What is vasp in the UAE?
VASP is one of 8 parts of our “Licensing — MSB / VASP / EMI” practice. It covers the full cycle from initial scoping to operational launch, run by a single named partner from our the UAE desk.
What it is in the UAE: virtual-asset service provider. Residency comes together with the legal entity. Corporate tax (CT) compliance is now a serious operational matter, not a formality.
How we handle vasp
The “VASP” project in the UAE is structured as a 4-stage process run by a single named partner.
Fintech, crypto, EMI, and payments licences across Canada, the UK, UAE, Estonia, and Singapore — application through to regulator onboarding.
The same desk that runs vasp handles your banking, bookkeeping, compliance and — where needed — your wind-down.INNOVA · Operating model
Why the UAE
The UAE is a strategic hub with a 9% corporate tax, Free Zone relief on qualifying income, and residency tied to the company structure. We work with every key zone, know the real banking onboarding timeline, and know how to avoid getting stuck on KYC requests.
A reliable regulatory environment
Banking ecosystem
Corporate tax 9% (0% on qualifying Free Zone income)
INNOVA desk on the ground
Why INNOVA
Operational differences that hold up on the 2nd, 5th and 10th project — not just at first impression.
One partner — the whole cycle
Registration, banking, tax, compliance, immigration — run by one team from start to finish.
14 years of practice
Working since 2012 through several regulatory cycles — including FATCA/CRS, the tightening of banking, and the introduction of UAE CT.
Regulator-grade documentation
Every output document is ready for audit and investor scrutiny — whatever the size of the deal.
Multi-jurisdiction within the group
Cross-border work is handled inside the group — no chain of external subcontractors.
How the work is structured
A 4-stage process led by a single named partner — from the intro call to the operational hand-over.
Feasibility analysis
Jurisdiction selection and assessment of approval prospects
Document preparation
Application and supporting documents
Submission and review
The regulator's review process
Post-licence setup
Banking, operating model and monitoring
What we need from you · what you get from us
What we need from you to begin, and what you receive on completion.
- Activity scope + product matrixstructured
- Beneficial-owner packall UBOs
- Business plan10–30 pages
- Financial projections3 years
- Proof of capitalminimum thresholds
- Senior-management CVsfit & proper
- Licence issuedin name
- Regulator approval lettersissued
- Licence-conditions registertracked
- Ongoing-reporting calendarset up
- Bank onboarding initiatedlinked
Four ways to work together
We don't quote a fixed price without understanding your situation — cost depends on the complexity of your case. Start with a free call, then we pick the right format.
Intro call
A 30-minute online consultation. We discuss your situation, define the project scope, and propose a structure and timeline. Free.
Written analysis
A written consultation with a full review of the business — tax positioning, structure options, jurisdiction comparison, banking path. Turnaround: 5 business days.
Operating roadmap
For complex situations — multi-jurisdiction structures, regulated activity, founder relocation. A full plan with stages, dependencies, deliverables and timing.
Direct execution
You know what you need — we execute. No advisory mark-up and no discovery phase.
Fill in the questionnaire
Complete the online questionnaire: it creates your account on the portal, where your structure, renewal reminders and documents will live.
Fill in the questionnaire
4 steps · creates an INNOVA portal account · 24h review.
Once you submit the questionnaire we create a portal account. Inside: your live structure, a renewals calendar (annual returns, register updates, tax filings), a document vault (certificates, share register, bank letters), a partner chat and project status. A single place for your entire operational life.
From a client
A review from a client who went through a comparable project. Verified, the engagement is ongoing.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we're asked most often. If yours isn't here, an intro call is the fastest way to get an answer.
Most “VASP” projects in the UAE run from 2 to 8 weeks start to finish. The fastest stage is document filing; the longest is post-registration onboarding (banking, tax registration). A single named partner runs the project throughout.
VASP in other countries
The same service is available across our network.
