Dubai allows crypto businesses to set up in free zone

The Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC) signed the initial agreement with the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 20 March 2021
Follow

Dubai allows crypto businesses to set up in free zone

  • The move comes as Dubai takes a keen interest in blockchain technology

DUBAI: An economic free zone in Dubai has opened for businesses that are offering, issuing, listing and trading crypto assets.

The Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC) signed the initial agreement with the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) to allow licensing for firms that deal with crypto assets.

The licenses will be offered by the specialized DMCC Crypto Center after being screened by the SCA, state news agency WAM has reported.

“As we continue to make strides within the crypto and blockchain space, the DMCC is making it easier for crypto and blockchain businesses to set up and operate in Dubai,” DMCC CEO Ahmed bin Sulayem said.

The move comes as Dubai takes a keen interest in blockchain technology, with a national strategy in place to make the emirate “the first city fully powered by blockchain.”

The free zone authority earlier signed a deal with a Swiss incubator that will bring the ecosystems of leading blockchain and cryptographic technologies to Dubai.

“This agreement also builds the foundation for our future partnerships in the crypto space and is a major step in the launch of the DMCC Crypto Centre, which we will bring to the market in the near future,” Sulayem said.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,183

Updated 16 February 2026
Follow

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,183

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Monday, losing 44.79 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 11,183.85.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR4.05 billion ($1.08 billion), as 69 of the listed stocks advanced, while 191 retreated.

The MSCI Tadawul Index decreased, down 6.63 points or 0.44 percent, to close at 1,504.73.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu lost 328.20 points, or 1.36 percent, to close at 23,764.92. This comes as 22 of the listed stocks advanced, while 49 retreated.

The best-performing stock was Maharah Human Resources Co., with its share price surging by 7.26 percent to SR6.50.

Other top performers included Arabian Cement Co., which saw its share price rise by 6.27 percent to SR22.71, and Saudi Research and Media Group, which saw a 4.3 percent increase to SR104.30.

On the downside, the worst performer of the day was Arabian Internet and Communications Services Co., whose share price fell by 8.01 percent to SR207.80.

Jahez International Co. for Information System Technology and Al-Rajhi Co. for Cooperative Insurance also saw declines, with their shares dropping by 5.61 percent and 4.46 percent to SR12.79 and SR75, respectively.

On the announcement front, Etihad Etisalat Co. announced its financial results for 2025 with a 7.9 percent year-on-year growth in its revenues, to reach SR19.6 billion.

In a Tadawul statement, Mobily said that this growth is attributed to “the expansion of all revenue streams, with a healthy growth in the overall subscriber base.”

Mobily delivered an 11.6 percent increase in net profit, reaching SR3.4 billion in 2025 compared to SR3.1 billion in 2024.

The company’s share price reached SR67.85, marking a 0.37 percent increase on the main market.