The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has set a clearer path for companies that take digital assets in the course of trade. The Federal Tax Authority has published Directive on Tax Transactions No. 3 of 2026, which tells taxable persons exactly how to turn cryptocurrency consideration into UAE dirhams when they complete a VAT return.

The rule covers two situations. It applies when a registered business supplies a digital currency itself. It also applies when the business sells goods or services and is paid in a digital currency.

In both cases the dirham figure that appears on the return must be calculated in a prescribed way rather than taken from a single market quote or an internal book rate.

The method is built around three consistent…