Amber Premium Receives In-Principle Approval for Dubai License
Amber Premium has secured in-principle approval from Dubai's VIRTUAL Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), marking a pivotal step toward full licensing for its local subsidiary, Amber Premium FZE. The approval positions the firm to operate as a regulated virtual asset service provider in the UAE, aligning with Dubai's ambition to become a global hub for digital asset services.
Michael Wu, CEO and chairman of Amber Premium, underscored the significance of the milestone, framing it as a strategic advance in the company's mission to deliver institutional-grade digital wealth management. "VARA's in-principle approval reflects our commitment to governance-aligned growth," Wu stated, emphasizing a compliance-first approach.
The move follows Dubai's pattern of licensing major crypto firms, with in-principle approvals typically preceding full operational licenses by several months. Amber Premium, the private banking arm of Nasdaq-listed Amber Group (ticker: AMBR), caters to ultra-high-net-worth clients and institutions. The firm recently bolstered its reserves with a $25.5 million private placement, part of a broader $100 million crypto reserve initiative.