The UAE authorities signed a multilateral agreement enabling automatic cross-border exchange of tax information related to crypto-assets. The first information exchanges are expected in 2028.
The Ministry of Finance of the United Arab Emirates (MoF) signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) to implement the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), officially confirming its intent to ensure transparency in crypto-asset operations.
The MCAA, developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), provides a legal framework for tax authorities of different countries to automatically exchange tax-relevant information. CARF, in turn, establishes uniform international standards for data collection and reporting on crypto-asset transactions. According to PwC, 48 jurisdictions are expected to adopt the CARF framework.
To develop final regulatory rules, the Ministry of Finance opened public consultations running from September 15 to November 8, 2025. Consultants, intermediaries, traders, custodians, exchanges, and other crypto industry representatives are invited to participate. Their input will help create clear and effective regulations that balance market needs with global tax transparency requirements.
The Ministry stated that CARF implementation in the UAE is planned for 2027, with the first cross-border tax information exchanges taking place in 2028. The initiative will allow the UAE to align its regulations with international standards and strengthen market participants’ trust.
In the U.K., CARF will come into effect on January 1, 2026, with a similar process underway in Switzerland. Overall, CARF information exchange is scheduled to start in 2027.
