Activity perimeter
Architecture must be designed alongside clarity on whether advisory, broker-dealer, custody, exchange or issuance activity is involved.
INTELLIGENCE · DUBAI 2026
Dubai combines active virtual-asset regulation with controlled tokenisation experimentation.
VARA maintains activity-specific rulebooks and a public register. In February 2026 it said phase one of Dubai’s real-estate tokenisation pilot had concluded and phase two was in controlled testing and evaluation.
Provider verification
VARA maintains a public register of licensed and in-principle-approved VASPs; operating status matters in partner selection.
Tokenisation pilot
VARA reported that real-estate tokenisation pilot phase one validated core architecture, regulatory framework and operational feasibility before controlled phase-two testing.
Official sources: VARA public register · VARA tokenisation pilot update. Not legal advice.
Assess Dubai market-entry architecture
Separate regulated activity, product design, technology dependencies and operating controls.