Dubai’s VARA tells crypto firms to integrate FATF blacklists and data-driven risk scoring into AML controls

Dubai’s virtual asset regulator is moving the industry from baseline compliance to more rigorous, data-driven frameworks. Under the updated approach, virtual asset service providers must use quantitative business data to generate real-time risk scores rather than relying on static tracking. The guidance outlines tighter requirements for risk models and ongoing monitoring across firms operating in the emirate.