OTC Crypto Exchanges in Dubai: How Over-the-Counter Trading…
By Damilola Esebame
AI summary of the source article
Over-the-counter crypto trading desks in Dubai execute bilateral transactions outside public exchange order books, providing fixed-price quotes that eliminate slippage for institutional clients. Minimum order sizes typically begin at $100,000, with settlement occurring in minutes for crypto-to-crypto trades or up to two business days for fiat conversions. The regulatory environment is anchored by Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, which has issued around 50 licenses, alongside Abu Dhabi's ADGM framework. Major active desks include Binance FZE, OKX, Crypto.com, Laser Digital, Fuze Finance, CoinMENA, and Rain ADGM. The jurisdiction also features zero personal income tax on crypto gains and value-added tax exemptions on crypto-to-crypto transfers.
Why it matters
The UAE's structured regulatory architecture and tax incentives establish a formalized environment that minimizes market slippage for institutional-scale crypto transactions.
Key facts
- Minimum transaction sizes on Dubai OTC desks commonly start around $100,000, with some desks executing trades exceeding $10 million.
- Chainalysis estimated the UAE received $56 billion in on-chain crypto value between July 2024 and June 2025, a 33% year-over-year increase.
- The UAE levies 0% personal income tax on crypto gains and exempts crypto-to-crypto transfers from value-added tax.