We may receive advertising compensation when you click certain products. Before jumping into this page, an important disclosure.
You'll need a Bitcoin wallet before you buy since some exchanges require one.
Don't have a wallet? Read our guide on the best Bitcoin & cryptocurrency wallets.
- Popular Exchanges to Buy Bitcoin & Crypto in Dubai
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Rain- Exchange for Saudi Arabi, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrin, UAE
- Rain is based in Middle East
- High buying limits
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eToro- Supports Bitcoin, Ethereum & 15 other coins
- Start trading fast; high limits
- Your capital is at risk.
This ad promotes virtual cryptocurrency investing within the EU (by eToro Europe Ltd. and eToro UK Ltd.) & USA (by eToro USA LLC); which is highly volatile, unregulated in most EU countries, no EU protections & not supervised by the EU regulatory framework. Investments are subject to market risk, including the loss of principal.
Rain Popular Buy Bitcoin
Rain is a crypto exchange focused on serving UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. They offer 24/7 support and meet all CCSS requirements as a crypto custodian and is licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain as a Crypto Asset Brokerage.
This is an ad. We may receive compensation when you use Rain. Please visit Rain for its exact pricing terms.
- Middle East Exchange based in Bahrain
- Low fees
- 24/7 customer support
- Licensed by Central Bank of Bahrain
- Brokerage only - order book coming soon
eToro Popular Buy Bitcoin Read Review
eToro is a trading platform and crypto exchange. It supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Zcash and many other coins.
Deposits can be made quickly via bank transfer, SEPA, NETELLER, PayPal and more. It also offers unique features like copy trading.
This ad promotes virtual cryptocurrency investing within the EU (by eToro Europe Ltd. and eToro UK Ltd.) & USA (by eToro USA LLC); which is highly volatile, unregulated in most EU countries, no EU protections & not supervised by the EU regulatory framework. Investments are subject to market risk, including the loss of principal.
We may receive compensation when you use eToro. Please visit eToro for its exact pricing terms.
- Offers unique copy trading feature
- Trusted echange that has been active in traditional finance
- Interface is clean and easy to use
- You cannot deposit cryptocurrency, but you can deposit with other payment methods
Coinmama Popular Buy Bitcoin Read Review
Coinmama allows customers in almost every country to buy bitcoin. They charge a 4.9%-5.9% (depends on volume) fee on each purchase.
Customers in Europe can also purchase bitcoins with SEPA transfer for a lower fee.
Want to buy using Coinmama? This step-by-step guide will show you how to use Coinmama.
We may receive compensation when you use Coinmama. Please visit Coinmama for its exact pricing terms.
- Works in almost all countries
- Highest limits for buying bitcoins with a credit card
- Reliable and trusted broker
- Some of the highest fees among credit/debit card bitcoin brokers
Kraken Buy Bitcoin Read Review
Founded mid-2011, Kraken is the one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, and the largest in Europe based on daily average trading volume. It is available in almost all countries. Deposits can be made via bank wire, SEPA, ACH and SWIFT.
- Very low 0.25% taker fee, falling to 0.1% with sufficient trading volume
- Very low maker fee, falling to 0% with sufficient trading volume
- Highly-rated for security and data protection
- Requires ID verification, so not private
LocalBitcoins Popular Buy Bitcoin Read Review
LocalBitcoins is an escrow service which also helps to match bitcoin buyers and sellers. Users may advertise trades for whichever payment method they prefer.
Buying bitcoins via an in-person meeting, secured and facilitated by LocalBitcoins, may be one of the fastest and most private ways to buy bitcoins in any country, including the United States, Europe (besides Germany), UK, Singapore, Canada, Australia and many more.
We may receive compensation when you use LocalBitcoins. Please visit LocalBitcoins for its exact pricing terms.
- Can be private, fast and easy
- In-person trades require no personal information
- Purchases of bitcoin can be made quickly via cash deposit
- Beware of scams; always follow the rules!
