Kraken Lands Full Dubai Licence: Dirham Trading Goes Live for UAE Crypto Investors

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry a high degree of risk. Always conduct your own research.Kraken has won full VARA approval in Dubai, clearing the way for dirham trading, margin, staking and tokenized stocks. Here is what UAE traders get.Categories: Regulation & PoliticsKraken is officially in Dubai. Kraken’s parent Payward received Full Market Approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) on Monday, and the exchange plans to start serving clients in the UAE in the coming weeks. The approval follows the preliminary approval Payward received in May.What does the Kraken Dubai licence cover?VARA issued Payward FZCO VASP licence VL/26/10/002 on October 6, 2026, listed as active and permitting the entity to serve institutional, qualified and retail investors. That retail clause is the important part: Kraken can now market its platform directly to Dubai’s retail traders.On the product side, Kraken plans AED-denominated spot and margin trading, staking, and tokenized equities for UAE clients, with direct deposit and withdrawal capabilities launching i...