VARA VASPs offering wealth and investment management services pay zero corporate tax
UAE Ministry of Finance issued a Ministerial Decision No (336) of 2025 adding Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, as a competent authority set out in Ministerial Decision No. (229) of 2025 concerning Qualifying and Excluded Activities for the purposes of Federal Decree-Law No. (47) of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses.
Under the decision, VARA is considered among the competent authorities for the purposes of Qualifying Activities related to fund management services and wealth and investment management services.
Sources close to the matter explained this decision and its implications on virtual asset fund managers, and investments. As noted, ” The VARA VASPs, providing fund management or wealth and investment management services in virtual assets can now satisfy a key regulatory condition required to qualify for the 0% corporate tax rate, subject to meeting all other criteria.”
The decision has removed any ambiguity on whether VARA regulated firms could meet the regulatory oversight requirement for these qualifying activities regarding broader corporate tax regime.
The source noted that this reinforces regulatory clarity and gives eligible firms greater certainty when structuring their operations and tax treatment.