- Harder to buy large amounts of bitcoins compared to large exchanges
- Slightly to significantly higher prices than regular exchanges; premium for higher privacy
BitOasis Popular Buy Bitcoin
BitOasis is a Bitcoin platform serving the Middle East. Customers can buy bitcoin via bank transfer or cash deposit in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. UAE clients may also deposit funds via exchange houses.
- One of the best way to buy bitcoins in the countries it services
- Multi-sig security measures
- Low 0.5% flat fee on all orders
- Verification not required for amounts below $500 per week
- Above $500 per week limit, not private since identity verification is required
Bitcoin ATMs Buy Bitcoin
You can use our Bitcoin ATM map to buy bitcoins with cash. Bitcoin ATMs can be a quick and easy way to buy bitcoins and they're also private. That convenience and privacy, however, comes with a price; most ATMs have fees of 5-10%.
- Our map makes it super easy to find a Bitcoin ATM near you
- Bitcoin ATMs often have 5-10% fees per purchase
Mycelium Local Trader Buy Bitcoin
Mycelium Local Trader helps you find local Bitcoin sellers. Once you locate a seller, you meet up in-person and conduct the trade. Mycelium charges absolutely no fees. While Mycelium Local Trader works great in highly-populated areas, users in low population areas will have trouble finding sellers.
- Easy and cheap way to buy bitcoins with cash
- Private way to buy bitcoins, no personal information required beyond cellphone number
- Users in sparsely populated areas will have trouble finding sellers
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Chapter 1
Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Trading in Dubai
Although the UAE government has warned against investing in Bitcoin, many in Dubai are investing regardless.
Dubai does not consider Bitcoin legal tender, but there aren't restrictions on buying or selling either. Based on LocalBitcoins volume and Google Trends data, Bitcoin looks alive and well in Dubai.
If you want to buy Bitcoin, you need a way to store your investment. Storing your coins on an exchange wallet is risky because centralized exchanges are subject to hackers and theft.
Using a cold storage hardware wallet like the Ledger Nano S or the Trezor is the best way to keep your investment safe.
COMPARISON
After you buy a wallet, choose one of the exchanges above that best suits your needs in terms of limits, fees, and privacy. From there, all you have to do is verify your identity, connect your payment method, and buy Bitcoin.
You can deposit your Bitcoin from the exchange to your hardware wallet. There was only one Bitcoin ATM installed in Dubai back in March of 2019, but the authorities removed it just a few days later for non-compliance.
At the time of writing, there aren't any Bitcoin ATMs available for use in Dubai, but there is one Bitcoin teller.
Despite retracing significantly since Bitcoin's major run in late 2017, Bitcoin volume in Dubai on LocalBitcoins seems to be steady.
Dubai is an important economic center of the United Arab Emirates, not to mention its largest city and the focal point of advanced technologies.
Cryptocurrency has been met with friendly legislation when compared to the rest of the UAE. The less developed countries in the surrounding area buy their Bitcoin in Dubai due to hyperinflation in their home countries.
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Chapter 2
Top Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Exchanges in Dubai
Dubai has access to many large Bitcoin and cryptocurrency exchanges.
Have a look at our favorites below:
- Popular Exchanges to Buy Bitcoin & Crypto in Dubai
- Rain
- Exchange for Saudi Arabi, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrin, UAE
- Rain is based in Middle East
- High buying limits
- eToro
- Supports Bitcoin, Ethereum & 15 other coins
- Start trading fast; high limits
- Your capital is at risk.
This ad promotes virtual cryptocurrency investing within the EU (by eToro Europe Ltd. and eToro UK Ltd.) & USA (by eToro USA LLC); which is highly volatile, unregulated in most EU countries, no EU protections & not supervised by the EU regulatory framework. Investments are subject to market risk, including the loss of principal.
-
Chapter 3
Best Bitcoin Wallets for Dubai
There are three main types of Bitcoin wallet and all of them are supported in Dubai:
- Software (desktop or mobile - iOS and Android wallets
- Hardware wallet
- Cold-storage (paper or steel wallets, the latter of which are used to backup your main wallet.
Best for Security
Ledger Nano X
Secure storage for any cryptocurrency
Visit WebsiteThe Ledger Nano X is the newest crypto hardware wallet, and is very easy to use. It connects to iOS, Android & desktop computers.
