Regulatory Approval Opens Door to Regional Expansion

Robinhood Markets has received authorization from the Dubai Financial Services Authority to offer retail trading and custody services across 10 asset classes, including bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, equities, exchange-traded funds, and investment tokens. The approval enables the company to deliver direct custody of client digital assets from the outset, a development that marks progress in its global cryptocurrency offerings. The firm has selected the Dubai International Financial Centre as its Middle East and North Africa headquarters and plans to launch operations there in 2027.

Leadership Appointments and Strategic Context

Salah Kaddoura has been named senior executive officer and president of Robinhood MENA. Under the regulations of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, this position makes him the designated point of contact for local regulators and the lead for assembling the local team ahead of the rollout. The choice of the DIFC, a special economic zone known for attracting international firms, reflects broader efforts to strengthen Dubai’s position as a financial center despite ongoing regional geopolitical tensions.

Vlad Tenev, chairman and CEO of Robinhood, stated in a company announcement: “The DIFC is one of the world’s most important financial hubs, and our expansion there brings us closer to building a global platform that enables anyone, anywhere to own the highest quality financial assets.”

Broader International Growth and Recent Developments

Robinhood’s move into Dubai follows a series of expansions beyond the United States. The platform entered the United Kingdom in 2024, launched full operations across the European Union in 2025, secured in-principle approval for brokerage services in Singapore in April, and completed the acquisition of Canadian crypto platform WonderFi in June. Within the US market, Robinhood introduced weekend trading and perpetual futures contracts and now serves more than one million customers outside the country.

Johann Kerbrat, general manager for crypto and international business at Robinhood, described the Dubai initiative as a response to rising retail investor interest in the region. Earlier this month, Kerbrat disclosed that Robinhood had placed $25 million of bitcoin on its corporate balance sheet—the first time the firm held bitcoin as a principal asset rather than solely on behalf of customers.

Dubai’s Financial Hub Attracts Global Firms

Dubai continues to expand its role as a global financial center. The DIFC has surpassed 10,000 active registered firms this year and has drawn major international names, including Citadel, Deutsche Bank, and Moody’s. In October, the center opened additional commercial space with 600,000 square feet of new towers, further underscoring its growth trajectory.

Robinhood will face established competition in the DIFC, where 72 brokerages held authorizations as of March 31. Several crypto-focused exchanges also operate under separate licenses from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. Details on initial countries served, pricing structure, and eligibility criteria for investors have not yet been announced and will shape the platform’s addressable market.