Binance Employees Detained in UAE Despite $2 Billion Emirati Backing

Binance runs its global exchange under Abu Dhabi's regulator. Emirati police still detained two of its employees over financial crime inquiries, the New York Times reported.

All have been released. A third staff member, who leads the company's Dubai arm, answered questions at a police station in July.

A Foothold Built on Licenses and State Money

The Emirates is not a side market for Binance. It is the base.

Abu Dhabi's Financial Services Regulatory Authority granted the exchange three licenses on December 8. No other crypto exchange had won a global license under that framework. The permissions went live on January 5.

The money runs just as deep. State-backed fund MGX invested $2 billion in March 2025. It paid in USD1, a stablecoin from World Liberty Financial, a venture the Trump family part-owns.

The relationship even shapes policy. Binance has cited its Abu Dhabi licensing rules to explain why it now handles some foreign police requests differently.

Airport Stops and an Overnight Hold

Two workers were pulled aside at Emirati airports, people familiar with the inquiries said. One midlevel employee passed through Sharjah this month. Officers took him to a station and held him overnight.

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