Robinhood wins Dubai Financial Services Authority approval to bring crypto and stock trading to the Middle East in 2027

Robinhood has received approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority to offer crypto, shares, ETFs and investment tokens to retail clients in the Middle East, with a regional launch targeted for 2027.

The licence covers Robinhood MENA Limited and will anchor a new regional headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Centre, though no launch date, supported coins or customer eligibility rules have been announced.

DFSA license covers crypto and traditional investments

Robinhood MENA Limited appears on the DFSA’s public register under reference F012264, with its license dated July 20, 2026, according to the report by FinanceFeeds.

The authorization covers arranging deals in investments and custody services for retail clients across a range of financial instruments. These include shares, futures, options, investment tokens and crypto tokens, alongside other regulated securities and derivatives.

The breadth of the DFSA license is significant because it gives Robinhood a framework for offering services connected to both conventional financial markets and digital assets. Rather than entering the region solely as a cryptocurrency trading platform, the company is positioning itself to serve investors interested in several asset classes through one service.

Robinhood targets Middle East investors with a 2027 launch

The company plans to establish its regional headquarters in the DIFC, one of Dubai’s major international financial centres. Salah Kaddoura, appointed senior executive officer and president of Robinhood MENA, will lead local operations and oversee the development of the business.

Johann Kerbrat, Robinhood’s senior vice president and general manager of Crypto and International, identified demand for accessible investment services across the Middle East and North Africa as part of the company’s rationale for expanding into the region.

The company has not specified whether the first phase of its launch will cover the entire Middle East and North Africa region or focus on selected markets. Individual countries maintain their own regulatory requirements, meaning access to the platform and its products may vary by jurisdiction.

Dubai offers Robinhood a base in a financial centre that has attracted international brokerages, investment firms and digital-asset businesses. The city’s position as a regional business hub could help the company develop relationships with investors and expand its reach beyond its existing markets.

DFSA license supports Robinhood’s wider international expansion

Robinhood’s move into Dubai follows a broader effort to expand its presence outside the United States. The brokerage has developed cryptocurrency services in Europe and pursued acquisitions intended to strengthen its position in digital assets and financial technology.

In June 2026, Robinhood completed its acquisition of Canadian cryptocurrency platform WonderFi, gaining exposure to the Bitbuy and Coinsquare exchanges. The company also selected Singapore as its Asia-Pacific headquarters earlier in 2026, establishing another regional base for its international operations.

The Dubai expansion extends this approach by placing the company in a market where traditional financial services and digital-asset businesses operate alongside one another. The DFSA license could help Robinhood develop a regional offering that combines securities trading, cryptocurrency access and custody under its authorized business structure.

The opportunity comes with competition. International brokerage firms and cryptocurrency exchanges already serve customers in the region, and Robinhood will need to demonstrate that its product range, pricing and user experience can attract investors from established providers.

FinanceFeeds, citing industry data from Finance Magnates, reported that the DIFC had 72 authorized brokerage firms as of March 31, 2026, compared with 49 in 2022. The increase illustrates the centre’s expanding brokerage sector, although it does not establish how much market share Robinhood could capture.

The DFSA license also does not remove the need to comply with other applicable rules where Robinhood seeks to serve customers outside the DIFC. Its ability to reach investors across the Middle East will depend on the regulatory arrangements governing each target market.