Bitpanda, the Austria-based digital asset platform, has secured a Broker-Dealer license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), signaling the company’s official entry into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market. This milestone marks Bitpanda’s first fully licensed expansion outside of Europe.
The newly granted license enables Bitpanda to offer its comprehensive digital asset services to investors across the UAE, providing access to more than 500 virtual assets, including crypto indices and automated savings plans. The platform’s entry into Dubai aligns with the emirate’s growing reputation as a global hub for digital finance, underpinned by VARA’s progressive regulatory framework and focus on investor protection.
To support its expansion, Bitpanda has established a permanent presence at the DMCC Crypto Centre in Dubai and assembled a regional team to customize its services for the local market. Onboarding for UAE-based investors is expected to begin in the coming months.
Deputy CEO Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad expressed confidence in the company’s approach, stating, “With our VARA licence, we are ensuring investors and financial institutions in the UAE have access to a fully compliant digital asset platform.”
General Counsel Fabian Reinisch praised VARA’s regulatory leadership and noted that the speed of the approval reflects Bitpanda’s decade-long track record in compliance and security. He added, “This license is a testament to our commitment to working with regulators and delivering trusted, secure investment solutions.”
Bitpanda’s expansion into the UAE follows its recent success in securing a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license from Germany’s BaFin in January, allowing it to operate under a unified regulatory regime across all 27 EU member states. The company also holds multiple other regulatory approvals, including UK FCA registration, a PSD2 E-money license, and a MiFID II license, reinforcing its regulatory-first approach.
With this strategic move, Bitpanda aims to match Dubai’s ambition of becoming a leading digital asset hub, offering secure and transparent access to virtual asset investing while setting new benchmarks for regulatory compliance in the region.
