# Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE): register, licences and requirements Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cbuae/ The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) is the apex federal monetary and banking authority of the United Arab Emirates, headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Established in 1980 and governed by Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025, it licenses and supervises 61 commercial banks, stored value facilities (SVF), retail payment service providers, and Dirham payment token (stablecoin) issuers across the UAE mainland. ## How to check a firm on the CBUAE register Under Article 68 of Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025, the CBUAE maintains the electronic Register of Licensed Financial Institutions on its official portal. Users can search by institution name, category, or commercial registration number, displaying the entity's authorized financial activities, head office address, and operational licensing status. [1] - [CBUAE Register of Licensed Financial Institutions (Banks, SVF, RPSPs, Finance Companies, Exchange Houses)](https://www.centralbank.ae/en/licensing/) [4] - [CBUAE Electronic Rulebook Portal](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en) [7] ## At a glance | Official name | Central Bank of the UAE (مصرف الإمارات العربية المتحدة المركزي) | | --- | --- | | Jurisdiction | [United Arab Emirates](https://protegra.io/licensing/jurisdictions/uae/) | | Type | Central bank | | Headquarters | Abu Dhabi [1] | | Founded | 1980 [2] | | Website | [centralbank.ae](https://www.centralbank.ae/en/) [3] | | Public register | [Official public register](https://www.centralbank.ae/en/licensing/) [4] | | Licence types in the Atlas | 3 | ## What CBUAE supervises The Central Bank of the UAE is the apex monetary and financial supervisory authority of the United Arab Emirates, established to promote monetary stability, safeguard financial system resilience, and regulate commercial banks, payment systems, stored value facilities, finance companies, insurance entities, and payment token issuers across the UAE mainland. [1] - Commercial banks, Islamic banks, and specialised banks operating in the UAE mainland [1] - Stored Value Facilities (SVF) and non-cash electronic payment instruments [8] - Retail payment services, payment aggregators, point-of-sale services, and card schemes [9] - Payment Token Services, including issuers of Dirham Payment Tokens (stablecoins) and payment token conversion, custody, and transfer providers [10] - Finance companies, digital financing platforms, and restricted licence finance companies [11] - Exchange business and money transmission houses [12] - Insurance and reinsurance companies operating across the UAE [1] - Financial Market Infrastructures (FMIs), clearing, settlement, and retail payment systems [1] ## Licences CBUAE issues - [Bank · United Arab EmiratesCommercial Bank Licence](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/uae-commercial/) - [PI · United Arab EmiratesRetail Payment Services Licence (Categories I to IV)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/payment-institution/uae-rps/) - [EMT/ART · United Arab EmiratesPayment Token Issuer Licence (Dirham Payment Tokens)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/stablecoin-issuer/uae/) ## Lesser-known services for applicants Available ### Pre-application meeting / pre-assessment CBUAE enforces a mandatory preliminary engagement process prior to formal application submission. Prospective applicants must submit an initial proposal and regulatory business plan to the Banking Supervision Department via licensing@cbuae.gov.ae and participate in preliminary consultation meetings before receiving credentials to access the electronic licensing portal. The pre-application consultation process is conducted free of charge. [5] Available ### Innovation hub CBUAE established the dedicated FinTech Office in 2020 and spearheads the Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme, encompassing nine strategic initiatives including the Digital Dirham central bank digital currency (CBDC), the Aani instant payment platform, the Jaywan domestic card scheme, and an Open Finance framework. Innovation initiatives also interface with the Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF) Digital Lab. [1] Available · statutory ### Regulatory sandbox Governed by the Sandbox Conditions Regulation (Circular No. 6/2023, effective 15 April 2024), the CBUAE Regulatory Sandbox provides a controlled environment