Buy Bitcoin in the UAE with AED: fees, limits and how it works
You can buy Bitcoin in the UAE with dirhams on BitOasis, licensed by VARA for Broker-Dealer Services (VASP Licence reference VL/2024/11/001): fund by UAE bank transfer at 0% from AED 100, pay a 0% trading fee on Lite or 0.38% maker / 0.58% taker on Pro, and send BTC out for a 0.0005 BTC network fee.
Risk warning. Virtual Assets may lose their value in full or in part, and are subject to extreme volatility. The owner and/or investor in the Virtual Asset can lose all the money or other value they invest, and does not benefit from any form of financial protection. Read the risk disclosure statement.
How buying Bitcoin works on BitOasis
Buying Bitcoin on BitOasis takes four steps: you verify an account, add dirhams, place an order and decide where the coins stay. The diagram shows where your money sits at each step and what each move costs. For the decision behind each step, read the step-by-step guide to buying Bitcoin in the UAE.
1. Open and verify your account
You must be 18 or over and live in a supported country. Sign up on the website or in the BitOasis mobile app with a mobile number, then upload a government-issued residency ID or a passport, take a selfie and declare your source of funds. Verification can complete automatically when the documents are in order. Otherwise it goes to manual review.
2. Add dirhams
Send AED from a UAE bank account in your own name by wire transfer or Easy Funding for a 0% fee, or pay by card or Apple Pay from 3.99%. The minimum is 100 AED on every method.
3. Place the order on Lite or Pro
On Lite you enter an amount, see one quoted price and confirm. On Pro you place a market order, which executes immediately, or a limit order at a price you choose. Lite has a 0% trading fee. Pro charges 0.38% as maker or 0.58% as taker on BTC-AED at the entry tier.
4. Hold your Bitcoin or send it to your own wallet
After the order, the Bitcoin shows in your BitOasis account, where it is held through BitGo. You can leave it there, sell Bitcoin and withdraw AED later, or send it to a wallet you control for a network fee of 0.0005 BTC.
Two features sit on top of these steps. Instant Buy lets UAE users pay by debit or credit card or Apple Pay and buy in one flow, without adding AED first. The help centre says a summary shows any fees before you confirm, and it prints no fee figure. Recurring Buy, for repeat purchases on a schedule, was announced as live on the BitOasis blog on .
Ways to pay in AED
There are four ways to add dirhams. Bank transfers cost 0% on the BitOasis side and take longer to arrive. Cards and Apple Pay are credited instantly and cost from 3.99%. The minimum is 100 AED whichever you choose.
| Funding method | BitOasis fee | Minimum | When it is credited | Limits and conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer (wire) | 0% | 100 AED | Typically 30-45 minutes after the funds reach BitOasis. The bank leg can take up to 2 working days. | From a bank account in your own name. |
| Easy Funding (bank to bank) | 0% | 100 AED | Under 30 minutes once received, according to the fees page. | UAE only. From a bank account in your own name. |
| Debit or credit card | from 3.99% | 100 AED | Instantly. | UAE only. Up to 3 cards, each in your own name. Maximum 50,000 AED per transaction and 5 transactions a day. |
| Apple Pay | from 3.99% | 100 AED | Instantly. | UAE only. Same fee as cards. |
Read from the BitOasis fee pages on and from the help centre articles on funding methods, cards and Apple Pay (last modified in May 2026). Last reviewed .
These are BitOasis fees only. Your bank may charge for sending a wire, and BitOasis does not cover correspondent or international bank fees. A card issuer may add foreign exchange fees or cash advance charges, which BitOasis does not collect.
On BitOasis a bank transfer costs less than a card: 0% against from 3.99%. A card or Apple Pay gets the money there sooner. The same four methods apply if you want to buy USDT with AED.
Bitcoin fees and limits
| What you do | Fee or limit |
|---|---|
| Lite trading fee | 0% |
| Pro maker fee, BTC-AED | 0.38% |
| Pro taker fee, BTC-AED | 0.58% |
| Send Bitcoin out (network fee) | 0.0005 BTC |
| Smallest Bitcoin send | 0.000054 BTC |
| Receive Bitcoin | Free |
| Smallest amount of AED you can add | 100 AED |
Read from the BitOasis fee pages on . Last reviewed by Head of Compliance.
