Neex Gains UAE SCA Licence, Targets Growth in the Middle East

Neex, a global contracts for difference (CFD) broker, has added the United Arab Emirates to its regulatory map after securing a licence from the country’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The approval is a strategic step for the broker as it builds its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing financial hubs.

New Authorisation Under Category 5

The new approval, issued to Neex Securities LLC, comes under the SCA’s Category 5 framework. This authorisation allows firms to promote their services and introduce clients in the UAE, directing them to be onboarded under the broker’s international entities. Category 5 firms do not handle client money or execute trades locally, but the licence strengthens their ability to market services in a regulated way.

Announcing the news, Neex said the licence marks its official entry into the UAE and reflects its commitment to operating with greater transparency and oversight in the region.

Expanding From Global to Regional Reach

Neex already operates across multiple jurisdictions, with regulatory approvals in South Africa, Mauritius, Saint Lucia, and Australia. Its product range spans forex, commodities, indices, and stock CFDs.

The firm opened a representative office in Dubai in 2024, positioning it as a regional information hub. While that office does not handle regulated activity, the new licence brings Neex a step closer to embedding itself in the Middle East’s growing trading market.

Competitive Push Into the UAE

Dubai has become a magnet for international brokers seeking growth opportunities.

• Traze, the sister brand of ZFX, recently obtained a First Category licence, allowing it to act as a full-service brokerage with portfolio management and advisory permissions.
• Eightcap, another global broker, gained approval earlier this year through its local arm Eightcap Financial Services MENA, which received a Category 5 licence in January 2025.
• And most recently, XM secured an SCA licence in Dubai, further intensifying competition in the Middle East as major players look to capture the region’s high-value traders.

These moves highlight the UAE’s role as a gateway market for brokers looking to capture both retail and institutional clients in the wider MENA region.

Why It Matters

For Neex, the SCA approval provides a regulated pathway to expand brand visibility and client acquisition in the UAE, while maintaining operational flexibility through its global entities. For traders, the licence offers an additional layer of oversight, ensuring the broker’s promotional activities in the region fall under local regulatory standards.

As competition intensifies in Dubai, Neex’s entry underscores a wider trend: leading CFD providers are no longer treating the Middle East as a secondary market but as a core part of their global growth strategies.