allowing participants to test innovative fintech products and business models. Approved participants receive temporary exemption or regulatory relief under Article 64(4) of the primary law for a testing period of 6 to 12 months. Under Section 13-1 of the regulation, participation in the Regulatory Sandbox is strictly free of regulatory fees. [6] **Application portal:** Banking Supervision Department Licensing Service Portal (BSDLSP) transitioning to Mahami Licensing Portal (https://mahami.cbuae.gov.ae/c/portal/login) [5] **Fee schedule:** Official fee schedule and tariffs are determined by resolutions of the CBUAE Board of Directors pursuant to Article 68 and Article 182 of Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025 [1] Compare with other regulators: [pre-application meetings](https://protegra.io/licensing/tools/pre-application/) · [sandboxes and innovation hubs](https://protegra.io/licensing/tools/sandboxes/). ## Statistics _Current licence holders in the official register [13] [13] [13]_ - 61 commercial banks (per CBUAE register, June 2025) [13] - 60 working days statutory decision deadline to decide on licensing applications from date of complete file [1] - AED 15,000,000 minimum paid-up capital plus 100% bank guarantee required for Stored Value Facilities (SVF) [8] - AED 15,000,000 minimum paid-up capital plus 100% reserve backing for Dirham Payment Token issuers [10] - 6 to 12 months regulatory testing duration in the statutory CBUAE Regulatory Sandbox [6] ## Fees and timelines _Time to a decision for Stored Value Facilities (SVF) Licence: statutory deadline vs observed._ | Licence | Statutory deadline | Observed | | --- | --- | --- | | Stored Value Facilities (SVF) Licence | 60 working days from the date of meeting all licensing conditions and requirements [1] | not published | | [Retail Payment Services Licence (Categories I to IV)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/payment-institution/uae-rps/) | 60 working days from the date of meeting all licensing conditions and requirements [1] | not published | | [Payment Token Issuer Licence (Dirham Payment Tokens)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/stablecoin-issuer/uae/) | 60 working days from the date of meeting all licensing conditions and requirements [1] | not published | | Payment Token Service Provider Licence (Custody, Transfer & Conversion) | 60 working days from the date of meeting all licensing conditions and requirements [1] | not published | ## Changing the owner of a licensed firm **Prior approval required.** Under Article 120 of Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025, no person may acquire, transfer, or increase a controlling interest in a Licensed Financial Institution without obtaining prior written approval from the CBUAE. Controlling interest thresholds are established at 10% of shares or voting rights for Payment Token Service Providers (PTSR Circular 2/2024 Art. 1.17) and 20% for Retail Payment Service Providers (RPSCS Circular 15/2021 Art. 1 and Art. 8), or any holding conferring de facto control or board appointment rights. Unauthorised acquisitions are legally void, empowering the CBUAE to revoke voting rights and mandate the forced disposal of excess shares. [1] Buying a company that already holds one of these licences is often faster than applying. See [ready-made licensed companies](https://protegra.io/companies/) · [crypto digital assets](https://protegra.io/companies/crypto-digital-assets/). ## Laws CBUAE applies - [Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business](https://protegra.io/licensing/laws/ae-federal-decree-law-6-2025/): Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025 ## Recent and upcoming changes - 2025-09-16: Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025 comes into force, overhauling the UAE's central banking and financial regulatory architecture, repealing Federal Decree-Law No. (14) of 2018, and reinforcing governance over emerging fintech activities. [1] - 2024-06-07: CBUAE issued the Payment Token Services Regulation (Circular No. 2/2024), setting compulsory licensing conditions for Dirham Payment Tokens (stablecoins) and virtual asset payment services. [10] - 2024-04-15: The Sandbox Conditions Regulation (Circular No. 6/2023) entered into full effect, formalizing zero-fee statutory sandbox testing cohorts for emerging fintech firms. [6] - 2026-04-20: CBUAE launched the new Mahami electronic licensing portal, replacing the legacy BSDLSP system for institutional licensing applications. [5] ## Contacts and public register Address: King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, Al Bateen, P.O. Box 854, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates [1] Website: [centralbank.ae](https://www.centralbank.ae/en/) [3] Check whether a firm is licensed: [official register](https://www.centralbank.ae/en/licensing/) [4] · [official register](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en) [7]. