Kudotrade has secured initial regulatory approval from the UAE's Capital Market Authority (CMA) and opened a new office in Dubai, adding its name to the growing list of contracts for difference (CFD) brokers seeking a presence on the Emirates' mainland. The firm, which is licensed in Mauritius, is positioning this move as a step toward broader participation in the UAE's retail brokerage market.
Alongside the regulatory development, Kudotrade announced that it has acquired the Kudo.com domain and will adopt it as its primary brand identity going forward. The brand itself is a relatively recent entrant, having been established in 2024 under a Mauritius Financial Services Commission (FSC) license.
The CMA, which was renamed from the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) earlier in the year, has become a highly sought-after regulator in the global retail brokerage industry. The rush to the UAE has intensified through 2026, with multiple brokers pursuing CMA approvals and expanding their physical presence in Dubai.
Growing Broker Interest in UAE Regulation
Several international brokers have recently strengthened their regulatory and operational footprint in the UAE. Mitrade obtained its CMA license in April, extending its regulatory coverage to six jurisdictions. PU Prime secured a Category 5 CMA licence in February, while Empire Markets followed with its own approval in March.
XTB advanced its regulatory position in April by upgrading its existing Category 5 licence to full Category 1 and Category 2 status. In parallel, Finalto opened a Dubai office in February under its Category 5 approval. These moves underline the appeal of the CMA regime for retail trading providers targeting the region.
The CMA reported an 18% increase in license applications in the first nine months of 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier, highlighting the acceleration in interest from global brokers. Under the CMA framework, Category 5 capital requirements stand at AED 500,000, whereas full Category 1 broker-dealer status requires AED 30 million in capital.
Implications of Kudotrade's Initial Approval
Kudotrade's initial CMA approval is a preliminary authorization that allows the company to progress toward a full license. It does not, however, permit the firm to onboard UAE residents or to market or sell trading services directly to retail clients in the country through its new entity.
The company must still complete the remaining authorization steps and obtain a category-specific license from the CMA before it can legally provide services to UAE retail clients. Until that process is finalized and a full licence is granted, Kudotrade's activities under the new Dubai office remain limited in scope.
