UAE Scores 10 for Tax-Friendliness as Top 5 Global Crypto Hubs

• 27 October, 2025 07:33 AM
• News By Solaiman Ahmed
• 0 Comments

September 25, 2025 | Dubai : When the latest Crypto Wealth Report 2025 landed, one line jumped off the page: UAE scores 10 for tax-friendliness. That perfect tax score is a major factor behind the UAE pushing into the top 5 global crypto hubs this year. For crypto investors watching jurisdictions that combine regulation, infrastructure and favorable tax regimes, the UAE is now firmly on the radar.

The Crypto Wealth Report 2025 by Henley & Partners shows that in a landscape of shifting rules and regulatory uncertainty, the UAE scores 10 for tax-friendliness, giving it a rare edge. With zero taxes on crypto trading, staking, or mining, the UAE offers a level of certainty that many digital asset holders find deeply attractive. Because of that, it now ranks among the 5 global crypto hubs, joining names like Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong and the U.S. The Crypto Wealth Report 2025 spells this out: tax plus infrastructure plus regulatory clarity.

Why “10 for tax-friendliness” Matters

In the world of crypto wealth, tax policy can make or break the appeal of a jurisdiction. When UAE scores 10 for tax-friendliness, it signals to investors that gains from crypto won’t be eaten by capital gains tax, trading tax or mining levies. That kind of policy stability is rare.

Many crypto millionaires now approaching 242,000 globally scan the map for places where digital wealth isn’t constantly taxed or regulated out of existence. The Crypto Wealth Report 2025 highlights how the UAE’s tax regime, together with its commitment to blockchain regulation, is pulling attention away from jurisdictions with ambiguous or punitive crypto tax treatment.

What Makes UAE One of the Top 5 Global Crypto Hubs

It’s not just the tax score. The top 5 global crypto hubs are defined by a blend of factors and the UAE is punching well above its weight here:

• Regulatory clarity & innovation: Entities like VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority) and special zones like ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) and DIFC provide frameworks for digital asset firms to operate.
• Infrastructure & digital readiness: Fast connectivity, supportive fintech ecosystems, and projects like the digital Dirham help build the backbone.
• Geographic and strategic positioning: The UAE lies between East and West, making it a staging ground for crypto capital flows across Asia, Europe, Africa.
• Attraction of global talent and wealth: High-net-worth individuals, crypto entrepreneurs, and blockchain firms are increasingly choosing the UAE as a home base.

Thus, when counting who belongs in the top 5 global crypto hubs, the UAE’s tax score is just the icing, its broader support system is the cake.

Key Findings from Crypto Wealth Report 2025

The Crypto Wealth Report 2025 examines global trends in digital asset accumulation, migration of crypto entrepreneurs, and jurisdictional ranking through the Crypto Adoption Index. A few revelations:

• The number of crypto millionaires jumped by ~40% in a year.
• The Henley index rates tax-friendliness, innovation, infrastructure, regulatory strength and public adoption across jurisdictions.
• The UAE scores 10 for tax-friendliness among these metrics, giving it a lead in investor-friendly jurisdictions.
• Its rise to join the top 5 global crypto hubs is also attributed to proactivity active regulatory development, licensing frameworks and incentives for crypto firms.

Risks, Challenges & What Could Change

Even with its impressive tax and regulatory stance, UAE’s position is not unassailable:

• As crypto adoption grows, international bodies could pressure for tax reforms or exchange-of-information standards.
• Competition among other jurisdictions (Europe, Asia) is intensifying: some are exploring zero or reduced crypto gains tax, improved regulation, or incentives to lure digital wealth.
• Enforcement, compliance, and oversight will need to scale without stifling innovation.
• Ensuring that smaller crypto holders, developers, and startups also benefit not just large funds and institutions will test the system.

What This Means for Investors & Crypto Entrepreneurs?

If you’re building or holding crypto assets:

• The UAE’s tax stance makes it a compelling option to domicile or relocate part of your wealth.
• Being part of a recognized top 5 global crypto hub adds credibility and may ease partnerships, capital raising, and cross-border transactions.
• But don’t go blind: regulatory licensing (e.g. for crypto asset services), compliance, KYC/AML frameworks, and operational costs all matter beyond the tax score.