Capital.com has long been known for offering crypto exposure through Contracts for Difference (CFDs). This scheme simply tracks prices without transferring asset ownership to traders. However, this practice is set to change in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On August 21, 2026, the brokerage platform announced that its affiliate, Capital Vault, had secured a virtual asset license from the federal-level Capital Market Authority (CMA) of the UAE. The license permits Capital Vault to act as an agent or matching principal, as well as provide crypto custody services. The end result: eligible UAE clients will eventually be able to buy and hold real crypto assets directly within the Capital.com app. Behind the scenes, Capital Vault will handle order execution, transaction settlement, and wallet security.
Difference Between Federal and Local Authorities
The UAE market has a multi-layered regulatory structure. This federal license from the CMA stands separate from the two pre-existing local regimes, namely the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). The UAE CMA itself updated its virtual asset regulatory framework in April 2026. The regulatory update expanded the scope of supervisable activities from three to eight categories, including brokerage, portfolio management, alternative trading systems, as well as asset transfer and custody.
To support these new operations, Capital Vault has opened a physical office in Abu Dhabi. They are currently recruiting a local digital asset team, though the target headcount and investment capital remain undisclosed. This move extends the list of global crypto firms establishing a presence in the UAE. Previously, Binance secured exchange and custody licenses in Abu Dhabi, Crypto.com entered via a payment services license, while Bitpanda secured a brokerage license in Dubai.
What Remains Undisclosed
Although the regulatory licensing foundation is secured, users will still have to wait. Capital.com has not disclosed when exactly these spot trading services will launch. The list of supported coins, transaction fee structure, and minimum requirements for opening new accounts have also not been publicly announced.
This licensing strategy is not new for their corporate umbrella. Capital Vault also has a European entity registered with Cyprus’s CySEC public register as a crypto asset service provider (CASP) under the MiCA regulatory framework. This European operating permit covers exchange, order execution, transfer, and asset custody services. Within the UAE itself, the group also operates a separate entity named Capital Com MENA Securities Trading, which holds a regular license from the CMA.
The business group systematically establishes solid legal pillars before opening the doors to physical coin trading. Offering CFDs might be much easier since the platform does not have to worry about securing clients’ coin vaults, but market demand ultimately forces traditional brokers to build genuine custody infrastructure. As reported by crypto.news.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
