XM Broker Secures Dubai Category 5 Licence, Poised to Enter UAE Market

In a significant development in the forex and CFD industry, XM has obtained a Category 5 licence from Dubai’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), marking a strategic push into the Middle East’s lucrative trading landscape. This new regulatory milestone empowers XM to commence promotional activities within mainland UAE, while maintaining its trading operations through its offshore entities—a move designed to expand its reach without fundamentally altering its operational structure.

The SCA’s Category 5 licence permits XM to advertise its services and introduce prospective clients to its offshore platforms, although it does not allow for holding client funds or executing local trades within the UAE. This aligns with XM’s existing business model that leverages diversified jurisdictions to deliver services globally while upholding rigorous regulatory compliance across multiple regions.

The acquisition of this licence reflects XM’s growing footprint in the region, driven by the UAE’s increasing importance as a hub for high-volume forex trading. Industry data reveals that brokers operating in and from the Middle East are registering exceptionally high trading volumes, with Capital.com reporting that UAE-based traders accounted for a substantial share of its regional activities. By securing authorization to operate in Dubai, XM positions itself to capitalize on this momentum.

The broker plans to activate the licence and begin its promotional activities before the end of 2025. In parallel, XM maintains robust regulatory oversight through other global authorities, including in Cyprus, Belize, Mauritius, South Africa, and the UK and Australia via its sister brand, Trading.com.

This regulatory move comes as XM continues to enhance its platform offerings. Recent updates include the integration of TradingView charting tools and the introduction of XM AI—an advanced in-platform assistant designed to deliver intuitive insights and market analysis—all unified under a refreshed trading interface across web and mobile platforms.

As XM enters the UAE market, it joins a growing cohort of brokers seeking to expand through SCA licensing. The firm’s flexible licensing strategy allows it to balance regional market penetration while maintaining the efficiency of offshore execution—a dual approach that supports growth in new markets without compromising operational agility.

The strategic licensing in Dubai indicates that XM is not only reinforcing its global regulatory foundation but is also actively adapting to capitalize on emerging regional trends. With the Middle East continuing to evolve as a key growth engine for CFD and forex trading, XM's timely regulatory expansion may well serve as a significant boost to its regional visibility and client acquisition initiatives.