Book a Free Consultation
30 minutes. We will assess your case and tell you exactly what you need.
Proxima Eight FZE LLC
Business Centre, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Business Centre, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Close
VARA Advisory Services Licence: Regulated Crypto Advisory in Dubai
Advisory Services is VARA's entry-level licence for firms providing investment advice on virtual assets. Lowest capital requirement, clearest scope — but with clear limits on what you can do.
9+ Years of Compliance Expertise
End-to-End Execution
What Is the VARA Advisory Services Licence?
Authorises:
- Investment advice on virtual assets to clients
- VA portfolio construction and allocation advice
- Research and analysis as a regulated service
- Strategic advice on VA-related transactions
Capital Requirements
Structure
Paid-Up Capital
All cases
AED 100,000
Note: Lowest capital requirement of all VARA activity categories. Advisory may be eligible for flex desk (not private office) — confirm with your commercial licensor.
Key Requirements
Physical presence
Advisory may be eligible for flex desk arrangement — confirm with commercial licensor. All other VARA activities require a private office.
Suitability
Documented client suitability assessment methodology required. Must assess client risk appetite, investment objectives, and VA knowledge before providing advice.
Marketing
All marketing must comply with VARA's Market Conduct Rulebook — no misleading returns projections, mandatory risk disclosures.
Conflicts of interest
Policy required for identifying, managing, and disclosing conflicts.
Responsible Individuals
2 RIs — UAE residents, full-time, VARA-approved.
Two Ways We Work With You
-
Advisory ServicesYou get advice
We analyze and advice
You make the decisions
You keep full control
No custody of assets
Assets remain with you
Minimum capital
AED 100,000 -
Management & InvestmentWe manage for you
We execute decisions
Firm has discretion
We act on your behalf
Assets under management
Held via custodian
Minimum capital
AED 280,000
Note: If you manage portfolios with discretion, Management & Investment is the correct category - not Advisory.
What We Do for You
- Activity scopingConfirm Advisory vs Management & Investment. The line is discretion: if you execute trades on behalf of clients without per-trade approval, Management & Investment applies.
- Suitability frameworkDesign your client suitability assessment methodology and documentation.
- Conflicts of interest policyIdentify, manage, and disclose conflicts in line with VARA's Company Rulebook.
- Full ATI and VASP applicationEnd-to-end management.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — execution requires a Broker-Dealer or Exchange licence. Advisory covers advice only; the client makes all final decisions.
Yes, if the family office is providing advice to external clients. Internal investment decisions within a single family structure may fall outside VARA's scope — we assess each case.
Yes, subject to the regulatory requirements of clients' home jurisdictions. VARA licenses the Dubai entity; cross-border service requires separate analysis per target jurisdiction.
Related
Start Your VARA Advisory Services Licence Process
By submitting this form, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy, and I consent to the processing of my personal data.
Please note: We do not provide any personalized investment advice, token selection guidance, or transaction recommendations. AMLzone is a compliance consultancy and project management services provider, not a Virtual Asset Advisor.
Please note: We do not provide any personalized investment advice, token selection guidance, or transaction recommendations. AMLzone is a compliance consultancy and project management services provider, not a Virtual Asset Advisor.