dubai

According to Cointelegraph, the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BlackRock-backed tokenization platform Securitize to advance the tokenization and digital asset infrastructure development in the UAE and Dubai. Both parties stated that the agreement will establish a collaborative framework to support regulated tokenization initiatives, promote institutional participation, and strengthen Dubai's digital asset ecosystem.A VARA spokesperson stated that the memorandum aims to combine VARA's regulatory perspective with Securitize's experience in institutional tokenization to determine how the collaboration can help Dubai develop a trustworthy and regulated tokenization market, with no specific projects to be announced at this stage. Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, stated that Dubai is one of the most forward-looking jurisdictions for global digital asset innovation, and collaborating with regulators is crucial for tokenization to move from concept to mainstream financial infrastructure.At the time of this announcement, investor demand for tokenized assets continues to rise. According to RWA.xyz data, the total number of tokenized asset holders has increased by 103% over the past 30 days to 3.2 million, and the total value of tokenized assets has grown by 2% to $38.5 billion. Securitize is currently the largest tokenization platform globally, with a tokenized asset management scale of $4.9 billion, while Ondo Finance ranks second with $3.5 billion.

Uber launches Baidu's fully driverless Apollo Go in Dubai, marking the birth of the world's first multi-party cooperative autonomous driving network.

The cryptocurrency market maker Flowdesk, supported by Coinbase, has obtained a full brokerage license issued by Dubai VARA, allowing it to provide compliant services to local institutional investors.

Cregis Custody FZE announced that it has received the In-Principle Approval (IPA) granted by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), marking a significant milestone in its application for a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license.Upon completing the subsequent regulatory requirements and obtaining final approval, Cregis Custody FZE will launch regulated digital asset custody services.

According to CoinDesk, the unlicensed cryptocurrency trading platform Shelbit in Dubai is suspected of being at the center of a $4 billion network for evading Iranian sanctions and is accused of handling millions of dollars in cryptocurrency funds for a large illegal gambling network.Shelbit is operated by Iranian expatriate Siavash Kayvanpour, who is suspected of transferring hundreds of millions of dollars through major cryptocurrency platforms and providing access to global markets for the Central Bank of Iran and other sanctioned entities.U.S. and independent investigators indicate that the operation appears to be closely linked to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but it has not been confirmed whether they directly control Shelbit or the related gambling network.

According to The National, the UK fintech company Revolut has received in-principle approval from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority to provide cryptocurrency-related services in the UAE, including brokerage, asset management and investment, as well as exchange operations.Revolut stated that this approval lays the foundation for launching virtual asset services under a regulated framework.

According to Cointelegraph, the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has granted the 50th Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license to the tokenized asset platform Tribe Tokenisation FZE. VARA stated that licensed enterprises must undergo a controlled operation phase before officially providing services. By the end of 2025, 39 licensed VASPs will be fully operational, and the latest data for 2026 is still being verified. In comparison, Singapore currently has 37 licensed digital payment token service providers, while Hong Kong has only 13 licensed virtual asset trading platforms.

According to official news, Tether has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) to explore cooperation in asset tokenization, digital asset education, and broader blockchain applications.According to the agreement, Tether plans to provide DMCC's business network with seminars, customized blockchain consulting, digital asset pilot projects, and tokenization programs, and explore the application of peer-to-peer digital communication and payment systems. Both parties will also assess cooperation opportunities in blockchain infrastructure, digital payments, educational activities, and hackathons.

According to Bitcoin.com, the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) recently released a new version of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulatory guidelines, requiring cryptocurrency businesses operating in Dubai to incorporate real-time data on high-risk and blacklist countries from the FATF into their risk scoring models, replacing the previous static compliance tracking mechanism.The new regulations require businesses to update their risk assessments at least every three months, and any significant changes in operational structure or product lines must be updated immediately; at the same time, the risks of diffusion financing and targeted financial sanctions must be assessed separately and not be merged with general anti-money laundering compliance; in addition, businesses must formally document the risks associated with AI-assisted operations and anonymous-enhanced exchanges.VARA stated that compliance officers, senior management, and board members must take full responsibility for the company's residual risk ratings, and the regulatory focus has shifted from post-event penalties to proactive systemic risk management.

The globally leading digital asset trading platform Gate collaborates with the University of Wollongong in Dubai to host an online Web3 workshop. Through industry sharing, career development exchanges, and simulated trading practices, the workshop provides students with an open course focused on the cutting-edge developments in blockchain and the digital economy.During the event, the Gate team shared insights on topics such as the basics of blockchain, the integration trends of AI and blockchain, industry talent demands, and career development paths. They also introduced the current state and future opportunities of the digital asset industry in conjunction with real business scenarios. In the interactive exchange session, students actively asked questions about industry trends, innovations in digital payments, and career planning, receiving a positive response from the audience. In the simulated trading competition, students experienced the operational mechanisms of the digital asset market through practical exercises, combining classroom knowledge with real-world operations.This collaboration not only provides students with opportunities to engage with cutting-edge technology and industry practices but also further promotes the communication and connection between higher education and industry demands. As a leading platform in the industry, Gate continues to foster communication and collaboration between academia and industry. Its founder and CEO, Dr. Han, has also been invited multiple times to visit campuses to share insights on blockchain, industry innovation, and trends in the digital economy. By deepening the integration of industry and education practices, Gate is injecting more youthful energy into the long-term innovative development of Web3 and the digital economy.

