Are cryptocurrency payments for UAE property subject to REAR reporting?
Yes. Any payment for a freehold UAE property made using a virtual asset such as cryptocurrency triggers a Real Estate Activity Report, regardless of the amount involved. The same applies where the funds used to complete the purchase were converted from a virtual asset into cash. Unlike the cash trigger, there is no minimum threshold for virtual-asset payments, so even a small crypto contribution requires a REAR.
The broker must collect the standard identification and transaction documents, record the source of funds, and submit the REAR through goAML. Virtual-asset payments warrant particular care because anonymity features can obscure the origin of funds, which may also raise grounds for a Suspicious Transaction Report.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· MoE Circular No. 5/2022 — REAR is required for freehold transactions paid by virtual asset, or funded by virtual assets converted to cash, for any portion of the value.
· Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Article 30 — addresses dealing in virtual assets that obstruct tracing of transactions.
For more details, consult the full text of MoE Circular No. 5/2022 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.