Binance offered its staff in the United Arab Emirates the option to temporarily relocate to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok amid regional tensions, the company told CoinDesk on Friday.
“Given recent regional tensions, we offered employees the option to temporarily relocate as a preventative and priority measure to provide flexibility and support during a period of uncertainty,” a Binance spokesperson said. “As a remote-first organization, we are well prepared to support this type of flexibility without disrupting our operations.”
The spokesperson also said that its operations in the UAE remain unchanged and that many employees have chosen to stay.
“Our operations in the UAE continue as normal – a large portion of our team has chosen to remain in the UAE. We remain deeply committed to the UAE as a key hub for Binance and for the wider region,” the spokesperson said. “As a global company, we continue to operate smoothly and serve our users without interruption.”
The relocation offer comes after a ceasefire agreement, following approximately six weeks of escalating regional conflict that has disrupted business activity in the United Arab Emirates. The country has intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones since hostilities began in late February, according to the UAE Ministry of Defense, with additional interceptions reported on April 8.
The Middle East conflict has already disrupted major crypto, business, and sports events in the United Arab Emirates. TOKEN2049 Dubai was postponed until 2027, while TON Gateway was canceled due to security and travel concerns. Other major events, including Middle East Energy Dubai and the Dubai International Boat Show, have also been delayed, and the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Formula 1 races, key for crypto sponsorship exposure, will be cancelled.
In December, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) said Binance’s global platform would operate under its regulatory framework, marking a significant step in formalizing the exchange’s structure.
Binance, which reportedly has 1,000 employees or 20% of its total global workforce in the United Arab Emirates, has also indicated that its global operations are supported by Abu Dhabi, although it has not clearly defined a single global headquarters.