In response to Radha Stirling's claims about multiple Dubai crypto figures being abused in UAE detention centers, on-chain investigator ZachXBT stated that the individuals referred to as "crypto entrepreneurs" are actually threat actors suspected of involvement in high-impact social engineering crypto scams and data extortion. Law enforcement has seized $18.9 million in stolen funds.

According to CriptoNoticias, Spanish citizen David Merino was arrested in Dubai for allegedly leading the cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme FX Winning. This scheme is the largest cryptocurrency-related Ponzi scheme in the history of Spanish investigations, involving over 460 million euros and affecting approximately 15,000 investors. Merino operated the scheme from behind the scenes after officially leaving the company in 2021, attracting funds by promising high returns on forex and cryptocurrency investments. Its operating model involved using funds from new investors to pay early investors, and the scheme operated in about 30 countries.Spain typically has 15 to 40 days to submit extradition documents to the UAE. Additionally, FX Winning is also under investigation in the United States and Mexico, with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration believing the scheme involves 100 billion dollars. Merino released a video in March 2026 denying that he retained others' funds and placing the blame on other members of his team. The Spanish National Securities Market Commission has warned since 2021 that FX Winning is unauthorized to provide investment services.

According to Businesswire, Kraken's parent company Payward announced that it has received preliminary approval for brokerage, investment, and management licenses granted by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai, UAE, to expand its cryptocurrency business in the UAE.Payward expects to offer spot, margin, and OTC trading, staking services, and Kraken Prime services for institutional clients through locally regulated entities, as well as support for peer-to-peer cryptocurrency asset transfer functionality.

According to the Ministry of Public Security of China, recently, the police from China, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates conducted international law enforcement cooperation for the first time, jointly combating telecom network fraud crimes in the Dubai area. They successfully dismantled 9 fraud dens and arrested 276 criminal suspects.Investigations revealed that the related fraud gangs established "romantic" relationships with victims through social platforms, deceiving them into trusting them emotionally, and then inducing victims to invest in so-called high-return cryptocurrency projects, resulting in their fraud. A relevant official from the Ministry of Public Security of China stated that this joint crackdown is an important achievement of international law enforcement cooperation by the Chinese police. The Chinese police will deepen practical cooperation with more countries, carry out joint crackdown actions, resolutely eliminate fraud dens, and make every effort to capture suspects involved in telecom fraud, effectively safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of people in all countries.

According to market news, the actual controller of the recently collapsed European cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto is reportedly hiding in Dubai, and the losses for the exchange's customers may exceed $100 million.Polish media Onet Wiadomości disclosed that the official representative of Zondacrypto is in Dubai with a man nicknamed "Maniek," who is the true controller of the cryptocurrency business, while CEO Przemysław Kral is merely a "front figure." Kral has been missing since the company was revealed to have reserves drop by over 99%, and he was previously thought to have fled to Israel but is now confirmed to be in the UAE. The exchange was formerly known as BitBay, founded in 2014, and was taken over by Kral in 2021 and renamed Zondacrypto, moving its operations to Estonia.Polish media reports that the exchange may be controlled by the Russian Tambov gang, with about 30,000 Poles potentially becoming victims, with preliminary estimates of losses at least 350 million zloty (approximately $97 million), and the actual amount may be higher. Additionally, founder Sylwester Suszek went missing in 2022, and it is claimed that a wallet key containing 4,500 bitcoins that he controlled was never handed over.

The Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) released guidelines for the issuance of virtual assets on Thursday, providing clear regulations on the structural design, information disclosure, and distribution methods for stablecoins and real-world asset (RWA) tokens.The guidelines categorize token issuance into three pathways: Category 1 covers fiat-pegged and asset-pegged virtual assets; Category 2 must be distributed through licensed intermediaries, which are responsible for due diligence and ongoing compliance verification; the third category consists of functionally restricted exempt virtual assets.VARA's General Counsel Ruben Bombardi stated that the framework enhances transparency through white papers and independent risk disclosure statements, providing issuers with "greater regulatory certainty" and offering market participants a "single, exclusive reference." These guidelines serve as an interpretative document for the existing "Virtual Asset Issuance Rules Manual" and do not constitute new legislation.

According to Cointelegraph, the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has released a formal regulatory framework for cryptocurrency exchange-traded derivatives, allowing retail customers to participate in trading after a suitability assessment.The new regulations cover requirements such as customer suitability, leverage and margin controls, asset segregation, disclosure standards, and regulatory intervention powers. The leverage limit for retail investors is set at 5 times, and exchanges must restrict access when products are deemed unsuitable for specific customer groups. VARA stated that during periods of market stress or trading disruptions, regulators have the authority to take intervention measures, including suspending products, requiring liquidation, increasing margin requirements, and in emergencies, demanding immediate action without prior notice.

According to a report by Reuters, witnesses stated that a huge explosion was heard in Dubai.

A fire broke out at a fuel tank facility near Dubai International Airport (DXB) on March 16 local time, initially identified as a drone attack. Flights at Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended, and Emirates Airlines announced the suspension of operations, with some flights originally scheduled for today being canceled.Today, several flights from China to Dubai were diverted to other airports, including flight EK363 from Guangzhou to Dubai, flight EK303 from Shanghai to Dubai, and flight EK329 from Shenzhen to Dubai, which were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Flight EK307 from Beijing to Dubai was diverted to Muscat. Previously, Chinese airlines had suspended flights to Dubai until the end of the month, with only Emirates Airlines continuing to operate.