Key points
- Bitcoin cannot be paid into a bank account. You sell it for AED, then withdraw the dirhams.
- MKX's fee schedule lists 1.5% per sale, 0 to deposit Bitcoin (minimum 0.000007 BTC) and an AED withdrawal fee of 30 from AED 100, as read on 22 October 2026.
- The Bitcoin network sets how long your deposit takes to confirm. MKX publishes no time for AED payouts.
- The price you receive is the one on the trade execution screen when you confirm, not the first indicative price.
- Keep the transaction hash and trade confirmation; a UAE bank may ask where the money came from.
The short answer
You sell Bitcoin for AED by depositing it to a licensed firm, selling it at the price shown on the trade screen and withdrawing the dirhams by bank transfer to a UAE account. A bank account has no blockchain address, so the sale and the payout are always separate steps with separate fees.
This page uses MKX as the worked example because its fees are published. MKX is a broker-dealer, not an order-book exchange, so you sell against the price it shows rather than waiting for another user to match you. If you have not bought Bitcoin before, the guide to buying Bitcoin with AED covers the first half of the journey.
What happens, step by step
- Verify your identity. MKX asks for an Emirates ID or passport and a liveness check, a camera prompt showing that a real person is present.
- Deposit the Bitcoin. Copy the Bitcoin deposit address from your account and send from your own wallet. The fee schedule lists the network as Bitcoin, a deposit fee of 0 and a minimum of 0.000007 BTC. Consider a small test amount first if the sum is large, because a transfer to a wrong address cannot be recalled.
- Wait for confirmation. The Bitcoin network must confirm the deposit before you can sell. How long that takes depends on the network, not on MKX.
- Sell for AED. The final price and the 1.5% fee appear on the trade execution screen before you confirm. The dirhams land in your AED balance.
- Withdraw the AED. Request a bank transfer to a UAE account in your name. The minimum is AED 100.
The same steps for any asset are set out in the guide to cashing out crypto to a UAE bank account. Timing is covered in how long an AED order takes.
What it costs
| Item | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin deposit | Fee of 0, minimum 0.000007 BTC, Bitcoin network |
| Trading fee on a sale | 1.5% |
| AED bank withdrawal | Fee of 30 (currency not named), minimum AED 100 |
| Spread | Not published |
| Order size limits | Not published |
As an illustration of the arithmetic only, a sale worth AED 2,000 at a 1.5% fee costs AED 30 in trading fees. If the withdrawal fee of 30 is read as AED 30, a payout near the AED 100 minimum would lose a large share of its value, so one larger withdrawal is usually cheaper than several small ones. Your bank may also charge for receiving a transfer; that charge is the bank's, not MKX's. The fees page carries the full schedule.
The price you receive
The first price you see is indicative, not a quotation. Bitcoin can move within hours, as the MKX risk disclosure says, so the AED you receive depends on the price at the moment you confirm. Because MKX does not publish a spread, the quoted price is the second number to check after the fee. Once you have confirmed a sale the price is fixed; waiting before you sell exposes you to price movement in either direction. This is not a view on where the price will go.
What your bank may ask
UAE banks apply their own checks to incoming credits, and a transfer from a virtual asset firm can prompt questions about the source of funds. Be ready to show the trade confirmation, the deposit's transaction hash, which you can follow on a public block explorer, and records of how you first obtained the Bitcoin. Withdraw to an account in your own name, since MKX has not published whether a differently named recipient is accepted. Ask support or check the FAQ before you send, not after.
Dirhams held for clients sit in a Client Money Account with a regulated financial institution licensed in the UAE. The security page sets out what MKX publishes on custody and what it does not.
Larger sales
For a very large sale, a screen price may not suit, and some holders look at an OTC desk in the UAE, where a price is agreed for the whole amount. IWGT is an independent firm with no affiliation to MKX, and the guide linked is about USDT rather than Bitcoin, so treat it as background on the approach. Whichever route you use, check the firm's licence, the written price and the payment terms before you send any Bitcoin. The comparison of cash-out routes sets licensed firms beside P2P and OTC options, and whether crypto is legal in Dubai explains how to read a VARA register entry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell Bitcoin for AED without a bank transfer?
Not through MKX's published route. The payout is a bank transfer to a UAE account. Bitcoin is first sold for AED inside your MKX account, then the dirhams are withdrawn. Cash and card payouts are not described on MKX's pages.
What does it cost to sell Bitcoin for AED at MKX?
MKX's fee schedule lists a 1.5% trading fee on a crypto-to-AED sale, 0 to deposit Bitcoin, and an AED withdrawal fee of 30 with an AED 100 minimum. The schedule names no currency for the 30. A spread is not published, so check the quoted price as well.
Is there a minimum amount of Bitcoin I can deposit to sell?
The fee schedule lists a minimum Bitcoin deposit of 0.000007 BTC on the Bitcoin network. It publishes no minimum or maximum order size, so the trade screen shows what is accepted. The AED payout minimum of AED 100 still applies.
How long does it take to receive AED after selling Bitcoin?
MKX publishes no processing time for AED withdrawals. Your bank's handling of the incoming credit comes on top, and the Bitcoin deposit must also be confirmed on the blockchain first. Keep the bank's reference to trace a late payment.
Do I pay tax when I sell Bitcoin in the UAE?
This page cannot say. MKX does not publish tax guidance, and tax treatment depends on your circumstances. Ask a qualified adviser and check current guidance from the UAE Federal Tax Authority. Keep your trade confirmations and records either way.
Is selling Bitcoin through MKX legal in the UAE?
MKX is licensed by VARA for Broker-Dealer Services (reference VL/25/04/001). A licence covers that regulated activity only and is not a guarantee of any outcome. The guide to whether crypto is legal in Dubai explains how to check a register entry.
Sources
Each MKX page was read on the date shown. Where a figure is not on those pages it is described as not published, and none has been assumed. No tax authority page was read for this guide.
- MKX, Fees: https://mkxotc.com/fees/ (accessed 22 October 2026)
- MKX, FAQ: https://mkxotc.com/faq/ (accessed 22 October 2026)
- MKX, Buy Bitcoin: https://mkxotc.com/buy-bitcoin/ (accessed 22 October 2026)
- MKX, Security: https://mkxotc.com/security/ (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), register entry for MKX Virtual Assets Broker & Dealer Services L.L.C.: https://www.vara.ae/en/licenses-and-register/public-register/mkx-virtual-assets-broker-dealer-services-llc/ (not re-read on 22 October 2026; licence reference as stated in the MKX footer)
For information only, not investment advice, legal advice or tax advice. Capital is at risk. Providers' terms change, so confirm current limits, fees and timings with the firm before you act.