Temporary Wallet
Atomic Wallet
Best for storing crypto for short period of time
Learn MoreAtomic wallet is a multicurrency mobile wallet with a beautiful interface and easy to use features.
Best for Desktop
Electrum
Simple yet powerful desktop wallet
Learn MoreElectrum is a Bitcoin-only wallet that has been around since 2011. It's easy to use, but has advanced features.
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Chapter 4
Exchange Hacks and Crypto Scams in Dubai
Aziz ‘Com’ Mirza Scam
In October of 2019, social media influencer and scammer Aziz Mirza was arrested in Dubai for defrauding investors in his "Bitcoin of the Middle East" Habibi Coin. Habibi Coin was supposed to be a "real-estate backed" cryptocurrency.
You can take a look at a promotional video for the now-defunct Habibi Coin below:
Unfortunately for its investors, most of whom belonged to the Muslim Entrepreneur Network facebook group, Habibi Coin was just a scam to get investors into fake real-estate deals that enriched Mirza who never bought any real estate. In total, 1,500 people signed up to join his program at £5,000 minimum per person.
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Chapter 5
Bitcoin Mining in Dubai
If you want to acquire Bitcoin as quickly and efficiently as possible, buying it directly from an exchange or peer is your best option.
More tech-savvy individuals may opt to mine their Bitcoin instead, but mining requires expensive hardware, lots of electricity, and a ton of time.
Large operations in countries with cheap electricity are responsible for the majority of Bitcoin mining. These operations can turn a profit at scale, under the right conditions.
For example, this mining operation in China:
But unfortunately, Bitcoin mining is not profitable for the average Joe, thanks to the price of electricity and the increasing Bitcoin block difficulty.
However, electricity costs in the UAE aren't high by any stretch of the imagination. Coming in at 0.296 Dirham per kWh ($0.08), the UAE has cheaper electricity than the United States, Canada, and many European nations.
Still, electricity in the UAE is pricier than China, home to many of the largest mining farms. If you're expecting to turn a profit, think again. Mining should only be for fun/as a hobby, not as a fast track to riches. At least, this the case for the casual investor.
For this reason, you will still be losing nearly $900 a year if you are mining in the UAE.
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Chapter 6
FAQ
Does Coinbase work in Dubai?
Coinbase does NOT support customers in Dubai as of September of 2020.
Where Can I Find a Bitcoin ATM in Dubai?
Unfortunately, there are no Bitcoin ATM's in Dubai at this time. However, there is one Bitcoin teller at the Coinsfera Bitcoinshop in Baniyas Square on 14th Road. What is the price of Bitcoin in Dubai?
The current price of Bitcoin in Dubai is €9,353.49, however this amount changes every minute, so always check the value on your local exchange.
Can I buy property with Bitcoin in Dubai?
Aston Plaza and Residences in Dubai were offering the first 150 residences in their tower for Bitcoin purchase only. If you wanted to pay in Cash, you had to wait. However, all of these units have been sold.
Besides Aston, There are few known developers stating publicly that they accept Bitcoin, there have been reports that many developers are open to accepting Bitcoin when offered by a prospective customer.
Can I get a Bitcoin debit card in Dubai?
You can get Bitcoin debit cards in Dubai by using Pursa.co, which makes it simple to get all sorts of debit cards in many variations of fiat and Bitcoin.
How do I cash out of Bitcoin in Dubai?
Any exchange with a UAE Dirham trading pair will allow you to sell your Bitcoin for fiat currency. Rain.bh has AED trading pairs for many popular coins.
Local Bitcoins is another option. Here, you can buy and sell Bitcoin for a wide range of payment methods, from gift cards to bank transfers. Local Bitcoins is a peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange, where you buy and sell with another individual. This does introduce a degree of risk, though by ensuring that you conduct all business on the platform, make use of its escrow services, and only trade with users who have a good reputation, you'll minimize any potential problems.
You could also use a service like eGifter to sell your Bitcoin for gift cards.
