Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, has received full regulatory approval in Dubai to begin offering cryptocurrency trading and related financial services in the United Arab Emirates.
The approval covers retail, professional and institutional customers. It follows preliminary clearance granted in May 2026 and clears the way for Payward to roll out a local offering tied into Kraken’s broader trading infrastructure and liquidity network.
Initial launch includes AED support and trading access
The first phase of the UAE launch will include direct support for the UAE dirham. Eligible Kraken customers in the country will be able to deposit funds and withdraw balances in AED, giving the platform a local fiat on-ramp and off-ramp.
Payward said the initial product set will also include spot and margin trading. UAE users will connect to the same order book used in Kraken’s other markets, rather than a separate local pool of liquidity.
Institutional services and added products
For institutional clients, the rollout includes over-the-counter execution through Kraken and its Prime platform. The company also plans to offer on-chain staking and tokenized equities through xStocks as part of the initial package.
According to the company, additional products are planned after launch. These include crypto derivatives and more yield products, though those services are expected later in 2026 and 2027 and remain subject to further regulatory approvals.
Dubai approval expands Payward’s global footprint
The new authorization gives Payward full approval in Dubai for its UAE market entry after receiving preliminary clearance earlier this year. The company said it now holds more than 100 licenses and registrations globally.
The approval marks a formal step in Kraken’s expansion in the region, with Dubai serving as the regulatory base for the UAE rollout.
What comes next
Payward’s next confirmed step is the launch of services for UAE customers across retail, professional and institutional segments using the approved product set. Any expansion beyond the initial offering, particularly into derivatives and additional yield products, will depend on obtaining further approvals in the periods the company outlined for 2026 and 2027.
Source: crypto.news