KuCoin crypto exchange is unlicensed to operate in UAE
Dubai regulators concluded the platform is unlicensed and must cease offering or promoting any virtual asset services to residents. Until now, KuCoin was offering services to UAE residents without obtaining necessary regulatory approvals.
Dubai regulators booting unlicensed KuCoin is classic market maturation clears out the gray zone players funnels retail & institutional flow to compliant platforms and cements UAE as the serious global crypto hub.
It is interesting to see a big and old exchange like KuCoin coming into spotlight for the wrong reasons. We concurred they must be holding VARA license already and it is very weird to see they were operating in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other states of UAE without the approval of Dubai regulators.
KuCoin booted from #Dubai for not following local laws.
The Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) issues this alert in relation to the company Phoenixfin Pte Ltd, MEK Global Limited, Peken Global Limited, and #Kucoin Exchange EU Gmbh. pic.twitter.com/63MVM7gzqA
— Authority Capital (@emphatic) March 6, 2026
If you are a KuCoin user, immediately withdraw your funds to a different exchange like Binance that has VARA license or get them to a paper or software wallet like Trust, Coinomi and so on.