Police inquiries test Binance’s operations in UAE amid scrutiny

Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, is navigating an uncomfortable stretch in one of its most strategically important markets. UAE police detained or questioned two of the company’s employees between July and August 2026, raising fresh questions about how the exchange handles customer money in the Gulf. The inquiries center on a Binance corporate bank account used for customer deposits and withdrawals, including dirham-denominated transactions processed through ADCB bank. That fiat-to-crypto functionality launched on June 2, 2026, meaning the account had been live for barely two months before authorities took an interest in the fund flows moving through it. What actually happened One mid-level Binance employee was stopped at Sharjah airport in August 2026 and detained overnight at a local police station. A separate executive connected to Binance’s Dubai subsidiary was questioned by police in July 2026. Both were subsequently cleared, and Binance characterized the inquiries as routine, with no formal charges filed against either individual. The specific nature of the alleged irregularities has not been disclosed. UAE authorities have not identified which ...