Revolut Secures Full Regulatory Approval to Launch in the UAE

Global fintech giant Revolut has cleared the final regulatory hurdle needed to operate in the United Arab Emirates, picking up both a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) licence and a Retail Payment Services (Category II) licence from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).

From In-Principle to Full Approval

The newly granted licences build on the in-principle approval the company received from the CBUAE back in September 2025, effectively closing out Revolut’s formal licensing journey in the country. For a fintech with more than 75 million customers worldwide, the UAE represents one of the more strategically important markets in its ongoing Middle East push.

Since clearing that initial approval stage, Revolut has been quietly laying the groundwork — growing its local team and pouring resources into the infrastructure, governance frameworks, and operational capabilities needed to run a regulated financial business in the Emirates over the long term.

Officials Welcome the Move

The approval drew praise from UAE officials eager to highlight the country’s growing reputation as a fintech hub. H.E. Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Investment, pointed to the strength of the regulatory environment as a key reason international firms keep choosing the UAE, framing Revolut’s licence as another vote of confidence in the country’s knowledge-based economy.

On Revolut’s side, Ambareen Musa, the company’s GCC CEO, called the licensing milestone a pivotal moment, noting the UAE’s reputation as a forward-thinking market with a strong emphasis on financial innovation and inclusion. Musa added that the company sees real opportunity to support the UAE’s digital economy by giving consumers more flexibility and control over their finances.

What Comes Next

With the regulatory paperwork sorted, Revolut’s attention now shifts to building out its actual product offering ahead of a full commercial launch in the UAE. That means continued investment in technology, operations, and localisation to make sure the app fits the needs of UAE customers — all while staying compliant with local rules.

Once it goes live, the UAE version of Revolut will give users the same global toolkit the app is known for elsewhere: multi-currency accounts, physical and virtual cards, and both domestic and international money transfers, all from a single app. Given the UAE’s famously international population — a mix of expats and residents constantly moving money across borders — that kind of all-in-one currency management could find a receptive audience.

The UAE launch adds to a busy stretch for Revolut globally, with the company also recently confirming Paris as its Western Europe headquarters and moving toward formal bank incorporation in Peru.



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