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between CBUAE and Dubai's VARA or ADGM's FSRA? The CBUAE is the federal authority regulating monetary policy, commercial banks, payment services, stored value facilities, and Dirham payment tokens across the entire UAE mainland. In contrast, FSRA (ADGM) and DFSA (DIFC) supervise financial free zones operating under common law, while VARA regulates non-payment virtual asset activities specifically within Dubai mainland and commercial free zones. ### What are the capital requirements for a CBUAE Stored Value Facility (SVF) licence? Under CBUAE Circular No. 6/2020, an applicant for an SVF licence must maintain a minimum paid-up capital of at least AED 15,000,000 (or higher as determined by CBUAE risk assessments) plus a 100% bank guarantee drawn on a UAE-licensed bank. The applicant must also establish escrow-segregated reserve accounts covering 100% of customer float. ### How long does CBUAE take to decide on a licensing application? Under Article 64(1) of Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025, the CBUAE has a statutory deadline not exceeding 60 working days to decide on an application once all legal requirements and documents are satisfied. In practice, the end-to-end process, incorporating preliminary consultation, corporate setup, and technical infrastructure reviews, typically takes 6 to 12 months. ### Does CBUAE regulate stablecoins and cryptoasset issuers? Yes. Under the Payment Token Services Regulation (Circular No. 2/2024), CBUAE exclusively regulates payment tokens pegged to the UAE Dirham (Dirham Payment Tokens). Issuers must be UAE-incorporated entities with minimum capital of AED 15,000,000 and 100% cash reserves in UAE banks. Virtual asset payment conversion and transfer services also require CBUAE licensing. ### Does CBUAE offer a regulatory sandbox for fintech startups, and are there fees? Yes. Under the Sandbox Conditions Regulation (Circular No. 6/2023), CBUAE operates a statutory regulatory sandbox providing controlled testing cohorts lasting 6 to 12 months. Approved startups receive temporary statutory relief from standard licensing rules under Article 64(4). Crucially, Section 13-1 of the regulation explicitly confirms that sandbox participation is completely free of regulatory fees. ## Sources 1. [rulebook.centralbank.ae: 6185](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/entiresection/6185): retrieved 2026-09-24 2. [en.wikipedia.org: Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bank_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates): retrieved 2026-09-24 3. [centralbank.ae](https://www.centralbank.ae/en/): retrieved 2026-09-24 4. [centralbank.ae: licensing](https://www.centralbank.ae/en/licensing/): retrieved 2026-09-24 5. [services.cbuae.gov.ae: licensing](https://services.cbuae.gov.ae/licensing/): retrieved 2026-09-24 6. [rulebook.centralbank.ae: sandbox conditions regulation](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/sandbox-conditions-regulation): retrieved 2026-09-24 7. [rulebook.centralbank.ae](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en): retrieved 2026-09-24 8. [rulebook.centralbank.ae: 1531](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/node/1531): retrieved 2026-09-24 9. [rulebook.centralbank.ae: 1580](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/node/1580): retrieved 2026-09-24 10. [rulebook.centralbank.ae: 5731](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/entiresection/5731): retrieved 2026-09-24 11. [rulebook.centralbank.ae: finance companies regulation 0](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/finance-companies-regulation-0): retrieved 2026-09-24 12. [rulebook.centralbank.ae: exchange business regulation](https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/exchange-business-regulation): retrieved 2026-09-24 13. [centralbank.ae: cb register june 2025 (PDF)](https://centralbank.ae/media/1z4gwagt/cb-register-june-2025.pdf): retrieved 2026-09-24 Last verified 2026-09-24 · Author: Danil Marmysh · Reviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova · © Protegra. Data: CC BY 4.0, cite "Protegra Licensing Atlas". Not legal advice.