Flowdesk, a MICA-licensed company, obtains VARA license to expand its operations in the UAE

cryptonews.ruPublished on 2026-08-10Last updated on 2026-08-10

Abstract

Dubai-based Flowdesk Omega FZE, a subsidiary of the French liquidity and cryptoasset trading tech firm Flowdesk (backed by BlackRock, Cathay Innovation, and Coinbase Ventures), has received a Virtual Assets Broker-Dealer license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This allows the company to offer crypto brokerage services to qualified institutional investors in and from Dubai. The license follows a provisional approval granted in June 2026. CEO Guilhem Chaumont stated that VARA has created one of the world's clearest regulatory frameworks and that this license enables Flowdesk to bring its rigorous approach to serving clients in the UAE, a key market for virtual assets. Flowdesk is now regulated in Dubai and Europe (registered with France's AMF under MiCA), with offices also in Singapore and the US. The license supports its expansion plans, which were backed by a $102 million funding round in March 2025. Dubai has become a major hub for regulated Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), hosting over half of the licensed VASPs in the UAE.

Flowdesk Omega FZE, a Dubai-based subsidiary of French liquidity provider and crypto asset trading technology firm Flowdesk—backed by BlackRock, Cathay Innovation, and Coinbase Ventures—has obtained a cryptocurrency broker-dealer license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).

According to the announcement, Flowdesk in the UAE will now be able to offer digital asset or cryptocurrency brokerage services to qualified institutional investors in and from Dubai, UAE.

This follows the in-principle approval received just two months ago, in June 2026.

Guilhem Chaumont, Co-founder and CEO of Flowdesk Group, noted that obtaining the license from Dubai's VARA is a milestone for the company.

He stated: "VARA has developed one of the world's clearest and most ambitious virtual asset regulatory frameworks, and this license allows us to apply the same rigorous approach to serving institutional and qualified clients in the region. The UAE has become a central hub for our own growth as one of the world's most important virtual asset markets. We are proud to now operate in Dubai as a fully regulated broker-dealer and look forward to continuing our partnership with VARA as the market evolves."

VARA Has Turned Dubai Into the UAE's Digital Finance Hub

In March 2025, Flowdesk raised $102 million in funding, noting at the time that the capital would be used to implement expansion plans and open offices in the UAE.

The company is now regulated not only in Dubai (UAE) but also in Europe, where it is a registered Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) with France's Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) under MiCA. The company also has offices in Singapore and the US.

Dubai (UAE) has become a major hub for regulated Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and holds over 50% of licensed VASPs in the UAE, followed by ADGM, the CMA (UAE's Securities and Commodities Authority), and DIFC.

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Flowdesk, a MICA-licensed company, obtains VARA license to expand its operations in the UAE

Abstract

VARA Has Turned Dubai Into the UAE's Digital Finance Hub

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