dealer, lending & borrowing, management & investment)
Taker fee0.10%
LicenceLicensed
App ratings2K
Read review
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#38.4/10
Gate
VARA VASP licence (Gate Technology FZE: exchange services)
Taker fee0.10%
LicenceLicensed
App ratings686
Read review
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#48.3/10
Bybit
SCA Virtual Asset Platform Operator licence (federal UAE), granted October 2025
Taker fee0.10%
LicenceLicensed
App ratings6K
Read review
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#58.1/10
Crypto.com
VARA VASP licence VL/23/10/003 (Foris DAX Middle East FZE: exchange incl. VA derivatives, broker-dealer, management & investment, lending & borrowing)
Taker fee0.50%
LicenceLicensed
App ratings2K
Read review
All 18 platforms for the United Arab Emirates, ranked
Scores out of 10 from seven published criteria. A dash means the value is not verified yet.
| # | Platform | Score | Taker fee | Local licence | App ratings | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BinanceExchange |
8.9 | 0.10% | Licensed | 68K | Review of Binance |
| 2 | OKXExchange |
8.5 | 0.10% | Licensed | 2K | Review of OKX |
| 3 | GateExchange |
8.4 | 0.10% | Licensed | 686 | Review of Gate |
| 4 | BybitExchange |
8.3 | 0.10% | Licensed | 6K | Review of Bybit |
| 5 | Crypto.comExchange |
8.1 | 0.50% | Licensed | 2K | Review of Crypto.com |
| 6 |  BitOasisBroker / app |
7.6 | — Not verified | Licensed | 4K | Review of BitOasis |
| 7 |  DeribitDerivatives |
7.6 | 0.05% | Licensed | — Not verified | Review of Deribit |
| 8 |  eToroBroker / app |
7.6 | — Not verified | Licensed | 6K | Review of eToro |
| 9 |  Backpack ExchangeExchange |
7.5 | 0.10% | Licensed | 9 | Review of Backpack Exchange |
| 10 |  CoinMENABroker / app |
7.1 | — Not verified | Licensed | 61 | Review of CoinMENA |
| 11 |  RainExchange |
7.1 | — Not verified | Licensed | 1K | Review of Rain |
| 12 |  MEXCExchange |
7.1 | 0.05% | No local licence | 2K | Review of MEXC |
| 13 |  KuCoinExchange |
7.1 | 0.10% | No local licence | 3K | Review of KuCoin |
| 14 |  BitpandaBroker / app |
7.0 | — Not verified | Licensed | — Not verified | Review of Bitpanda |
| 15 |  BitgetExchange |
6.8 | 0.10% | No local licence | 1K | Review of Bitget |
| 16 |  WhiteBITExchange |
6.5 | 0.10% | No local licence | 32 | Review of WhiteBIT |
| 17 |  BitfinexExchange |
6.4 | 0.00% | No local licence | 23 | Review of Bitfinex |
| 18 |  KrakenExchange |
6.0 | 0.80% | No local licence | 182 | Review of Kraken |
Crypto regulation and how we rank in the United Arab Emirates
Buying, selling and holding crypto is legal for UAE residents, but firms that offer virtual-asset services need a licence from the authority for the area they serve. In Dubai (outside DIFC) that is VARA, set up under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2022; its public register listed 56 active licensed VASPs on 2026-10-06. In Abu Dhabi Global Market it is the FSRA, which granted Binance's Nest entities their licences in December 2025. In the rest of the country it is the federal Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), whose website now uses the name Capital Market Authority. SCA issued its first full Virtual Asset Platform Operator licence to Bybit in October 2025.
Each platform gets a score from 0 to 10. Access and the local licence carry the most weight; security, fees, the range of coins and products, the number of ratings of its app in the local App Store and the quality of the data make up the rest. Only official sources are used: the platforms' own terms and the regulator's public register. A dash means we could not verify a value.
- Access in the United Arab Emirates20%
- Local licence20%
- Security record15%
- Cost15%
- Range10%
- Popularity15%
- Data quality5%
Crypto exchange rankings in other countries
FAQ
Is crypto trading legal in the United Arab Emirates?
Buying, selling and holding crypto is legal for UAE residents, but firms that offer virtual-asset services need a licence from the authority for the area they serve. In Dubai (outside DIFC) that is VARA, set up under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2022; its public register listed 56 active licensed VASPs on…
Which crypto exchange is best in the United Arab Emirates?
There is no single best platform for everyone. In our data Binance has the highest score, followed by OKX and Gate. Compare fees, the local licence and the coins you need.
Which crypto exchanges are licensed in the United Arab Emirates?
Among the platforms in this ranking: Binance, OKX, Gate, Bybit, Crypto.com, BitOasis, Deribit, eToro, Backpack Exchange, CoinMENA and 2 more. Each review names the licence and the regulator.
Is Binance available in the United Arab Emirates?
Yes. Binance FZE is a VARA-licensed VASP (exchange, broker-dealer, lending and borrowing, management and investment), and since December 2025 three Binance 'Nest' entities have held ADGM FSRA licences (register and Binance licence page read 2026-10-06).
Is Bybit available in the United Arab Emirates?
Yes. Bybit says it received the SCA's first Virtual Asset Platform Operator licence in October 2025, after in-principle approval in February 2025. The licence covers trading, brokerage, custody and fiat conversion for retail and institutional clients across the UAE.
Are crypto exchanges insured?
Crypto held on an exchange is generally not covered by deposit insurance. Check what the platform says about client asset protection, and consider a wallet you control for long-term holdings.
How often is this ranking updated?
Monthly. Each platform shows the date its status in the United Arab Emirates was last checked, with the source.
Not financial advice. This page is general information. Crypto prices are volatile and you can lose everything you put in.
How we make money. World-Crypt has no affiliate links on this page and earns nothing when you open an account. No platform has paid for its place.
Corrections. Found an error? Write to us through the contact page with the platform and the source.