Bybit Unlocks Direct AED Transfers for UAE Crypto Users with Zero Fees

Mohammed Fathy

Last updated 5-02-2026

3 min

Bybit launched direct AED bank deposits and withdrawals for UAE users on web and mobile platforms.

Eligible customers can move dirhams “straight from a UAE bank account”, with near real-time transfers.

The feature operates under the CMA framework through a regulated local banking partner.

Bybit is offering zero fees and rewards, with bonuses up to 300 AED for new users.

The move strengthens the UAE’s position as a “crypto-forward market” with smoother local banking.

Bybit has rolled out direct AED bank deposits and withdrawals in the UAE, opening a much simpler route for local users who want to move money between their bank accounts and the crypto exchange without jumping through hoops. It’s part of the company’s regional expansion under the UAE’s Capital Market Authority licensing framework, and it covers both the website and the mobile app.

In plain English, eligible users can now transfer dirhams straight from a UAE bank account into Bybit, and pull funds back the same way. Transfers are expected to land in real time, although the fine print says some may take up to five working days. Accounts need to match on both sides, which might feel like a bit of a faff, but it’s standard practice to keep everything compliant and avoid blocked payments.

I’ve spoken over the years with plenty of founders around the Arageek community who complain that getting on-ramps right is where good ideas often stumble. A local, regulated bank transfer option tends to be spot on for early users who just want things to work, well… I mean, without worrying whether a payment will disappear in limbo.

Bybit says the service is live through a partnership with a local banking provider and operates under the CMA framework. Derek Dai, regional head of MENA at Bybit, described direct AED deposits as a step towards making digital assets more accessible in the UAE, adding that the company is focused on regulatory compliance and trust in what is already a fast-moving crypto market.

That said, Bybit isn’t just flicking a switch and walking away. To encourage people to try the new on- and off-ramp, the exchange has set aside a reward pool of up to 750,000 AED, running until 28 February 2026. For a limited period, AED deposits through the local bank channel come with zero fees, which I reckon will catch the eye of cost-conscious traders.

New users registered under the CMA licence who complete level-one identity or business verification can earn rewards by making an initial 400 AED deposit, with bonuses that can reach 200 AED. There are extra incentives, too, for trading, buying crypto or referring others, pushing the total potential rewards beyond 300 AED.

On the flip side, this all arrives at a time when the UAE continues to position itself as one of the world’s more crypto-forward markets. Bybit often points to regional and global rankings to underline that momentum, and while rankings can be debatable, the direction of travel feels clear. If nothing else, smoother local banking is definately a move most users will be chuffed to bits about, you know?

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