Flowdesk secures full broker-dealer license in Dubai, months after EU MiCA approval

Flowdesk Omega FZE, the Dubai arm of French digital asset firm Flowdesk, has been granted a full broker-dealer license by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). The authorization, issued on August 10, came roughly two months after the subsidiary received in-principle approval in June.

Just weeks earlier, Flowdesk Europe locked down its Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) status under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, effective June 30. Two major jurisdictions, two regulatory green lights, one summer.

What the license actually covers

The VARA broker-dealer license authorizes Flowdesk Omega to provide regulated digital asset services specifically to qualified and institutional investors operating in and from Dubai. Flowdesk has built its reputation as a liquidity provider specializing in institutional over-the-counter trading and market-making services, and the Dubai license extends that 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. Meanwhile, the MiCA authorization gives Flowdesk Europe the ability to passport its services across EU member states.

The money behind the move

Flowdesk raised $102 million in a financing round in early 2025, with capital earmarked partly for building out its UAE presence. The investor roster included BlackRock, Cathay Innovation, and Coinbase Ventures.

Flowdesk co-founder and CEO Guilhem Chaumont has described these licenses as crucial milestones in the firm’s commitment to compliance-focused expansion.

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