Dubai regulator VARA classifies RWA issuance as licensed activity
Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) leads global regulatory framework - makes RWA issuance licensed activity in Dubai.
Real-world assets (RWAs) issuance is now licensed activity in Dubai.
Actual law.
Not a legal gray zone.
Not a whitepaper fantasy.
RWA issuance and listing on secondary markets is defined under binding crypto regulation.
It’s execution by Dubai.
Irina Heaver explained:
“RWA issuance is no longer theoretical. It’s now a regulatory reality.”
VARA defined:
- RWAs are classified as Asset-Referenced Virtual Assets (ARVAs)
- Secondary market trading is permitted under VARA license
- Issuers need capital, audits, and legal disclosures
- Regulated broker-dealers and exchanges can now onboard and trade them
This closes the gap that killed STOs in 2018.
No more tokenization without venues.
No more assets without liquidity.
UAE is doing what Switzerland, Singapore, and Europe still haven’t:
Creating enforceable frameworks for RWA tokenization that actually work.
Matthew White, CEO of VARA, said it perfectly:
“Tokenization will redefine global finance in 2025.”
He’s not exaggerating.
$500B+ market predicted next year.
And the UAE just gave it legal rails.
Real estate.
Private credit.
Shariah-compliant products.
Everything is in play.
This is how you turn hype into infrastructure.
What Dubai is doing now is 3 years ahead of everyone else.
Founders, investors, ecosystem builders:
You want to build real-world assets onchain.
Don’t waste another year waiting for clarity.
Come to Dubai.
It’s already here.
Do you think VARA is taking a proactive regulatory approach this time, or is the industry pushing the authorities to make a policy statement?
Any plans for GITEX Nigeria 🇳🇬 Coming up in September this year?