ChangeNOW Sets Up Dubai HQ, Strengthens Crypto Ties in MENA Region

Mohammed Fathy

Last updated 6-04-2026

3 min

ChangeNOW opens MENA headquarters at Dubai World Trade Centre’s Convention Tower.

The non-custodial exchange supports 1,500 assets and over 110 blockchains.

Dubai’s regulatory clarity and infrastructure drew the firm to deepen regional ties.

A physical presence signals local hiring and closer integration into UAE’s tech scene.

The move reflects sustained capital and confidence in the UAE’s crypto market.

Dubai keeps adding another brick to its crypto story, and this time it’s ChangeNOW setting up shop at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The European non‑custodial cryptocurrency exchange has opened its MENA headquarters in Convention Tower, shifting from being purely online in the region to having boots on the ground.

For a company founded back in 2017, this is more than a change of address. ChangeNOW says the new office will allow it to work more closely with developers, partners and everyday users across the Middle East. Instead of emails and video calls, there will be face‑to‑face conversations, product demos and, I imagine, plenty of coffee-fuelled chats about blockchain integrations. And believe it or not, that physical presence still matters in crypto, a sector many assume exists only in the cloud.

If you’re not deep into the space, a “non-custodial” exchange simply means the platform doesn’t hold customer funds. Users stay in control of their assets while using ChangeNOW to swap between them. The company supports more than 1,500 digital assets and enables near‑instant swaps across over 110 blockchains. It also works with more than 70 fiat currencies and reports over 8 million users globally, not small numbers by any stretch.

According to Pauline Shangett, Chief Strategy Officer at ChangeNOW, the move underlines the firm’s intention to build long-term relationships in the region and play a role in its digital economy. Dubai’s infrastructure and regulatory clarity around blockchain were cited as key reasons behind the decision. On the flip side, opening a regional base is no small commitment; it usually signals plans for local hiring and deeper integration into the UAE’s tech ecosystem.

From where I stand, and after years watching founders at Arageek hustle for regional traction, having a proper office in Dubai can be a game changer. I’ve seen startups struggle to win partnerships remotely; it can be a bit of a faff trying to build trust purely online. A handshake and a shared roadmap often make things feel more… real.

The timing is interesting too. The UAE has retained more than $900 million in Bitcoin exposure despite market volatility and investor pullbacks elsewhere. Meanwhile, a UAE-backed investment firm recently acquired a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture that had previously been majority-owned by the Trump family. In other words, capital and confidence in digital assets are still very much in play.

I reckon ChangeNOW’s bet on Dubai is spot on. The city has worked hard to position itself as a global blockchain hub, blending regulatory frameworks with a pro-business mindset. That doesn’t mean the road ahead will be smooth, crypto rarely is, but establishing a physical hub in the region feels like a logical next step.

For MENA’s entrepreneurs, it’s another signal that global players are not just testing the water; they’re diving in. And in a market that’s evolving as fast as this one, that kind of committment can speak louder than any press release.

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