The UAE Introduces New Regulation to Bring DeFi and Web3 into Regulatory Oversight

BlockBeats News, November 25th, a new financial law issued by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has brought DeFi and the broader Web3 technology into the regulatory framework, marking a significant turning point for the industry.

Local crypto lawyer and NeosLegal founder Irina Heaver stated in an interview that the UAE's new central bank law, "Federal Decree Law No. 6 of 2025," is "one of the most impactful regulatory changes for the crypto industry in the region." "It brings protocols, DeFi platforms, middleware, and even infrastructure providers involved in payments, exchange, lending, custody, or investment services under regulation," Heaver said.

She pointed out that industry projects built or operated in the UAE should consider this a key regulatory milestone and must complete system adjustments by the end of the transition period in September 2026. This federal decree law, which came into effect on September 16, 2025, is a central bank regulation that covers activities related to financial institutions, insurance businesses, and digital assets.

Key provisions, specifically Articles 61 and 62, expressly list activities that require approval from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), including crypto payments and digital asset custody services.