Navigating Compliance and Digital Assets: RegTech’s Growing Role in UAE Finance

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice under UAE regulations governing financial blogs and advertisements.

As financial technology reshapes the corporate finance landscape, two transformative forces are converging at the heart of CFO and chief accountant priorities: regulatory technology (RegTech) and the growing inclusion of digital assets. For UAE-based financial leaders, these trends are no longer theoretical—they’re driven by local legislation, global reporting pressures, and the need to future-proof operations.

The UAE has emerged as a proactive regulator in FinTech. Laws such as the Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), along with updated guidelines from the UAE Central Bank, have increased regulatory scrutiny on financial flows, particularly in digital environments. Meanwhile, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), established in 2022 in Dubai, introduced a formal framework for businesses dealing in digital assets, creating both compliance obligations and opportunities for innovation.

These regulations push companies to rethink traditional compliance models. Enter RegTech—solutions that apply automation, AI, and real-time monitoring to compliance processes. In today’s landscape, RegTech platforms are not only tracking VAT filings and AML risk factors; they’re integrating digital asset monitoring, customer due diligence, and cross-border transaction reporting. This is especially critical in the UAE, where cross-jurisdictional trade and cryptocurrency adoption are on the rise.

Simultaneously, digital assets are becoming more visible on corporate balance sheets. From tokenized real estate to stablecoins used for treasury operations, CFOs must now ensure these instruments are accounted for, audited, and reported correctly. Yet most ERP and accounting systems were not built for blockchain transactions. This is where FinTech and RegTech overlap: emerging platforms now offer tools for on-chain transaction reconciliation, automated fair value measurement, and audit-ready reporting that complies with IFRS standards and local tax law.

For UAE businesses, the stakes are high. The UAE’s continued progress in addressing FATF requirements, including establishing the Executive Office for AML/CFT, demonstrates a clear national agenda: align with global best practices while fostering a future-oriented financial ecosystem. Businesses that fail to adopt RegTech or address the complexities of digital asset accounting risk falling behind in compliance, audits, and capital markets readiness.

In 2025, it’s not enough to ask whether RegTech or digital assets are relevant—they are. The real question for CFOs and chief accountants is how fast their systems can adapt. Proactive investment in smart compliance tools and digital asset integration will not only meet regulatory expectations but unlock strategic advantages in speed, transparency, and trust.

Picture by Alesia Kozik