XTB upgrades to full broker status in UAE with CMA Category 1 and 2 licences
XTB, the Warsaw-listed online investment platform, has secured Category 1 and Category 2 licences from the UAE's Capital Market Authority (CMA), upgrading its local subsidiary XTB Financial Services LLC to full broker status in the Emirates.
The dual authorisation - Category 1 covers client onboarding and Category 2 covers trade execution - builds on the Category 5 licence XTB obtained in 2024. Under the previous Cat 5 permissions the broker was effectively limited to marketing and promoting offshore products via an introducing broker model. With Cat 1 and Cat 2 in hand, XTB can now onboard UAE clients locally and execute their trades directly, and plans to introduce more advanced investment products to the market over time.
XTB has operated in the region since 2021 via a DFSA licence out of the Dubai International Financial Centre. The CMA mainland upgrade gives the company a materially broader footprint in one of the Gulf's most competitive retail trading markets.
Achraf Drid, Managing Director of XTB MENA, said: "Receiving authorisation from the CMA is an important development for our business in the region. It enables us to operate with greater proximity to our clients while adhering to one of the most respected regulatory environments globally."
He added: "The UAE has created a highly attractive ecosystem for financial services firms, combining regulatory clarity with long-term economic vision."
The upgrade mirrors moves by a growing cluster of international brokers shifting from offshore or Cat 5 status onto the UAE mainland. Plus500, Deriv and RoboMarkets have taken similar steps, and FXTM has signalled its intention to follow.
About XTB
Founded in 2004 and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2016, XTB is a technology-driven investment firm offering stocks, ETFs and CFD trading across indices, currencies and commodities. The company surpassed 2 million clients in 2025 (currently 2.16 million globally), operates 17 offices worldwide and employs more than 1,400 people. XTB is regulated by the Polish Financial Supervisory Authority, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, among others. Customer support is available 24/5 in 20 languages. Footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic serves as the company's global brand ambassador.