# Distributed Ledger Technology Services licence in the UAE > Distributed Ledger Technology Services licensing in the UAE — the authority catalogue rows we hold for this line, the approvals attached to them, and where the activity can be filed. - Canonical: https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/distributed-ledger-technology-services - Updated: 2026-09-05 - IFZA (Dubai): 6202012 - Ajman Free Zone: AM-11258, AM-11652 - Dubai mainland (DET): 6202012 - Regulation: Regulator approval required - Publication: below the publication gate (Activity sits with a restricted regulator) - Method: https://dubaisetupindex.com/methodology ## What the authority says Includes firms that provide database management solutions and ancillary services based on distributed ledger technologies, such as blockchain, such firms are not permitted to trade in, or setup an exchange for currencies or crypto currencies or commodities Source: IFZA activity catalogue. ## Where you can licence this | Authority | Status | Code | Licence type | Approval | Facility | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | [IFZA (Dubai)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ifza) | Listed | 6202012 | Professional | Required before the licence issues | Not restricted in the catalogue | | [Ajman Free Zone](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman) | Listed | AM-11258, AM-11652 | Services | Not stated | Office, Virtual office | | [Dubai mainland (DET)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/mainland) | Listed | 6202012 | Professional | Not stated | Not restricted in the catalogue | Catalogue evidence, not legal advice. Authorities change activity lists without notice — confirm before you file. ## Routes that list this activity - [IFZA (Dubai)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ifza) — Dubai address, available with Dubai Setup Index. From, no visa: AED 12,900 (12 months · calculator output) - [Ajman Free Zone](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman) — Lower cost, available with Dubai Setup Index. From, no visa: AED 5,555 (12 months · current package) - [Dubai mainland (DET)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/mainland) — Onshore trading rights, Ejari premises. From, no visa: AED 14,000 (Licence only · plus 5% of rent) A route listing the activity is a starting point. The authority confirms eligibility when you apply. ## Facility and premises restrictions - IFZA (Dubai) 6202012 note: Further details are required. - Ajman Free Zone AM-11258 facilities: Office, Virtual office ## Third-party approvals This activity sits with a regulator that controls who may hold the licence. Treat everything below as a starting point and speak to the regulator before you commit money or dates. ### Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) Before licence · IFZA (Dubai) Authority’s process note: In line with the current regulations set by the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, please be informed that all applicants are required to fill an official survey before submitting the license application on the system. The survey can be found through this link: https://msurvey.government.ae/survey/Virtual%20Assets%20Regulatory%20Authority/h8P On the same note, we have been given directives to the effect that any license will not be issued without initial VARA approval for the requested activity, a process that is currently estimated to take a minimum of 4 weeks. Kindly take this into consideration when calculating timelines for VARA approval and license application processes. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. [Approval documents](https://ifza.link/WJu6Qx) ## Free zone or mainland - Both IFZA in Dubai and Ajman Free Zone list this activity, so the choice is a Dubai licence address against a lower package cost. - Dubai mainland under DET lets you invoice UAE mainland clients directly, but it expects Ejari-registered premises and runs longer than a free-zone desk package. - Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) clearance is required before the licence issues, which breaks any advertised same-week timeline. - IFZA (Dubai) notes: Further details are required. ## Also catalogued elsewhere The same activity name appears in other authority catalogues we track. This is a name match, not a legal equivalence, and Dubai Setup Index does not file in these zones. - DMCC: 7229-99 · Service ## Related activities - [Information Technology Consultants](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/information-technology-consultants) — IFZA (Dubai) · Ajman Free Zone · Dubai mainland (DET) - [Metaverse Services Provider](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/metaverse-services-provider) — Ajman Free Zone · Dubai mainland (DET) - [IT Infrastructure](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/it-infrastructure) — IFZA (Dubai) · Ajman Free Zone · Dubai mainland (DET) ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I add more activities to a Distributed Ledger Technology Services licence later? Usually yes, as a licence amendment, subject to the authority's rules and any extra approval attached to the new line. ### Does this activity need third-party approval? Yes. Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) must clear the activity before the licence issues, so build that step into your timeline. ## Related - [All business activities](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities) - [Compare setup routes](https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare) - [How company setup works](https://dubaisetupindex.com/how-it-works) ## Machine-readable - [Distributed Ledger Technology Services record (JSON)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/data/activities/distributed-ledger-technology-services.json) ## Citation Required when quoting any figure from this page. Copy one of these verbatim — the link is not optional. Dubai Setup Index. “Distributed Ledger Technology Services licence in the UAE.” Updated 2026-09-05. https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/distributed-ledger-technology-services [Dubai Setup Index](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/distributed-ledger-technology-services). “Distributed Ledger Technology Services licence in the UAE.” Updated 2026-09-05. Quoting any figure from this record requires a resolvable link to url. Keep the figure's unit, what it covers (licence only, package, government fee) and the updated date with it. A starting price is not a total setup cost, and an unknown amount stays unknown.