- VARA guidance sets three issuance pathways for virtual assets in Dubai, with different treatment for stablecoins, RWA tokens and exempt assets.
- Licensed intermediaries in Dubai must handle due diligence and ongoing compliance checks for certain token issuances under the updated framework.
Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has released detailed guidance for token issuers, refining how virtual assets must be structured, disclosed, and distributed in the emirate. The document tightens expectations around stablecoins and real-world asset (RWA) tokens, positioning Dubai’s bespoke virtual asset regime as distinct from jurisdictions that primarily rely on traditional securities or payments law.
VARA’s three-path issuance framework in Dubai
The new guidance interprets VARA’s existing Virtual Asset Issuance Rulebook and introduces three clear issuance pathways. Instead of treating all tokens as carrying similar risk, the framework differentiates:
- Category 1 virtual asset issuances, which include fiat-referenced virtual assets and asset-referenced virtual assets.
- Category 2 issuances, which must be distributed exclusively through a VARA-licensed intermediary.
- Exempt virtual assets, which have limited functionality and therefore face a lighter touch.
For Category 2, the guidance specifies that licensed intermediaries are responsible for due diligence on issuers and for ongoing checks that offerings remain compliant. This places gatekeeping obligations directly on regulated distributors, a structure intended to tighten oversight while still allowing token launches within VARA’s licensed ecosystem.
According to VARA, this three-path model is a purpose-built issuance framework designed specifically for virtual assets, including stablecoins and RWA-style structures, rather than a repurposing of existing financial rules.
Stablecoins, RWA tokens, and disclosure-led oversight
A core feature of the guidance is its targeted treatment of fiat-referenced and asset-referenced virtual assets, which fall into Category 1. VARA sets out expectations around reserve composition, redemption mechanisms, and legal structuring for these instruments. The aim is to address specific risks tied to reference assets, backing arrangements, and user redemption rights that traditional regulations may not fully capture.
The regime is strongly disclosure-driven. Issuers must provide whitepapers and separate risk disclosure statements that are clear, accurate, and accessible to users. These documents need to describe the asset’s characteristics, the nature of backing reserves where applicable, and the associated risks.
Ruben Bombardi, VARA’s general counsel, said the authority believes many virtual assets do not fit comfortably into legacy regulatory categories, which is why a tailored issuance framework can offer more precise regulatory clarity. In his view, this approach should help investors and users make better informed decisions by standardizing how information is presented across different types of tokens in Dubai’s licensed market.
Dubai builds a bespoke crypto rulebook
The issuance guidance is the latest step in Dubai’s effort to construct a dedicated regulatory system for digital assets. Just over a week earlier, VARA expanded its exchange rulebook to cover exchange-traded crypto derivatives, extending oversight from spot trading to more complex products.
Bombardi described the issuance framework as providing a single, dedicated reference point for how virtual assets may be issued, disclosed, and distributed under VARA’s regime. The authority contrasts this with jurisdictions that simply apply general securities or payments law to virtual asset launches, including for stablecoins and tokenized real-world asset structures.
VARA expects the new issuance rules to differentiate Dubai from other international hubs, particularly through:
- Specific rules for asset-referenced virtual assets, including expectations on reserves and redemption.
- A mandatory role for licensed intermediaries in distributing Category 2 tokens.
- A disclosure-first model anchored in standardized whitepapers and risk statements.
Bombardi also indicated that foreign regulators and international standard setters may look closely at this model, although the immediate goal remains to give concrete, practical guidance to issuers and intermediaries already active in Dubai.
Conclusion
By clarifying issuance pathways and sharpening rules for stablecoins and RWA tokens, Dubai’s VARA is advancing a regulatory framework built specifically for virtual assets. The guidance assigns clear responsibilities to issuers and intermediaries, emphasizes detailed disclosures, and extends the emirate’s broader push toward a standalone crypto rulebook. As more token projects seek regulatory certainty, Dubai’s tailored approach may become a reference point for other jurisdictions evaluating how to oversee virtual asset issuance.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. The article does not offer sufficient information to make investment decisions, nor does it constitute an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument. The content is opinion of the author and does not reflect any view or suggestion or any kind of advise from cryptonewsbytes.com. The author declares he does not hold any of the above mentioned tokens or received any incentive from any company.
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