DriversRecommendedOutdated drivers can make a good PC feel brokenScan driver issues before chasing fixes manually.Scan NowHalloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
World desk3 min

Kraken Parent Gets Dubai’s Final Approval; UAE Dirham Trading Is Still Pending

Payward says it has cleared VARA’s final licensing stage in Dubai, but Kraken has not announced a UAE launch date. Planned features include AED spot and margin markets and direct dirham funding.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Payward, Kraken’s parent company, says Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has granted it Full Market Approval, the final stage of the licensing process described by the company. Kraken’s UAE service has not been given a specific launch date: Payward says it is targeting the coming weeks. The planned service includes AED-denominated spot and margin trading, with direct dirham deposits and withdrawals.

What Payward’s approval means

In an announcement dated October 12, 2026, Payward said it received Full Market Approval from VARA and is authorized to commence regulated activity in Dubai. Payward describes this as the final stage of VARA’s licensing process. The approval and its scope are reported here as Payward’s statements; the precise license reference and activity-specific conditions have not been independently confirmed against VARA’s register.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Payward says a preliminary approval in May 2026 allowed it to complete operational setup before onboarding clients. Its earlier announcement described a locally regulated Payward subsidiary and said UAE clients would connect to Kraken’s global order books, subject to VARA requirements and retail-access rules. Kraken’s May 21, 2026 announcement provides that background; the October announcement is the company’s latest status update.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

When Kraken says it will launch in the UAE

Payward is targeting a launch in “the coming weeks,” but has not announced a calendar date. That makes the service forthcoming, not confirmed as available. Check Kraken’s current UAE service information before trying to open or fund an account, since the announcement does not establish when onboarding will begin or which customers will be eligible.

#1 Best Overall
Ledger Nano X - Classic Crypto Wallet with Bluetooth | Compact, go anywhere, 1.1" display. Desktop & iOS/Android compatible
  • Effortlessly build your crypto portfolio via the all in one Ledger Wallet app: buy, sell, send, receive, swap, stake and more across popular blockchains. 15,000+ coins & tokens in a single dashboard. Keep a close eye on the market. Compare service providers. Track performance. Get timely alerts. Build your portfolio with confidence.
  • Enjoy Bluetooth connectivity, iOS access, and hours of battery use with this mobile-first, secure backup signer. Freedom you can depend on.
  • Genuine Check: confirm your signer is authentic during setup with the Ledger Wallet app.
  • Protect your signer: keep it in mint condition at all times with a bespoke Pod or Case to avoid scratches and everyday wear and tear.

What the planned UAE service includes

Payward’s October 12 announcement lists the following planned offerings. These are launch plans, not confirmation that each feature is currently live.

Offering What Payward says is planned
AED trading Spot and margin trading using AED-denominated pairs; the announcement does not name the individual pairs.
Dirham funding Direct account funding and withdrawals in AED.
Additional client features On-chain staking, xStocks and Krak transfers.
Institutional services OTC spot trading and Kraken Prime for institutional clients.

The announcement does not specify bank partners, payment methods, fees, margin limits, retail eligibility, or which assets will be offered. It also does not say whether every listed feature will be available to every UAE client at launch.

Rank #2
Sale
TANGEM Crypto Wallet Pack of 3 – Trusted Cold Storage Hardware Wallet | 100% offline; Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs & altcoins; No seed phrase; NFC; Pack of 3, Self custody wallet
  • Proven security at scale: Over 9 years and millions of cards issued with no known remote hacks, while military‑grade EAL6+ security keeps your private keys locked inside the chip. Your cryptocurrencies stay strongly protected from online attackers.
  • Tap once to manage your entire crypto wallet across 90 blockchains - no USB cables or Bluetooth, no batteries, no setup. Access 14,100+ coins & tokens, DeFi, NFTs, and staking instantly from your phone
  • Smart backup: Use your second Tangem Wallet as your Backup keys with end‑to‑end encryption; no more papers, pictures. If one card is lost, the remaining can still restore full access, with an optional seed phrase available for advanced users.
  • Engineered to last up to 25 years: Waterproof (IP69K), shockproof and tested for extreme temperatures from −25°C to 50°C. A durable cold wallet with long‑term protection and independently audited security.
  • Trusted by 6 million users worldwide (4.9 App Store, 4.8 Google Play) - buy, sell, swap, stake, and spend cryptocurrency directly. The secure offline storage wallet designed for how people actually use crypto wallets

Which AED trading pairs will be available?

Payward says the service will include AED-denominated pairs, but its October announcement does not identify the currencies or tokens in those pairs. A list of specific markets cannot be confirmed from the announcement. Check Kraken’s live market listings once UAE service is available rather than assuming that pairs offered in another country will also be offered in the UAE.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What may arrive later

Payward says crypto derivatives and an expanded range of yield opportunities may follow later in 2026 and into 2027, subject to regulatory approval. These are possible future additions, not products the announcement says are approved or available now.

