Mitrade, an Australian-regulated CFD broker, has obtained a license from the UAE Capital Markets Authority (CMA), entering the United Arab Emirates' mainland market as heightened geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz drive sharp moves across global asset classes.
The new authorization, listed under number 20200000397, is Mitrade's sixth regulatory approval globally. The license allows the broker to offer contracts for difference (CFDs) on forex, commodities, indices, shares and ETFs to clients based in the UAE. According to the company, its trading platform currently connects more than six million traders to over 1,100 over-the-counter derivative instruments.
The announcement coincides with one of the most disruptive periods in recent oil market history. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which under normal conditions carries roughly 20% of the world's crude oil supply, has fallen by approximately 90% since late February, according to the International Energy Agency. This disruption has contributed to heightened volatility across energy markets and related asset classes.
"CFDs let traders respond to volatility without owning the underlying asset, that flexibility matters when markets are moving this fast," said Kevin Lai, Vice President of Mitrade Group. The firm is positioning its expanded regulatory footprint as a way to serve traders seeking exposure to fast-moving markets under local oversight.
Growing Appeal of UAE CMA Licensing
Mitrade's entry into the UAE follows a broader trend among FX and CFD brokers seeking a presence in the region's expanding retail trading market. The CMA license has become one of the most sought-after approvals in the industry, with multiple international firms pursuing authorization to operate in the mainland UAE.
PU Prime obtained a Category 5 CMA licence in February 2026, while Empire Markets (FXEM), which focuses on the MENA region, announced a CMA Category 5 license in March 2026. A Category 5 CMA license is defined as an "Arranging and Advisory" authorization, covering financial consultation and introduction services.
A notice from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority clarified that firms holding only a Category 5 license are not authorized to conduct trading operations, manage portfolios, or execute client orders in financial derivatives, unregulated commodity contracts, or spot foreign exchange. Mitrade did not immediately specify through which regulated entity UAE clients would execute their trades.
Expanding Regional Footprint
With the CMA approval, Mitrade's regulatory portfolio now spans six jurisdictions: Australia's ASIC, Cyprus's CySEC, the Cayman Islands' CIMA, Mauritius's FSC, South Africa's FSCA and the UAE's CMA. The South African license, obtained via an acquisition completed in October 2025, was described at the time as part of a broader push into the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
The UAE authorization extends that regional strategy northward into the Gulf, adding a key market at a time when energy-related disruptions and volatility in global markets are drawing increased attention from retail derivatives traders.
