The Abu-Dhabi based Financial Investment Company,regulated by the central bank of the UAE, has extended its regulatory jurisdictions into Hong Kong with a new office under the subsidiary ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited.
One of the fast growing Abu Dhabi-based brokers, ADS Securities, just got bigger with the announcement of a Hong Kong office today which will be overseen by the firms Managing Director Desmond Yeo.
As the company commits to its efforts in Asia, according to an official press release, ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited will provide leveraged FX and bullion trading services to Hong Kong clients in the region, and will work in conjunction with ADS Securities’ Singapore office.
Regulated under the name ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited as of August 2011 (see below) with the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the firm holds a "type-three" license allowing it to trade leveraged FX and bullion,but does not permit discretionary account services (e.g. managed accounts).
According to information listed publicly on the FSC website, the license for ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited was previously under the name Universal Forex (HK) Limited (prior name valid until November 25, 2013) and thus indicates that rather than go through the lengthy administrative process from the beginning, ADS may have purchased (or other agreement) Universal Forex to gain faster access to its regulatory license (and client base).
Forex Magnates has not yet confirmed the specific reasons or method for this approach to entry, although its not uncommon for brokers to use an approach like that to gain regulatory approval via an existing license (and/or client base), the information is reported on the FSC website along with other related information about the new regulatory status for the HK office.
HK Office and Regulation
This is the first regulatory hub that ADS has established outside of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where the company is headquartered in Abu Dhabi and regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE under ADS Securities LLC.
The new Hong Kong entity is a fully-owned subsidiary of ADS Securities LLC, which is part of the ADS Holding group which owns 98% of ADS Securities - regulated and licensed by the UAE Central Bank as a Financial Investment Company. ADS was established with initial capital of US$400 million according to the official press release, and is one of 7 financial investment companies regulated by UAE Central Bank, from 21 companies in UAE (including Dubai), according to information on centralbank.ae.
This announcement follows the company’s previous release of the OREX platform that Forex Magnates had covered in November. The company also launched the USDCNH pair in November and explained to Forex Magnates that further crosses and major pairs including the CNH may be underway, as interest in trading the Chinese Renminbi grows globally.
This is aimed to complement its offering of Forex, commodities, futures and options markets and through its Global Markets (GM) division, offers Derivatives, Fixed Income,Commodities and Structured Products, as per information on its corporate website.
Philippe Ghanem, Managing Director and Vice-Chairman of ADS Securities
Commenting in the official press release, Philippe Ghanem, Managing Director and Vice-Chairman of ADS Securities added, “This is excellent news for our clients as Hong Kong is a very important market which we need to be part of. London is still the largest FX centre in the world and being based in the Middle East we are perfectly positioned to bridge flows from Asia to Europe. Hong Kong will be our regional HQ, run by Desmond Yeo, a highly experienced FX specialist. He will develop our position in the region and provide traders with the prices and quality of service that defines the ADS Securities offer.”
Desmon Yeo, Managing Director, ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited
Commenting on the new office, Managing Director of ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited, Desmond Yeo, who will oversee the growth of the firms Asian business said “This market is extremely competitive but we know that many clients are looking for a strong well managed trading partner with the access to tier 1 bank and non-bank liquidity. Our OREX trading solutions and sales management will make us very competitive and help many clients to meet their trading goals. ADS Securities understands how to work in Asian markets and has a lot to offer to a range of investors and traders.”
Regulation with UK FCA To be Obtained in 2014
As described in the announcement, Mr. Yeo joined ADS Securities in July 2013, after working for GFT Asia in Singapore (as CEO, according to a LinkedIn profile description for Mr. Yeo) where he had built key sales operations, and will now manage the Hong Kong and Singapore offices with responsibility for building the firm's Asian business. He has extensive experience of working in equities and with online trading systems in the region, as per the description.
Forex Magnates' research team spoke to an ADS company spokesperson last week regarding media reports from Reuters of its plan to open a UK FCA regulated office which Forex Magnates had originally posted about last year (follow its press release at that time), and has confirmed that those steps are underway and how it expects the approval to go through sometime in 2014, as further expansion is on the horizon for the United Kingdom.
One of the fast growing Abu Dhabi-based brokers, ADS Securities, just got bigger with the announcement of a Hong Kong office today which will be overseen by the firms Managing Director Desmond Yeo.
As the company commits to its efforts in Asia, according to an official press release, ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited will provide leveraged FX and bullion trading services to Hong Kong clients in the region, and will work in conjunction with ADS Securities’ Singapore office.
