Xtb Gains New UAE Broker Licences in Expansion Push
Xtb has expanded its UAE footprint after receiving Category 1 and Category 2 licences from the country’s Capital Markets Authority, a move that will let the firm onboard clients locally and execute trades. Announced on Friday, the upgrade also opens the door for more advanced investment products to be offered to UAE traders in the future. The development marks a shift from a more limited setup toward a fuller brokerage role in the market.
What the new licences change for Xtb
Under the new permissions, Xtb can broaden its local operating model in the UAE and move beyond the narrower framework tied to its earlier licence structure. The firm had already been operating in the country since 2021 under a licence granted by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and it obtained a Category 5 licence from the Capital Markets Authority in 2024. That earlier Category 5 permission allowed Xtb to market and promote products locally, but it did not provide the same level of brokerage capability now attached to the new approvals.
In practical terms, the latest licences give Xtb greater room to work directly with clients in the UAE, while keeping its activity within the country’s regulatory framework. The company framed the change as part of a long-term buildout in a market where it sees sustained opportunity.
Xtb and the UAE regulatory shift
The UAE has become an important destination for firms seeking deeper local authorisation, and Xtb’s move places it among a smaller group of brokers that have secured full-broker style permissions in the market. Xtb is using the new licences to strengthen its regional position, with the stated aim of supporting local investors more directly and expanding the range of services available over time.
Achraf Drid, Managing Director of Xtb MENA, said the authorisation is “an important development” for the business in the region. He added that it allows the company to operate “with greater proximity to our clients” while remaining within “one of the most respected regulatory environments globally. ” Drid also said the UAE offers “regulatory clarity with long-term economic vision, ” and described it as a market where Xtb intends to build for the future.
Why this matters now
The move comes as the firm continues to grow its regional presence under UAE oversight, building on the permissions it already held in the country. The new structure gives Xtb a stronger regulatory base and a wider operational runway at a time when localised brokerage models are becoming more significant across the Gulf.
For now, the key question is how quickly Xtb translates the new authorisation into expanded services for UAE clients. What is clear is that the company has taken a meaningful step in the market, and Xtb is now positioned for a broader phase of local growth under full brokerage permissions.
