Binance on Friday offered employees in the United Arab Emirates the option to temporarily relocate to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok amid tensions in the region, the company told CoinDesk.
“Given recent regional tensions, we have offered our employees the option to temporarily relocate as a precautionary and employee-first measure to provide flexibility and support during a time of uncertainty,” a Binance spokesperson said. “As a remote-first organization, we are well-positioned to support this type of flexibility without disrupting operations.”
The spokesperson also said there were no changes to the company’s operations in the UAE, with many employees choosing to remain.
“Our operations in the UAE continue as usual, with many of our teams choosing to remain in the UAE. We remain committed to the UAE as a key hub for Binance, and the wider region,” the spokesperson said. “As a global company, we will continue to operate seamlessly and continue to serve our users without interruption.”
The relocation offer comes after a ceasefire was agreed after nearly six weeks of escalating regional conflict that disrupted business activity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the UAE Ministry of Defense, the country has intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones since hostilities began in late February, with additional interceptions reported on April 8.
The Middle East conflict has already disrupted major cryptocurrencies, business, and sporting events across the UAE. TOKEN2049 Dubai has been postponed to 2027 and TON Gateway has been canceled due to safety and travel concerns. Other large events such as Middle East Energy Dubai and the Dubai International Boat Show have also been postponed, while the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian F1 races, key to exposure for crypto sponsorships, are also scheduled to be cancelled.
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) announced in December that Binance’s global platform will operate under a regulatory framework, an important step in formalizing the exchange’s structure.
Binance, which reportedly has 1,000 staff, or 20% of its global workforce, in the United Arab Emirates, also indicated that its global operations are supported from Abu Dhabi, although it has not clearly defined a single global headquarters.
