Bahrain-Based ARP Digital Secures Dubai Regulatory Approval for Crypto Trading Services
Institutional digital asset provider ARP Digital has obtained a broker-dealer license from Dubai's virtual asset regulator, enabling regulated conversions between cryptocurrencies and the UAE dirham.
Expansion Into Dubai’s Regulated Market
ARP Digital, a Bahrain-based institutional digital asset infrastructure firm, has obtained a broker-dealer license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, according to the company. The approval permits the firm to provide regulated digital asset and stablecoin conversion services into UAE dirhams for qualified investors and institutions operating in the emirate.
This marks ARP Digital’s entry into its second regulated Gulf market, complementing its existing presence in Bahrain where it holds a license from the Central Bank of Bahrain. The Dubai authorization allows the company to serve UAE-based corporates, capital markets participants, and qualified investors while facilitating conversions between stablecoins and local currency, as well as helping institutions establish regulated pathways for converting digital asset capital for deployment into domestic UAE assets.
Proven Track Record With Institutional Clients
ARP Digital has demonstrated significant traction in the institutional crypto space, having processed more than $3.5 billion in transaction volume across its Bahrain operations, according to the company. The firm counts over 450 institutional and corporate counterparties, and achieved fourfold year-over-year growth during 2025, indicating strong demand for regulated institutional digital asset services in the Gulf region.
The company’s service offerings span over-the-counter liquidity provision, cross-border settlement infrastructure, fiat on- and off-ramp solutions, and wealth management services tailored to institutional clients seeking structured exposure to digital assets.
Dubai’s Expanding Digital Asset Sector
The approval of ARP Digital’s broker-dealer license reflects the continued expansion of Dubai’s regulated digital asset ecosystem. The Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, established in 2022 to oversee virtual asset provision and exchange within the emirate, recently issued its 50th virtual asset service provider license in July, signaling accelerating regulatory activity in the space.
On the same day as ARP Digital’s announcement, Flowdesk, a crypto market maker backed by Coinbase Ventures and BlackRock, also received a full VARA broker-dealer license, enabling the firm to serve qualified and institutional investors from Dubai. The growing number of licensed operators in Dubai suggests the emirate is positioning itself as a hub for institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure and services in the Middle East region.
Institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure in regulated markets accelerates crypto’s path toward mainstream adoption and integration into traditional financial systems.
Source: Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, via Cointelegraph. Not financial advice.