Finalto Establishes MENA Presence in Dubai Following Category 5 Licence Approval

Finalto has opened a new regional office in Dubai, marking its formal entry into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market in early 2026. The move comes after the firm secured a Category 5 licence from the UAEs Capital Markets Authority (CMA), allowing it to establish a regulated onshore presence focused on client engagement and distribution.

The Dubai office is located in Barsha Heights and will serve as a regional hub for institutional and professional clients across the Gulf and broader MENA region. Representatives from Finaltos global operations, including teams based in London, Singapore, and Australia, attended the office opening earlier this year.

The expansion reflects a wider trend among liquidity providers and brokerage technology firms seeking to strengthen their footprint in the Middle East. In recent years, the UAE has seen growing demand for institutional trading services, particularly in foreign exchange, metals, and multi-asset CFD markets. This has been accompanied by increased adoption of execution tools and risk-management infrastructure tailored to professional trading environments.

Under the Category 5 framework, licensed entities are permitted to conduct regulated marketing activities and build local client relationships, while execution and custody typically remain with affiliated entities operating under separate licences. The structure has become a common entry point for international firms aiming to access regional markets without replicating full operational infrastructure locally.

Industry participants have increasingly identified the UAE as a strategic distribution centre rather than solely an execution base. The combination of regulatory clarity and cross-border market connectivity has made Dubai an attractive jurisdiction for firms offering liquidity solutions, trading technology, and prime brokerage services to institutional clients.

Finaltos regional launch follows continued growth in participation from professional investors across the MENA market, where trading interest in foreign exchange and commodities remains robust.

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