US trading platform Robinhood has been granted a licence by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and will establish its regional headquarters at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The licence permits the company to offer ten DFSA-approved asset classes in the region, including equities, cryptocurrencies, exchange-traded funds and investment tokens. full commercial launch is planned for 2027, though specific product dates, pricing and the individual MENA markets to be served have not yet been disclosed, pending further regulatory and market requirements.
Vlad Tenev, Robinhood's Chairman and CEO, said: "The DIFC is one of the world's most important financial hubs, and our expansion there brings us closer to building a global platform." Johann Kerbrat, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Robinhood Crypto and International, called DIFC "one of the world's most dynamic centers for financial innovation." Salah Kaddoura has been named Senior Executive Officer and President of Robinhood MENA, leading regional operations from Dubai.
DIFC Authority CEO Arif Amiri said Robinhood's decision to anchor its regional headquarters in DIFC "reinforces Dubai's position as a global hub" for financial services.
The move follows a wider pattern of international fintech and trading platforms choosing DIFC as their regional base, drawn by the DFSA's regulatory framework and Dubai's geographic position connecting global markets.