CFI Financial Group opened its Bahrain office today (Monday) and named Yaseen Alsamerrai to run the operation, adding another location to the online broker's Middle East network.
The company held a ceremony in Manama to mark the launch of CFI Financial (Bahrain) B.S.C Closed, which received a Category 2 Investment Business Firm license from the Central Bank of Bahrain in July. The event drew attendees from Bahrain's financial sector and government officials.
CFI, which has operated in the Middle East and North Africa region since 1998, now has offices in eight cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Amman and Cairo. The firm offers trading in equities, currencies and commodities through online platforms.
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Alsamerrai Takes Charge of Bahrain Unit
Alsamerrai will handle daily operations and oversee growth plans for the Bahrain entity. He previously worked in financial services with experience in leadership positions, though the company did not provide details about his prior roles.
"I am honored to lead CFI Bahrain as we begin this new chapter in the Kingdom," Alsamerrai said. "Our goal is to empower traders in Bahrain with access to world-class platforms, competitive trading conditions, and continuous education, all backed by CFI's trusted reputation and global expertise."
The Bahrain office will provide access to international markets through the company's trading platforms. CFI also operates from London, Cape Town and Baku.
The launch follows CFI's entry into South Africa in December 2024, where the company secured a Category 1 Financial Service Provider license from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority.
Trading Volumes Hit Record Levels in 2025
The broker has posted consecutive quarters of record trading activity this year. CFI reported $1.51 trillion in second-quarter trading volume, an 18% increase from the first quarter and nearly double the same period last year.
First-quarter volume reached $1.28 trillion, up 129% year-over-year, with funded accounts rising 75% and active accounts jumping 92% compared to the first quarter of 2024. The company also launched CFI Prime during the first quarter, a service targeting institutional and professional traders.
Ziad Melhem, Chief Executive of CFI Financial Group, said the Bahrain launch represents a commitment to the Gulf market rather than just geographic expansion.
"The establishment of CFI Bahrain, led by Yaseen's capable leadership, is more than just an expansion; it is a long-term commitment to delivering excellence, transparency, and innovation to traders in the Kingdom," Melhem said.
Melhem became CFI's group CEO during the second quarter, while co-founders Hisham Mansour and Eduardo Fakhoury stepped back from their managing director roles to become chairman and vice chairman.
Competition Intensifies for Gulf Traders
The online trading sector in the Gulf has seen increased activity as regional brokers compete for retail investors. Bahrain has positioned itself as a financial center in the region, though it faces competition from larger hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
CFI opened a new UAE office regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority, becoming the first SCA-regulated broker with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The company sponsors sports teams including AC Milan and has partnerships with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and tennis player Maria Sharapova as brand representatives. CFI signed Hamilton as a global brand ambassador in 2024.