Pro fees fall in nine tiers as your 30-day volume grows, down to 0.10% maker and 0.30% taker from AED 50 million. Every tier, funding method and network fee is in the full BitOasis fee schedule.
Worked example: AED 1,000 of Bitcoin
The sums below use the published rates only. They print no Bitcoin price, because the price moves all the time.
- Bank transfer, then Lite
- AED 0 in fees 0% to add AED and a 0% trading fee
- Card, then Lite
- AED 39.90 in card fees AED 1,000 at 3.99%, before the order; then a 0% trading fee
- Bank transfer, then Pro
- AED 3.80 or AED 5.80 0.38% as maker or 0.58% as taker
The Lite price is a quote sourced from liquidity providers. The spread inside that quote is not published, and it is a cost on top of the 0% trading fee. Compare the quote with the market price before you confirm.
Lite or Pro: two ways to place the order
Both services buy the same Bitcoin with the same AED balance. They differ in how the price is set and in what you pay.
| Feature | BitOasis Lite | BitOasis Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Beginners who want a simple buy and sell service | People who want order types, charts and order books |
| Order types | Buy and sell at a quoted price | Market orders and limit orders |
| Charting | Not part of the Lite service description | Advanced charting |
| Order books | None: you see one quoted price | Order books |
| Fee model | 0% trading fee; the spread in the quote is not published | Maker-taker: 0.38% maker / 0.58% taker on BTC-AED at the entry tier |
Source: BitOasis help centre, "Differences between Lite and Pro" (last modified 2 May 2026), and the BitOasis fee pages.
Which one costs less depends on the Lite quote. A limit order on Pro that adds liquidity costs 0.38% as maker, which is AED 3.80 on AED 1,000. Lite shows a 0% fee and a quoted price. Because the Lite spread is not published, the only way to compare is to check both prices for the same amount at the same moment.
Who can open an account
| Age | 18 or over |
|---|---|
| Residence | United Arab Emirates BitOasis lists other countries too, but its FAQ and its help centre give different lists. |
| Documents | Government-issued residency ID (front and back) or passport Plus a liveness selfie, your residential address, a source of funds declaration and a mobile number. |
| Verification time | No time is promised It can complete automatically when the documents are in order; otherwise it goes to manual review. |
| Client categories | Retail, Qualified Retail and Institutional Investor Source: BitOasis Terms of Service. |
| UAE-only payment methods | Card, Apple Pay and Easy Funding |
| Account use | Not for payment services or peer-to-peer trading You declare this during onboarding. |
This page describes the service for UAE residents who pay in AED. If you live elsewhere in the GCC, ask support whether your country and your payment method are supported before you apply, because the published lists differ.
The FAQ has more account and verification questions. If a document is not accepted, you can contact BitOasis support by live chat or email.
Where your Bitcoin is held
Bitcoin you leave on BitOasis is held through BitGo entities: BitGo Custody MENA FZE, BitGo Trust and BitGo Inc. The Terms say client virtual assets sit in segregated wallets and are not co-mingled with company funds, and BitOasis says a majority of its users' crypto is kept offline in cold storage, without giving a percentage. No financial protection scheme stands behind the account: if the assets are lost, no scheme pays you back.
You can send your Bitcoin to a wallet you control for the 0.0005 BTC network fee. The security page sets out the custody and account security facts, and the wallets guide helps with choosing a wallet for your Bitcoin.
- Custody provider
- BitGo entities Source: BitOasis Terms of Service.
- Client wallets
- Segregated from company funds
- Cold storage
- A majority, no percentage published
- Financial protection scheme
- None
Buying on BitOasis compared with other routes
There are three common routes from dirhams to Bitcoin in the UAE. The table compares them by route, not by brand.
