Robinhood Wins Dubai License to Launch Bitcoin Trading in 2027

Dubai license — Robinhood Markets has secured a license from Dubai’s financial regulator to offer retail trading and custody services for bitcoin and other assets in the Middle East and North Africa, with a planned launch in 2027.

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) authorized the firm to operate from the Dubai International Financial Centre, which will serve as its regional headquarters. The license covers ten asset classes, including cryptocurrencies, equities, and ETFs, and permits Robinhood to hold client digital assets in custody.

Robinhood’s chairman and CEO, Vlad Tenev, stated the expansion brings the company closer to its goal of building a global platform for asset ownership. The firm has appointed Salah Kaddoura as the senior executive officer for its MENA operations, the DFSA-recognized regulatory contact for the new entity.

The move extends Robinhood’s international push beyond its recent entries into the UK, EU, and Singapore. The company will enter a competitive Dubai market, where dozens of brokerages and several licensed crypto exchanges already operate, though specific launch countries and investor eligibility criteria have not yet been disclosed.