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Dubai | Robinhood wins DFSA approval, sets up MENA headquarters in DIFC for 2027 launch
Robinhood announced Oct. 22 it has received DFSA authorization to introduce its retail investing platform in the Middle East from the DIFC, covering 10 asset classes including equities, crypto, ETFs and investment tokens, with launch planned for 2027.
Why it matters
This is another key step in Robinhood's international expansion: after entering Singapore and Canada earlier this year, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) becomes its Middle East and North Africa headquarters. The DFSA authorization covers all 10 regulated asset classes, including equities, ETFs, crypto assets and tokenized securities — a sign Dubai is cementing itself as the gateway of choice for global fintechs entering the Middle East.
Full report
Robinhood announced on Oct. 22 that its subsidiary Robinhood MENA Limited has received authorization from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to introduce its retail investing platform in the Middle East from the DIFC. According to the DFSA public register, the licence was issued on July 20, 2026; Robinhood chose Oct. 22 to make it public.
Salah Kaddoura has been named senior executive officer and president of Robinhood MENA, responsible for building the local team from the Dubai office. Robinhood says the authorization covers access to trading and custody across all 10 DFSA-approved asset classes, including equities, crypto assets, ETFs and investment tokens.
There is no immediate launch: Robinhood plans to roll out its full product suite in 2027, with fees and eligible countries still to be announced. "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," said Vlad Tenev, chairman and CEO.
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