Abu Dhabi has finalised a major agreement to enforce greater transparency in crypto-asset taxation by signing the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement under the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework. The deal mandates automatic exchange of tax-related data on crypto transactions across jurisdictions, aligning the UAE with rising global norms on financial disclosure.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that CARF will start operating in the UAE in 2027, with the first cross-border sharing of information slated for 2028. The framework targets entities dealing in crypto-assets—including exchanges, custodians, traders, intermediaries and advisory services—requiring them to report transactions like buying, selling, exchanging and transferring digital assets.
Announced in November 2024 was the UAE’s plan to adopt CARF, signalling readiness to tighten rules around crypto-asset financial flows. The new agreement formalises that promise, embedding the UAE within international efforts to prevent tax evasion and enhance regulatory certainty for virtual assets.
To shape how implementation works in practice, the Ministry has opened a public consultation for eight weeks, beginning 15 September 2025 and ending 8 November 2025. Stakeholders from across the crypto-ecosystem are encouraged to submit feedback on draft rules, recommendations, and areas needing further explanation. Proposals will help refine regulations so that they work for the UAE context while meeting international expectations.
Experts see several implications: for crypto platforms operating in the UAE, compliance burdens will increase as reporting systems must be upgraded; for tax authorities, cross-border cooperation will improve their ability to detect undeclared income or transactions in crypto-assets. Investors and users of virtual assets can expect greater clarity, though concerns remain over privacy, data security, and regulatory costs.
Regulators globally have been moving toward greater oversight of crypto transactions. The OECD’s work on CARF builds on earlier frameworks like the Common Reporting Standard for banking and FATCA in the US, extending visibility to digital asset flows. Several jurisdictions have already joined CARF or signalled intent to adopt it, making this step by the UAE part of a broader shift in how governments monitor and tax crypto-activities.
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