Rank #3
TANGEM Crypto Wallet Pack of 2 – Trusted Cold Storage Hardware Wallet | 100% offline; Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs & altcoins; No seed phrase; NFC, Self custody wallet
  • Proven security at scale: Over 9 years and millions of cards issued with no known remote hacks, while military‑grade EAL6+ security keeps your private keys locked inside the chip. Your cryptocurrencies stay strongly protected from online attackers.
  • Tap once to manage your entire crypto wallet across 90 blockchains - no USB cables or Bluetooth, no batteries, no setup. Access 14,100+ coins & tokens, DeFi, NFTs, and staking instantly from your phone
  • Smart backup: Use your second Tangem Wallet as your Backup keys with end‑to‑end encryption; no more papers, pictures. If one card is lost, the remaining can still restore full access, with an optional seed phrase available for advanced users.
  • Engineered to last up to 25 years: Waterproof (IP69K), shockproof and tested for extreme temperatures from −25°C to 50°C. A durable cold wallet with long‑term protection and independently audited security.
  • Trusted by 6 million users worldwide - buy, sell, swap, stake, and spend cryptocurrency directly. The secure offline storage wallet designed for how people actually use crypto wallets

What to verify before using the service

  • Confirm that UAE account onboarding is open and that the particular feature you want is enabled.
  • Check the current list of AED markets, plus the terms for deposits, withdrawals and margin trading.
  • Review eligibility and product restrictions that apply to your account; the announcement does not set out retail-access rules or detailed service conditions.
  • For regulatory confirmation, consult VARA’s current public register. Payward’s announcement is the source for the approval claims summarized here, and the register was not independently checked for this report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Payward’s wider claims

Payward says it holds more than 100 licenses and registrations worldwide. That is a company-reported figure, not an independently verified count. In the October announcement, Payward and Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi said UAE clients would get the company’s “same order book and multi-asset coverage” under what he called one of the clearest regulatory frameworks in the world. Those are company and executive characterizations, not independent measures of market coverage or regulatory quality.

Best Value
Trezor Safe 7 Crypto Hardware Wallet with Bluetooth for Android/iOS/Desktop | Charcoal Black, Aluminum Unibody, 2,5" TouchScreen, Wireless Charging, Quantum-Ready, IP54, Long-Lasting LiFePO? Battery
  • Dual-chip architecture for maximum protection: The next-gen, fully auditable TROPIC01 chip works alongside a certified EAL6+ Secure Element—completely NDA-free—to deliver radically transparent, industry-leading defense against physical attacks.
  • Quantum-ready security: Get protection against future threats with the first-ever hardware wallet designed with quantum-ready architecture.
  • See every detail with confidence: Our largest high-resolution color touchscreen makes it easy to navigate your assets, review transactions and manage your coins with clarity.
  • Wireless freedom with encrypted Bluetooth control: Manage, buy, swap and stake securely using Trezor Suite on desktop or mobile. Qi2-compatible wireless charging keeps your Trezor powered up. No cables required—security meets convenience.
  • Works seamlessly with Android, iOS and desktop: Connect wirelessly or via USB-C to your phone or computer. Manage your crypto anywhere with our companion Trezor Suite app.
Rank #4
DCENT Hardware Wallet | Biometric Cold Storage, Bluetooth, Multi-Crypto
  • EAL5+ CERTIFIED SECURE ELEMENT + FINGERPRINT PROTECTION — Your private keys stay encrypted offline on a certified EAL5+ chip, the same security tier used in EMV bank cards. Built by DCENT, securing crypto since 2018. Fingerprint authentication adds a second layer no PIN-only wallet can match.
  • 10,000+ ASSETS NATIVE ON 100+ BLOCKCHAINS — Hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, popular stablecoins (USDT, USDC), and NFTs in one wallet. No third-party apps, no fragmented setup — every supported asset works straight out of the box.
  • TAP-TO-SIGN MOBILE EXPERIENCE — Pair your wallet with the DCENT mobile app over Bluetooth. Manage tokens, review transactions, and access in-app swap features directly from your phone — no cables, no desktop required.
  • WEB3 & dAPP ACCESS VIA METAMASK — Connect to MetaMask and other browser extension wallets to manage NFTs, claim airdrops, and access dApps. A large screen and intuitive 4-button interface keep every transaction clearly visible before you sign.
  • SEAMLESS FIRMWARE UPDATES & 30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE — Apply security updates without resetting your wallet or migrating funds. Backed by Amazon's 30-day money-back guarantee — your purchase is risk-free.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.