Ras Al Khaimah Innovation City is a crypto-friendly free zone supporting Web3, blockchain, and digital asset companies under the RAK Digital Assets Oasis Companies Regulations 2023 and UAE federal laws. Licensing is streamlined with packages tailored for tech startups, requiring CMA supervision and approval.
| Status | crypto_friendly |
| Risk Score | 15/100 (Low Risk) |
| Region | middle east |
| Currency | AED |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| Required | Yes |
| Regulator | Innovation City (RAK INC) — formerly RAK Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO). Rebranded 18 September 2025. Parent corporate registry is RAK ICC (RAK International Corporate Centre). The Innovation City authority acts as the in-zone licensing body. |
| Framework | RAK Digital Assets Oasis Companies Regulations 2023; UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025 |
| Ease | easy |
Licensing is managed by the Ras Al Khaimah Capital Market Authority (CMA) with simple, all-inclusive packages for startups and tech companies. Full license or approval from CMA is mandatory before operations.
No significant enforcement actions reported; jurisdiction actively encourages crypto business
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | Yes |
| FATF Status | compliant |
| FATF Body | FATF |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: regulated
DeFi activities are regulated under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025, ensuring compliance with VASP and digital asset regulations.
Status: regulated
Stablecoins are regulated under the UAE federal framework applicable to digital assets and VASPs.
Status: no_rules
No specific NFT regulation; generally permitted
| Legal | Yes |
| Electricity Cost | $0.06/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 5% |
| Infrastructure | good |
Mining is legal with competitive electricity costs and good infrastructure in Ras Al Khaimah. Limited renewable energy share.
| Stability | stable |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 69/100 |
| Banking Access | open |
| Sanctions Program Active | Yes |
Risk Factors
Ras Al Khaimah benefits from UAE's stable political environment, strong ease of doing business, and open banking for crypto companies. Regional tensions pose moderate risk.
Ras Al Khaimah Innovation City is a crypto-friendly free zone supporting Web3, blockchain, and digital asset companies under the RAK Digital Assets Oasis Companies Regulations 2023 and UAE federal laws. Licensing is streamlined with packages tailored for tech startups, requiring CMA supervision and approval.
RAK ICC (Ras Al Khaimah) is classified by FATF as: compliant.
Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.
KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.
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Explore IT Services →Last reviewed: 2026-09-30 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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