# Alpaca Middle East Gets Preliminary Abu Dhabi Approval for Planned Services

By Riza Dagoc

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/40878
Published: 2026-10-26T08:53:52.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-26T08:53:52.000Z
Section: Regulation

> The unit plans to offer brokerage and virtual-asset custody services, but it must obtain a financial services license before starting regulated activities.

Alpaca Clearing & Custody ME Ltd, known as Alpaca Middle East, has received preliminary approval from Abu Dhabi’s financial regulator on its license application, advancing plans for brokerage and virtual-asset custody services.

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) is the financial regulator of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The approval moves the U.S. brokerage infrastructure firm closer to establishing a regulated presence in the United Arab Emirates.

Alpaca Middle East plans to offer brokerage services and custody for virtual assets, subject to the scope of any license the FSRA grants. The in-principle approval is not a Financial Services Permission and does not authorize the unit to conduct regulated activities in or from ADGM.

For now, the approval covers the license application, not the start of brokerage or custody operations.

Alpaca Middle East cannot conduct regulated activities in or from ADGM until it obtains a Financial Services Permission.