Google is updating the advertising conditions for crypto companies seeking to reach users in the UAE. Licensing has been required since 2025, and companies must also obtain Google’s crypto advertising certification.
Google is adding the Capital Market Authority (CMA) to the licensing authorities it accepts for cryptocurrency exchange and software wallet ads targeting the United Arab Emirates. Its October policy update takes effect on October 21, 2026. Advertisers must hold a licence from one of the specified regulators, obtain Google certification and comply with other local legal requirements.
Licensing is not a new requirement for the UAE. Google’s notice published on February 14, 2025 allowed companies licensed by the FSRA, VARA or DFSA to advertise from February 26, 2025, subject to certification. The October update adds the CMA, bringing the number of accepted licensing authorities to four. October 21 is therefore the effective date of an updated advertising policy, rather than a first-ever deadline for every company to obtain a licence.
A licence and Google approval are both required
| Requirement | Scope stated in the notice |
|---|---|
| Products | Cryptocurrency exchanges and software wallets |
| Accepted licence | CMA, Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) or Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) |
| Google certification | Required separately from the regulatory licence |
| Target market | United Arab Emirates; an ad account based elsewhere is still covered |
| Other conditions | Compliance with local legal requirements and applicable Google ad policies |
For exchange and software wallet ads, the target market determines the licensing and certification conditions. Foreign advertisers seeking to reach UAE users must meet the UAE requirements even if their accounts are based elsewhere. Approval to advertise in the UAE does not automatically permit advertising elsewhere. The general policy requires separate applications for multiple target locations or groups of locations.
Google’s application guide describes industry-specific approval as an additional requirement alongside general advertiser verification. Crypto advertising applications are submitted in Google Ads through Admin, Policy, Account and “Apply for certification.” The announcement moving applications into accounts confirmed that existing certifications and pending applications would be unaffected. The October update does not publish a list of approved companies or promise a new review turnaround time.
Google’s help pages do not yet show the same list. When checked on October 20, the UAE table in the general crypto policy named only the FSRA and VARA, while the new notice effective October 21 explicitly lists the CMA, DFSA, FSRA and VARA.
The update does not allow every crypto product to advertise
The cryptocurrencies and related products policy treats licensed exchange and wallet ads as conditionally permitted. Its prohibited examples include ICOs, DeFi trading protocols, cryptocurrency loans and token liquidity pools. Unhosted software wallets remain prohibited. Accepting CMA licences does not extend advertising permission to prohibited wallet types.
Different rules apply to some businesses that do not involve buying, holding or exchanging crypto. Businesses accepting cryptocurrency payments, mining hardware and educational materials without investment advice can be promoted without a specific crypto advertising application, provided they meet local laws and other Google rules. Hardware wallets are a separate product category requiring certification, rather than being grouped with exchanges or software wallets.
The 0:59–1:32 section of Google’s June 10, 2026 crypto advertising tutorial covers products requiring certification and approved target markets. Google also embeds the tutorial on its own help page.
A warning precedes account suspension
Google says it will warn accounts violating the crypto advertising policy at least seven days before suspension. Ad disapproval and account suspension are separate actions: the general policy directs advertisers to apply when an ad is rejected for missing certification, or appeal from their account if they believe the decision was wrong.
The October notice also has a separate section for contracts for difference and rolling spot forex. Advertising conditions for contracts for difference and forex products are assessed separately; permission for crypto exchange or software wallet ads does not automatically extend to a company’s other services.
Crypto news outlet Crypto Briefing reported in its October 19 post that the update applies to ads targeting the UAE:
Crypto Briefing — Google’s UAE crypto advertising policy update
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