Market AccessData
Robinhood secures DFSA approval for 2027 Dubai platform launch
US trading platform receives Dubai Financial Services Authority licence to offer equities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs and investment tokens from DIFC base.
Robinhood Markets received Dubai Financial Services Authority approval on 22 October 2026 to establish its regional headquarters at Dubai International Financial Centre and launch trading and custody services in 2027. The licence covers all ten asset classes the DFSA permits, including equities, cryptocurrencies, exchange-traded funds and investment tokens.
Asset classes and service scope#
The DFSA approval permits Robinhood to offer trading and custody across the full range of asset classes the regulator authorises. The platform will provide access to equities, cryptocurrencies, exchange-traded funds and investment tokens when operations begin in 2027. Robinhood stated the expansion will give regional investors access to a wider range of global financial assets through its platform.
Regional operations structure#
Salah Kaddoura will serve as senior executive officer and president of Robinhood Mena, overseeing the regional team expansion from the DIFC base. The company plans to build its Middle East presence from Dubai and provide access to the global financial ecosystem for regional investors. Robinhood stated the expansion is driven by demographics, innovation and strategic regulation in the region.
DIFC company registrations#
DIFC registered 2,318 new companies in the twelve months to end-June 2026, a 30 percent annual increase, according to figures the regulator published in July 2026. Global firms that established regional offices at DIFC in the first half of 2026 included Allianz Trade Middle East, Arrowpoint Investment Partners, Bank of Canada, Blue Mountain Capital, Citadel, Gordian Capital, ICICI Prudential Asset Management, JP Morgan International Advisors and Varenne Capital Partners.
Platform launch timeline#
Robinhood targets 2027 for the start of product offerings in the region from its DIFC headquarters. The company received the DFSA licence in October 2026 and will use the intervening period to build the regional team and prepare the platform for launch. The approval covers trading and custody services across the ten asset classes the DFSA permits for the Dubai market.
Sources2 sources across 2 domains
- thenationalnews.comThe NationalDFSA approval date, asset classes covered, 2027 launch target, Salah Kaddoura appointment, DIFC company registration figures
- arabianbusiness.comArabian BusinessDFSA approval for 2027 launch, asset classes including equities, crypto, ETFs and investment tokens
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