Two Binance staff members held by UAE authorities amid financial crime probes

Two Binance personnel were taken into custody by United Arab Emirates police during recent airport checks, sources familiar with the matter said. One employee, described as a mid-level staffer, was intercepted in Sharjah in August, taken to a police station and held overnight; a separate official from the Dubai subsidiary was questioned in July. The detentions, described as an aggressive step, underscore the heightened legal scrutiny the exchange faces in the UAE, home to its principal regulator.

Binance maintains that the individuals were merely asked to provide standard statements regarding third-party transactions and were cleared without being targeted as suspects. The company has previously grappled with global law-enforcement actions, including a 2023 U.S. AML settlement and recent compliance challenges in Nigeria and Europe. Binance has sought diplomatic assistance from Emirati officials to ensure employee safety following the incidents.