This page is for information purposes only. Certain services and features may not be available in your jurisdiction.

We've launched the first regional regulated retail derivatives pilot offering in the UAE

We're pleased to announce that we've launched our regulated retail derivatives products offering, making us the first global exchange to offer retail futures, perpetual contracts, and options within a regulated VARA pilot framework in the UAE.

The launch comes as we continue to see strong momentum in the UAE. The newly introduced regulated crypto retail derivatives offering provides customers with enhanced flexibility and a broader range of trading strategies across different market conditions, marking the first time such crypto derivatives have been made accessible to retail investors in the UAE under a regulated structure.

Whether navigating volatility or seeking to hedge existing positions, customers can now access futures contracts, perpetual contracts, and options with up to 5x leverage, in accordance with local regulatory guidelines. These tools, which have been asked for by our customer base in the UAE, empower retail traders to respond more effectively to market trends, manage risk with greater precision, and tailor their strategies to both bullish and bearish environments, all within a secure, compliant, and high-performance trading environment.

This expansion highlights the UAE’s growing reputation as one of the most forward-looking jurisdictions for digital asset regulation. With Dubai and Abu Dhabi emerging as regional crypto hubs, the country continues to attract global players thanks to its regulatory clarity, supportive infrastructure, and emphasis on innovation.

Since establishing our presence in the UAE, we have actively collaborated with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority [VARA] and other stakeholders to shape frameworks that support innovation while upholding market integrity and transparency.

As part of our broader regional strategy, we have invested in local hiring, Arabic-language customer support, educational initiatives, and partnerships with Web3 startups and institutions. The derivatives offering will be accompanied by user education tools and risk management features to promote informed, responsible trading.

The launch builds on our rapid growth in the region following our receipt of a Virtual Asset Service Provider [VASP] license from VARA in 2024. We continue to prioritize security, accessibility, and compliance as we expand our role in shaping the Middle East’s evolving digital asset landscape.

Disclaimer
This content is provided for informational purposes only and may cover products that are not available in your region. It is not intended to provide (i) investment advice or an investment recommendation; (ii) an offer or solicitation to buy, sell, or hold crypto/digital assets, or (iii) financial, accounting, legal, or tax advice. Crypto/digital asset holdings, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk and can fluctuate greatly. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding crypto/digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances. Information (including market data and statistical information, if any) appearing in this post is for general information purposes only. While all reasonable care has been taken in preparing this data and graphs, no responsibility or liability is accepted for any errors of fact or omission expressed herein.

Digital Assets subject to volatility and not insured. Not financial/investment advice. Not all products and services offered in all regions. Exclusions and T&Cs apply.

© 2026 OKX. This article may be reproduced or distributed in its entirety, or excerpts of 100 words or less of this article may be used, provided such use is non-commercial. Any reproduction or distribution of the entire article must also prominently state: “This article is © 2026 OKX and is used with permission.” Permitted excerpts must cite to the name of the article and include attribution, for example “Article Name, [author name if applicable], © 2026 OKX.” Some content may be generated or assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) tools. No derivative works or other uses of this article are permitted.

Related articles

View more
image-2-compressed

OKX Is Now Available in Texas

Texas, we're live. As of September 2026, eligible Texas residents and institutions can join OKX and access available crypto trading products through o
Sep 29, 2026
OKX-Talos-under-300kb

OKX Options Are Now Available on Talos

We’re pleased to announce that OKX options markets are now available on Talos, giving institutional trading desks access to a second options venue thr
Sep 28, 2026
Proof of Reserves 20

Our 24th Monthly Proof of Reserves Showcases USD 20.3 Billion in Primary Assets, Marking Two-Year Milestone

This latest report marks the two-year anniversary of our PoR program, setting us apart as one of the few exchanges that consistently publishes PoR rep
Sep 28, 2026
OKX Proof of Reserves

Our 47th Proof of Reserves: USD27.4 billion in primary assets backing customer funds

We've just published our 47th Proof of Reserves (PoR) report, demonstrating USD27.4 billion in primary assets backing customer funds. This month's
Sep 28, 2026
RWA 4 Thumbnail

Access Before the Listing

OKX offers Pre-IPO X-Perps on the two hottest private companies in the world: Anthropic and OpenAI, now live for EEA users. Privately valued at USD 96
Sep 25, 2026
OKX Shield

Setting a new standard for crypto account security

By Erald Ghoos, CEO of OKX Europe Today, we launch OKX Shield in Europe: up to €500,000 in account protection, with no subscription or activation fee.
Sep 22, 2026
View more