Flowdesk Wins VARA License to Offer Regulated Crypto Services in Dubai

Flowdesk's Dubai arm, Flowdesk Omega FZE, has secured a full broker-dealer license from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This authorization comes roughly two months after the subsidiary received in-principle approval. The license allows Flowdesk Omega to provide regulated digital asset services to qualified and institutional investors operating in and from Dubai.

The VARA license is significant for Flowdesk, which has built its reputation as a liquidity provider specializing in institutional over-the-counter trading and market-making services. With this new license, Flowdesk extends its franchise into one of the world's fastest-growing crypto regulatory environments.

Dubai now houses over half of the licensed virtual asset service providers in the UAE, making it an attractive location for digital asset firms. Flowdesk Europe also received a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) status under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, effective June 30.

The company raised $102 million in a financing round in early 2025, with capital earmarked partly for building out its UAE presence. Flowdesk co-founder and CEO Guilhem Chaumont has described these licenses as crucial milestones in the firm's commitment to compliance-focused expansion.