Skip to content
Cryptorabic

Can you use crypto where you live?

A simple guide to crypto in every Arab country: what's allowed, whether you can buy, and what's changed. Based on public sources and checked regularly.

Type to filter, then press Enter to open a country.

13 countries coveredSourced and datedLast updated

The Arab world at a glance

Every country is a link to its own page. Colour shows the legal status, and each status also carries an icon and a label.

Smaller countries (Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon and Palestine) are marked with a dot so they stay visible and clickable. Zoom in to reach the smaller countries, or use the full list below.

Legend

  • RegulatedA licensing or supervision framework is in force.
  • UnregulatedNo full licensing framework yet.
  • RestrictedAllowed in part, with limits such as banking or exchange bans.
  • Banned by regulatorsProhibited by regulation or official decision.
  • Banned by lawProhibited with criminal penalties.
  • Not coveredOutside what this site covers right now.

Every Arab country by status

The full list, grouped by legal status and sorted by name.

Regulated

3 countries

A licensing or supervision framework is in force.

Unregulated

2 countries

No full licensing framework yet.

Restricted

1 country

Allowed in part, with limits such as banking or exchange bans.

Banned by regulators

5 countries

Prohibited by regulation or official decision.

Banned by law

2 countries

Prohibited with criminal penalties.

Not covered

6 countries

Outside what this site covers right now.

What each country page answers

Every country page works through the same questions, in the same order.

Recently updated

The latest changes recorded across all country pages.

  1. United Arab EmiratesRegulatedRain MENA FZE receives a full VARA licence for exchange and broker-dealer services.
  2. TunisiaBanned by regulatorsDebate on the new exchange code is delayed; the bill remains under review.
  3. MoroccoBanned by regulatorsBank Al-Maghrib confirms progress on the crypto law, which remains under review.
  4. IraqBanned by regulatorsKurdistan Region declares crypto trading illegal and orders the closure of crypto trading offices.
  5. United Arab EmiratesRegulatedThe federal Capital Market Authority issues a new virtual assets framework replacing the previous SCA regime.
  6. TunisiaBanned by regulatorsParliament's Finance Committee announces hearings on the proposed foreign exchange code.
  7. JordanRegulatedThe Jordan Securities Commission publishes draft implementing instructions and an online application form for crypto service providers.
  8. LebanonRestrictedBanque du Liban explicitly prohibits banks, financial institutions and electronic payment providers from issuing, dealing in or facilitating virtual assets.
  9. United Arab EmiratesRegulatedThe Securities and Commodities Authority is renamed the Capital Market Authority under new federal capital markets laws.
  10. AlgeriaBanned by lawBanking Commission instruction reportedly requires banks to detect, block and report crypto-related transactions.
  11. MoroccoBanned by regulatorsDraft Bill 42.25 to regulate crypto-assets is unveiled.
  12. TunisiaBanned by regulatorsMPs file a proposal for a new foreign exchange code that covers digital assets and virtual currencies.
  13. United Arab EmiratesRegulatedBybit becomes the first platform fully licensed by the federal SCA.
  14. United Arab EmiratesRegulatedNew Central Bank law takes effect, extending licensing to anyone offering, facilitating or promoting financial activities by any means, with a one-year transition.
  15. JordanRegulatedLaw No. 14 of 2025 enters into force, regulating crypto services.
  16. AlgeriaBanned by lawLaw No. 25-10 criminalizes crypto activity, including holding and mining, with prison of 2 months to 1 year, fines of 200,000–1,000,000 DZD, or both.
  17. BahrainRegulatedCentral Bank of Bahrain introduces rules for licensed stablecoin issuers.
  18. JordanRegulatedLaw No. 14 of 2025 is published in the Official Gazette.
  19. KuwaitBanned by regulatorsAuthorities step up the crackdown on illegal crypto mining; 116 people reportedly questioned.
  20. EgyptBanned by lawFinancial Regulatory Authority renews its warning against dealing in cryptocurrencies.
  21. IraqBanned by regulatorsIraq's state-owned Rafidain Bank, citing Central Bank directives, warns customers not to use its cards or e-wallets for crypto.
  22. United Arab EmiratesRegulatedVirtual asset transfers and conversions become VAT-exempt, retroactive to 2018.
  23. QatarBanned by regulatorsQatar Financial Centre issues digital asset rules for tokenized assets, excluding crypto tokens used as substitutes for fiat currency.
  24. TunisiaBanned by regulatorsA ministerial council adopts the government's draft exchange code, which includes authorizing crypto-asset transactions.
  25. KuwaitBanned by regulatorsKuwaiti regulators issue circulars barring crypto payments, investment services, licensing and all mining.
  26. OmanUnregulatedOman's capital market regulator requires crypto service providers to register and meet anti-money-laundering rules.
  27. OmanUnregulatedCentral Bank of Oman warns of crypto Ponzi schemes and reiterates it has licensed no one to trade crypto.
  28. BahrainRegulatedBinance receives a crypto-asset service provider licence in Bahrain.
  29. IraqBanned by regulatorsCentral Bank of Iraq warns that crypto is not subject to any Iraqi legislation and that it has licensed no cryptocurrency.
  30. TunisiaBanned by regulatorsFinance Minister calls for Bitcoin possession to be decriminalized after a teenager's reported arrest.
  31. EgyptBanned by lawLaw No. 194 of 2020 makes unlicensed crypto activity a criminal offence.
  32. OmanUnregulatedCentral Bank of Oman states crypto is not legal tender and that it has authorized no crypto operators.
  33. QatarBanned by regulatorsQatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority announces that virtual asset services may not be conducted in or from the centre.
  34. Saudi ArabiaUnregulatedSaudi authorities warn that virtual currencies are not approved currencies and that trading happens outside Saudi regulation.
  35. LebanonRestrictedCapital Markets Authority Announcement No. 30 bars licensed institutions from trading electronic money and warns the public against Bitcoin.
  36. QatarBanned by regulatorsQatar Central Bank tells banks that Bitcoin trading is not allowed in Qatar.
  37. EgyptBanned by lawDar al-Ifta rules dealing in Bitcoin forbidden.
  38. AlgeriaBanned by lawThe 2018 Finance Law (Article 117) first bans buying, selling, using and holding virtual currency.
  39. MoroccoBanned by regulatorsForeign Exchange Office declares crypto transactions a breach of foreign exchange rules.

How this is researched

  • Official sources first: central banks, official gazettes and regulators. Where official texts aren't available, we use reputable press and legal analysis and say so.
  • Every country page shows the date it was last verified.
  • Information, not legal or financial advice.

About · Methodology · Disclaimer · Corrections