US trading platform Robinhood has secured a licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), clearing the way for it to launch retail investing services from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The authorisation covers trading and custody services across 10 DFSA-approved asset classes, including equities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs and investment tokens.
The company will base its regional headquarters in DIFC, with Salah Kaddoura appointed senior executive officer and president of Robinhood MENA to lead the Dubai operation and the company's wider expansion across the region. Robinhood says its regional launch is planned for 2027, though specific product timelines and pricing have not yet been disclosed.
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev 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."
The move is part of Robinhood's broader push into international markets after years of operating almost exclusively in the US, and reflects rising demand for digital investment platforms across the Middle East and North Africa. The company has not yet specified which individual markets in the region it will serve first.
The licence adds Robinhood to a growing list of international fintech platforms setting up shop in Dubai, a trend driven in large part by DIFC's investor-friendly regulatory framework, which has made the centre one of the region's preferred bases for financial technology companies looking to establish a regional presence.