| What to check | Licensed platform, funded by bank transfer | Licensed platform, paid by card or Apple Pay | Peer-to-peer seller or cash desk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who you deal with | A licensed company. On BitOasis it is BitOasis Technologies FZE, which routes your order to liquidity providers. | The same company, with your card issuer in the payment. | A private seller or a shop that you have to assess yourself. |
| How to check a licence | Look the company up on the public register of VARA. | The same register entry. | A private seller has no register entry. For a desk, look for the company on the register before you pay. |
| Cost visibility | Published: 0% to add AED, then 0% on Lite or 0.38% / 0.58% on Pro. The Lite spread is not published. | Published starting rate: from 3.99% for the card, then the same trading fees. | Set by the seller inside the price. There is no published schedule to compare. |
| Speed | Typically credited 30-45 minutes after the funds reach BitOasis; the bank leg can take up to 2 working days. | Credited instantly. Instant Buy pays and buys in one flow. | Depends on the seller. |
| Payment trail | A bank transfer from an account in your own name. | A payment from a card in your own name. | Cash leaves no bank record. A transfer to a private person does not name a firm. |
BitOasis is not the right route for everyone. These are its drawbacks, stated plainly.
- Identity checks are required. You cannot buy without them.
- Card and Apple Pay payments cost from 3.99%.
- The Lite spread is not published.
- There is no cash service.
- The onboarding declaration rules out using the account for peer-to-peer trading.
Questions about buying Bitcoin in the UAE
What is the smallest amount of Bitcoin I can buy on BitOasis?
The practical floor is 100 AED, because that is the smallest amount you can add to your account on every funding method. BitOasis does not publish a separate minimum order size for Bitcoin. If you later move coins out, the smallest amount you can send is 0.000054 BTC, and each send costs a network fee of 0.0005 BTC.
Can I buy Bitcoin with a credit card or Apple Pay?
Yes, if you are in the UAE. Debit cards, credit cards and Apple Pay cost from 3.99% and are credited instantly, with a 100 AED minimum, a 50,000 AED maximum per card transaction and five card transactions a day. You can use up to three cards, each in your own name. With Instant Buy you pay and buy in one flow, without adding AED first.
Can I buy Bitcoin with a bank transfer in the UAE?
Yes. Add dirhams by wire transfer or Easy Funding from a bank account in your own name, both at a 0% BitOasis fee, then buy Bitcoin on Lite or Pro. The minimum is 100 AED. A wire is typically credited 30-45 minutes after the funds reach BitOasis, and your bank may charge its own fee for sending it.
Can I move my Bitcoin to my own wallet?
Yes. You can send Bitcoin from your BitOasis account to an external Bitcoin address. Each send costs a network fee of 0.0005 BTC, the minimum send is 0.000054 BTC and receiving Bitcoin is free. Check the address before you confirm, because a confirmed Bitcoin transfer cannot be reversed. The wallets guide explains how custodial and self-custody wallets differ.
Do I pay tax when I buy or hold Bitcoin in the UAE?
It depends on your circumstances, and this page does not give tax advice. How tax applies to buying, holding or selling Bitcoin can differ for an individual and for a business, and by where you are tax resident. Check the current guidance of the UAE Federal Tax Authority, or ask a qualified tax adviser, before you rely on a general statement.
Regulatory information
BitOasis Technologies FZE is licensed by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) for Broker-Dealer Services, VASP Licence reference VL/2024/11/001. The VARA public register showed the licence as Active on and says the company is permitted to serve Institutional Investors, Qualified Investors and Retail Investors. The BitOasis Terms group clients as Retail, Qualified Retail and Institutional Investor.
The licence covers Broker-Dealer Services. It does not cover Exchange Services or Custody Services: custody is provided through BitGo entities under the Terms. Prices come from the liquidity providers that orders are routed to, which the Terms name as Bitfinex, Aquanow and BitGo MENA FZE. A BitOasis account is not covered by any financial protection scheme.
Virtual asset services are licensed activities in Dubai under VARA rules. The regulation guide explains whether crypto is legal in the UAE and who regulates it.
This page is for information only, not investment advice. Before you open an account, read the VARA licence details, the risk disclosure statement and the terms of service summary.
- Operating company
- BitOasis Technologies FZE
- Regulator
- Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
- VASP Licence reference
- VL/2024/11/001 Activity on the licence: Broker-Dealer Services
- Status on the register
- Active Read on
The About page describes the company behind BitOasis. The BitOasis home page lists what else you can do on the platform, and the hub has all BitOasis Learn guides.
Have your ID or passport and an AED payment method ready. You can lose all the money you put into Bitcoin.