Regulated under the name ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited as of August 2011 (see below) with the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the firm holds a "type-three" license allowing it to trade leveraged FX and bullion,but does not permit discretionary account services (e.g. managed accounts).
According to information listed publicly on the FSC website, the license for ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited was previously under the name Universal Forex (HK) Limited (prior name valid until November 25, 2013) and thus indicates that rather than go through the lengthy administrative process from the beginning, ADS may have purchased (or other agreement) Universal Forex to gain faster access to its regulatory license (and client base).
Forex Magnates has not yet confirmed the specific reasons or method for this approach to entry, although its not uncommon for brokers to use an approach like that to gain regulatory approval via an existing license (and/or client base), the information is reported on the FSC website along with other related information about the new regulatory status for the HK office.
HK Office and Regulation
This is the first regulatory hub that ADS has established outside of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where the company is headquartered in Abu Dhabi and regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE under ADS Securities LLC.
The new Hong Kong entity is a fully-owned subsidiary of ADS Securities LLC, which is part of the ADS Holding group which owns 98% of ADS Securities - regulated and licensed by the UAE Central Bank as a Financial Investment Company. ADS was established with initial capital of US$400 million according to the official press release, and is one of 7 financial investment companies regulated by UAE Central Bank, from 21 companies in UAE (including Dubai), according to information on centralbank.ae.
This announcement follows the company’s previous release of the OREX platform that Forex Magnates had covered in November. The company also launched the USDCNH pair in November and explained to Forex Magnates that further crosses and major pairs including the CNH may be underway, as interest in trading the Chinese Renminbi grows globally.
This is aimed to complement its offering of Forex, commodities, futures and options markets and through its Global Markets (GM) division, offers Derivatives, Fixed Income,Commodities and Structured Products, as per information on its corporate website.
Philippe Ghanem, Managing Director and Vice-Chairman of ADS Securities
Commenting in the official press release, Philippe Ghanem, Managing Director and Vice-Chairman of ADS Securities added, “This is excellent news for our clients as Hong Kong is a very important market which we need to be part of. London is still the largest FX centre in the world and being based in the Middle East we are perfectly positioned to bridge flows from Asia to Europe. Hong Kong will be our regional HQ, run by Desmond Yeo, a highly experienced FX specialist. He will develop our position in the region and provide traders with the prices and quality of service that defines the ADS Securities offer.”
Desmon Yeo, Managing Director, ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited
Commenting on the new office, Managing Director of ADS Securities Hong Kong Limited, Desmond Yeo, who will oversee the growth of the firms Asian business said “This market is extremely competitive but we know that many clients are looking for a strong well managed trading partner with the access to tier 1 bank and non-bank liquidity. Our OREX trading solutions and sales management will make us very competitive and help many clients to meet their trading goals. ADS Securities understands how to work in Asian markets and has a lot to offer to a range of investors and traders.”
Regulation with UK FCA To be Obtained in 2014
As described in the announcement, Mr. Yeo joined ADS Securities in July 2013, after working for GFT Asia in Singapore (as CEO, according to a LinkedIn profile description for Mr. Yeo) where he had built key sales operations, and will now manage the Hong Kong and Singapore offices with responsibility for building the firm's Asian business. He has extensive experience of working in equities and with online trading systems in the region, as per the description.
Forex Magnates' research team spoke to an ADS company spokesperson last week regarding media reports from Reuters of its plan to open a UK FCA regulated office which Forex Magnates had originally posted about last year (follow its press release at that time), and has confirmed that those steps are underway and how it expects the approval to go through sometime in 2014, as further expansion is on the horizon for the United Kingdom.
Most Transparent Broker 2026 (MENA): Feature Overview
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Multi-Asset or Die: The New Brokerage Playbook
Multi-Asset or Die: The New Brokerage Playbook
Multi-Asset or Die: The New Brokerage Playbook
Multi-Asset or Die: The New Brokerage Playbook
This panel will explore how firms are moving beyond CFDs into crypto, perpetuals, equities, and multi‑asset offerings, and the challenges they face across regulation, technology, liquidity, and risk management. It examines what is driving the shift, what it takes to execute it successfully, and how brokers can position themselves for the next phase of growth.
This panel will explore how firms are moving beyond CFDs into crypto, perpetuals, equities, and multi‑asset offerings, and the challenges they face across regulation, technology, liquidity, and risk management. It examines what is driving the shift, what it takes to execute it successfully, and how brokers can position themselves for the next phase of growth.
This panel will explore how firms are moving beyond CFDs into crypto, perpetuals, equities, and multi‑asset offerings, and the challenges they face across regulation, technology, liquidity, and risk management. It examines what is driving the shift, what it takes to execute it successfully, and how brokers can position themselves for the next phase of growth.
