Overview
The UAE has established itself as a leading hub for digital assets, but compliance remains a key challenge for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). As regulations evolve, firms face increasing costs, talent shortages, and operational hurdles in meeting compliance standards.
Following the insights from our previous roundtable on profitability and market dynamics, this exclusive session will focus entirely on compliance—the growing challenge for licensed firms in the UAE’s digital asset ecosystem.
This roundtable, hosted by Unlock Blockchain, will bring together key stakeholders from regulatory bodies, licensed VASPs, legal experts, and compliance professionals to explore how firms can navigate compliance efficiently while maintaining profitability.
Key Discussion Topics:
- The Compliance Talent Shortage
- The increasing difficulty of finding and retaining experienced compliance professionals.
- How salary inflation and frequent job-hopping are affecting firms.
- Can regulators or industry players support a training pipeline for compliance officers?
- The Rising Cost of Compliance for VASPs
- How firms can balance regulatory obligations and profitability.
- Is there an opportunity for outsourced compliance models?
- The impact of multiple regulatory frameworks (VARA, ADGM, DIFC, SCA) and the costs of maintaining separate teams.
- Regulatory Solutions & Industry Collaboration
- Can compliance requirements be harmonized across UAE jurisdictions to reduce redundancy?
- How can the UAE stay ahead of global regulatory developments?
- What best practices can be borrowed from other financial hubs to streamline compliance?
- Competitive Landscape & Compliance Evolution
- As international regulations evolve, how can the UAE remain an attractive destination for digital asset firms?
- What role can industry collaboration play in making compliance more efficient?
- The impact of new licensing categories or frameworks to reduce the burden on firms.
This roundtable will be held under the Chatham House Rule, ensuring an open and candid discussion while maintaining anonymity.
