Robinhood Applies for Dubai License to Expand into Middle East

The U.S.-based trading platform filed for a Dubai license to offer its retail brokerage services in the MENA region. The application would allow Robinhood to bring its stock and digital asset trading products to customers in the Gulf and wider Middle East.

Robinhood Markets Inc. made the formal application with Dubai authorities this month to obtain regulatory approval for the Dubai market and serve customers across MENA. The commission-free trading platform currently operates in the United States and select overseas markets.

Dubai has been developing licensing systems for financial and digital asset services. Robinhood aims to enter retail and digital asset markets in the Middle East, targeting rising investor interest in equities and cryptocurrencies. Other fintech firms have also sought a presence in the region.

The application comes as Gulf financial centers work to attract global fintech and crypto firms through clearer regulation and licensing pathways. A Dubai license would allow Robinhood to localize its services, comply with regional regulatory requirements and reach retail investors across the Gulf Cooperation Council and neighboring countries.

Robinhood launched in the U.S. and later expanded into select international markets. The company’s app offers commission-free trading in stocks, ETFs and, in some jurisdictions, cryptocurrencies.

Dubai and the UAE have been competing to become a regional center for fintech and digital asset services. They have introduced licensing frameworks and incentives to attract global platforms and institutional capital.

Regulatory approval in Dubai would mark an important milestone for Robinhood’s international expansion plans. The company would join other global financial firms that have established operations in the UAE to serve the broader MENA market.

The Dubai International Financial Centre and other UAE regulatory bodies have created frameworks specifically designed to accommodate digital asset trading platforms and related financial services. These regulatory developments have attracted numerous international firms to establish regional headquarters in Dubai.