This panel will explore how firms are moving beyond CFDs into crypto, perpetuals, equities, and multi‑asset offerings, and the challenges they face across regulation, technology, liquidity, and risk management. It examines what is driving the shift, what it takes to execute it successfully, and how brokers can position themselves for the next phase of growth.
Beyond Reach? Retail Investor Acquisition Across APAC
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APAC accounts for two-thirds of global retail trading traffic, but with differences of language, regulation, and trader profile, the region's growth is ag great as complexity.
This session gathers CMOs, heads of acquisition, and IB relationship managers to examine what actually works, channel by channel, market by market.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of which channels deliver funded, retained traders across Singapore, Japan, and Southeast Asia
Understanding of how to structure IB partnerships for LTV, not first deposit
Insight into what localization actually costs beyond the translation budget
Perspective on how ad restrictions, crypto promotion limits, and bundling rules differ across APAC jurisdictions
A read on whether the super-app model changes acquisition economics for retail investing platforms
APAC accounts for two-thirds of global retail trading traffic, but with differences of language, regulation, and trader profile, the region's growth is ag great as complexity.
This session gathers CMOs, heads of acquisition, and IB relationship managers to examine what actually works, channel by channel, market by market.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of which channels deliver funded, retained traders across Singapore, Japan, and Southeast Asia
Understanding of how to structure IB partnerships for LTV, not first deposit
Insight into what localization actually costs beyond the translation budget
Perspective on how ad restrictions, crypto promotion limits, and bundling rules differ across APAC jurisdictions
A read on whether the super-app model changes acquisition economics for retail investing platforms
APAC accounts for two-thirds of global retail trading traffic, but with differences of language, regulation, and trader profile, the region's growth is ag great as complexity.
This session gathers CMOs, heads of acquisition, and IB relationship managers to examine what actually works, channel by channel, market by market.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of which channels deliver funded, retained traders across Singapore, Japan, and Southeast Asia
Understanding of how to structure IB partnerships for LTV, not first deposit
Insight into what localization actually costs beyond the translation budget
Perspective on how ad restrictions, crypto promotion limits, and bundling rules differ across APAC jurisdictions
A read on whether the super-app model changes acquisition economics for retail investing platforms
APAC accounts for two-thirds of global retail trading traffic, but with differences of language, regulation, and trader profile, the region's growth is ag great as complexity.
This session gathers CMOs, heads of acquisition, and IB relationship managers to examine what actually works, channel by channel, market by market.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of which channels deliver funded, retained traders across Singapore, Japan, and Southeast Asia
Understanding of how to structure IB partnerships for LTV, not first deposit
Insight into what localization actually costs beyond the translation budget
Perspective on how ad restrictions, crypto promotion limits, and bundling rules differ across APAC jurisdictions
A read on whether the super-app model changes acquisition economics for retail investing platforms
APAC accounts for two-thirds of global retail trading traffic, but with differences of language, regulation, and trader profile, the region's growth is ag great as complexity.
This session gathers CMOs, heads of acquisition, and IB relationship managers to examine what actually works, channel by channel, market by market.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of which channels deliver funded, retained traders across Singapore, Japan, and Southeast Asia
Understanding of how to structure IB partnerships for LTV, not first deposit
Insight into what localization actually costs beyond the translation budget
Perspective on how ad restrictions, crypto promotion limits, and bundling rules differ across APAC jurisdictions
A read on whether the super-app model changes acquisition economics for retail investing platforms
APAC accounts for two-thirds of global retail trading traffic, but with differences of language, regulation, and trader profile, the region's growth is ag great as complexity.
This session gathers CMOs, heads of acquisition, and IB relationship managers to examine what actually works, channel by channel, market by market.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of which channels deliver funded, retained traders across Singapore, Japan, and Southeast Asia
Understanding of how to structure IB partnerships for LTV, not first deposit
Insight into what localization actually costs beyond the translation budget
Perspective on how ad restrictions, crypto promotion limits, and bundling rules differ across APAC jurisdictions
A read on whether the super-app model changes acquisition economics for retail investing platforms
Buy, Build or Both? Trading Tech for Brokers, Banks & Beyond
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For every feature and product, someone has to decide: build it in-house or buy from a vendor. In Singapore and across APAC, local banks and global players face the same question with very different constraints.
This session gathers heads of technology and e-trading to compare how client demand and cost structures shape their choices, and how long it actually takes to ship in each.
Attendees will walk away with:
First-hand view of how client feedback informs decision-making across different market participants.
Understanding pain points and benefits of working with 3rd party integrations at scale.
