Robinhood announced it has obtained authorisation from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) as its regional headquarters for the Middle East. It plans to launch investment products for local retail investors in 2027. The licence covers all ten categories of approved asset trading and custody services regulated by DFSA, including stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs and investment tokens. Salah Kaddoura, senior executive and regional president, will lead Robinhood’s MENA business. Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said the expansion marks a key step toward building a global investment platform. Johann Kerbrat, Head of Robinhood Crypto and International Business, added that the firm aims to better serve retail investors across the MENA region. The relevant products are not live yet and are scheduled for launch in 2027.