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

On November 25th, a new financial law issued by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has incorporated DeFi and the broader Web3 technology into the regulatory framework, signifying a crucial turning point for the industry. In an interview, local crypto lawyer and NeosLegal founder Irina Heaver stated that the UAE's new central bank law, "Federal Decree Law No. 6 of 2025," is "one of the most influential regulatory changes for the crypto industry in the region." She said, "It brings protocols, DeFi platforms, middleware, and even infrastructure providers involved in payments, exchange, lending, custody, or investment services under regulation." She pointed out that industry projects constructed or operated in the UAE should regard this as a key regulatory milestone and must complete system adjustments by the end of the transition period in September 2026. This federal decree law, which took effect on September 16, 2025, is a central bank regulation that encompasses activities related to financial institutions, insurance businesses, and digital assets. Key provisions, specifically Articles 61 and 62, explicitly list activities that require approval from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), including crypto payments and digital asset custody services.