Insight into products and innovation banks’ retail and trading heads will look for in 2026.
For every feature and product, someone has to decide: build it in-house or buy from a vendor. In Singapore and across APAC, local banks and global players face the same question with very different constraints.
This session gathers heads of technology and e-trading to compare how client demand and cost structures shape their choices, and how long it actually takes to ship in each.
Attendees will walk away with:
First-hand view of how client feedback informs decision-making across different market participants.
Understanding pain points and benefits of working with 3rd party integrations at scale.
Insight into products and innovation banks’ retail and trading heads will look for in 2026.
For every feature and product, someone has to decide: build it in-house or buy from a vendor. In Singapore and across APAC, local banks and global players face the same question with very different constraints.
This session gathers heads of technology and e-trading to compare how client demand and cost structures shape their choices, and how long it actually takes to ship in each.
Attendees will walk away with:
First-hand view of how client feedback informs decision-making across different market participants.
Understanding pain points and benefits of working with 3rd party integrations at scale.
Insight into products and innovation banks’ retail and trading heads will look for in 2026.
For every feature and product, someone has to decide: build it in-house or buy from a vendor. In Singapore and across APAC, local banks and global players face the same question with very different constraints.
This session gathers heads of technology and e-trading to compare how client demand and cost structures shape their choices, and how long it actually takes to ship in each.
Attendees will walk away with:
First-hand view of how client feedback informs decision-making across different market participants.
Understanding pain points and benefits of working with 3rd party integrations at scale.
Insight into products and innovation banks’ retail and trading heads will look for in 2026.
For every feature and product, someone has to decide: build it in-house or buy from a vendor. In Singapore and across APAC, local banks and global players face the same question with very different constraints.
This session gathers heads of technology and e-trading to compare how client demand and cost structures shape their choices, and how long it actually takes to ship in each.
Attendees will walk away with:
First-hand view of how client feedback informs decision-making across different market participants.
Understanding pain points and benefits of working with 3rd party integrations at scale.
Insight into products and innovation banks’ retail and trading heads will look for in 2026.
For every feature and product, someone has to decide: build it in-house or buy from a vendor. In Singapore and across APAC, local banks and global players face the same question with very different constraints.
This session gathers heads of technology and e-trading to compare how client demand and cost structures shape their choices, and how long it actually takes to ship in each.
Attendees will walk away with:
First-hand view of how client feedback informs decision-making across different market participants.
Understanding pain points and benefits of working with 3rd party integrations at scale.
Insight into products and innovation banks’ retail and trading heads will look for in 2026.
Regulation Roundup: Setup, Compliance, and Hidden Costs of Entry
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As Singapore's capital-intensive requirements leave only a few retail brokers active in the city-state, there are many opportunities to be made in and around.
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Attendees will walk away with:
Survey of capital thresholds and other requirements across regions in APAC
Nuanced understanding of Singapore's role in the retail trading space
Glimpse into parallel developments in digital assets and RWA
As Singapore's capital-intensive requirements leave only a few retail brokers active in the city-state, there are many opportunities to be made in and around.
This session gathers regulators, advisors, and operators who have set up across multiple APAC jurisdictions to break down figures, what's working, what's breaking, and what's next.
Attendees will walk away with:
Survey of capital thresholds and other requirements across regions in APAC
Nuanced understanding of Singapore's role in the retail trading space
Glimpse into parallel developments in digital assets and RWA
As Singapore's capital-intensive requirements leave only a few retail brokers active in the city-state, there are many opportunities to be made in and around.
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Attendees will walk away with:
Survey of capital thresholds and other requirements across regions in APAC
Nuanced understanding of Singapore's role in the retail trading space
Glimpse into parallel developments in digital assets and RWA
As Singapore's capital-intensive requirements leave only a few retail brokers active in the city-state, there are many opportunities to be made in and around.
This session gathers regulators, advisors, and operators who have set up across multiple APAC jurisdictions to break down figures, what's working, what's breaking, and what's next.
Attendees will walk away with:
Survey of capital thresholds and other requirements across regions in APAC
Nuanced understanding of Singapore's role in the retail trading space
Glimpse into parallel developments in digital assets and RWA
As Singapore's capital-intensive requirements leave only a few retail brokers active in the city-state, there are many opportunities to be made in and around.
This session gathers regulators, advisors, and operators who have set up across multiple APAC jurisdictions to break down figures, what's working, what's breaking, and what's next.
Attendees will walk away with:
Survey of capital thresholds and other requirements across regions in APAC
Nuanced understanding of Singapore's role in the retail trading space
Glimpse into parallel developments in digital assets and RWA
As Singapore's capital-intensive requirements leave only a few retail brokers active in the city-state, there are many opportunities to be made in and around.
