Robinhood plans to launch its Middle East retail-investing product suite in 2027, using the Dubai International Financial Centre as its regional headquarters. The 22 October announcement follows an earlier regulatory authorisation: the DFSA register dates Robinhood MENA Limited’s licence to 20 July 2026.[1][2]
What the authorisation establishes
| Item | Recorded position |
|---|---|
| Entity and reference | Robinhood MENA Limited — F012264Source 2 |
| Legal status | DIFC companySource 2 |
| Licence date | 20 July 2026Source 2 |
| Services | Arranging Deals in Investments; Arranging CustodySource 2 |
| Client endorsement | Authorised services with or for retail clientsSource 2 |
| Investment categories | Certificates, debentures, futures, options, shares, structured products, warrants, units, investment tokens and crypto tokensSource 2 |
The distinction between arranging and performing a service matters. The register establishes permission to arrange deals and custody; it does not, by itself, show that the Dubai entity executes transactions as principal or holds customers’ assets directly. Robinhood’s release describes future access to trading and custody across the ten categories, rather than an already-open regional account service.[1][2]
Pricing, the final product catalogue and the exact launch date were not specified in the announcement. Those terms will determine how the eventual local offer compares with Robinhood’s services in other jurisdictions.[1]
Sources & further reading
- Robinhood chooses DIFC as regional headquarters to drive Middle East expansion Robinhood · 22 Oct 2026 · Accessed 26 Oct 2026
- Robinhood MENA Limited — DFSA Public Register F012264 Dubai Financial Services Authority · Accessed 26 Oct 2026