This session gathers regulators, advisors, and operators who have set up across multiple APAC jurisdictions to break down figures, what's working, what's breaking, and what's next.
Attendees will walk away with:
Survey of capital thresholds and other requirements across regions in APAC
Nuanced understanding of Singapore's role in the retail trading space
Glimpse into parallel developments in digital assets and RWA
Rails for Growth: 'Payments as Infrastructure' for Financial Superapps
Rails for Growth: 'Payments as Infrastructure' for Financial Superapps
Rails for Growth: 'Payments as Infrastructure' for Financial Superapps
Rails for Growth: 'Payments as Infrastructure' for Financial Superapps
Rails for Growth: 'Payments as Infrastructure' for Financial Superapps
Rails for Growth: 'Payments as Infrastructure' for Financial Superapps
For fintechs who try to capture the retail investment crowd, payments can be a game-changer from user experience to back-office plumbing.
This session brings together builders from across the payment ecosystem to examine how new rails are altering the way capital moves in APAC and beyond.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of how stablecoins, on-chain settlement, and tokenised money are being used in live institutional workflows today
Understanding of what MAS initiatives like Project Orchid and Project Bloom signal for the future of digital money in Singapore's capital markets
Insight into how mobile-first fund platforms and digital distribution channels are pulling payment infrastructure closer to the point of investment
Perspective on the compliance and custody challenges firms face when payments, trading, and settlement converge on the same rails
For fintechs who try to capture the retail investment crowd, payments can be a game-changer from user experience to back-office plumbing.
This session brings together builders from across the payment ecosystem to examine how new rails are altering the way capital moves in APAC and beyond.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of how stablecoins, on-chain settlement, and tokenised money are being used in live institutional workflows today
Understanding of what MAS initiatives like Project Orchid and Project Bloom signal for the future of digital money in Singapore's capital markets
Insight into how mobile-first fund platforms and digital distribution channels are pulling payment infrastructure closer to the point of investment
Perspective on the compliance and custody challenges firms face when payments, trading, and settlement converge on the same rails
For fintechs who try to capture the retail investment crowd, payments can be a game-changer from user experience to back-office plumbing.
This session brings together builders from across the payment ecosystem to examine how new rails are altering the way capital moves in APAC and beyond.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of how stablecoins, on-chain settlement, and tokenised money are being used in live institutional workflows today
Understanding of what MAS initiatives like Project Orchid and Project Bloom signal for the future of digital money in Singapore's capital markets
Insight into how mobile-first fund platforms and digital distribution channels are pulling payment infrastructure closer to the point of investment
Perspective on the compliance and custody challenges firms face when payments, trading, and settlement converge on the same rails
For fintechs who try to capture the retail investment crowd, payments can be a game-changer from user experience to back-office plumbing.
This session brings together builders from across the payment ecosystem to examine how new rails are altering the way capital moves in APAC and beyond.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of how stablecoins, on-chain settlement, and tokenised money are being used in live institutional workflows today
Understanding of what MAS initiatives like Project Orchid and Project Bloom signal for the future of digital money in Singapore's capital markets
Insight into how mobile-first fund platforms and digital distribution channels are pulling payment infrastructure closer to the point of investment
Perspective on the compliance and custody challenges firms face when payments, trading, and settlement converge on the same rails
For fintechs who try to capture the retail investment crowd, payments can be a game-changer from user experience to back-office plumbing.
This session brings together builders from across the payment ecosystem to examine how new rails are altering the way capital moves in APAC and beyond.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of how stablecoins, on-chain settlement, and tokenised money are being used in live institutional workflows today
Understanding of what MAS initiatives like Project Orchid and Project Bloom signal for the future of digital money in Singapore's capital markets
Insight into how mobile-first fund platforms and digital distribution channels are pulling payment infrastructure closer to the point of investment
Perspective on the compliance and custody challenges firms face when payments, trading, and settlement converge on the same rails
For fintechs who try to capture the retail investment crowd, payments can be a game-changer from user experience to back-office plumbing.
This session brings together builders from across the payment ecosystem to examine how new rails are altering the way capital moves in APAC and beyond.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of how stablecoins, on-chain settlement, and tokenised money are being used in live institutional workflows today
Understanding of what MAS initiatives like Project Orchid and Project Bloom signal for the future of digital money in Singapore's capital markets
Insight into how mobile-first fund platforms and digital distribution channels are pulling payment infrastructure closer to the point of investment
Perspective on the compliance and custody challenges firms face when payments, trading, and settlement converge on the same rails
