Mitrade, the Australian-regulated CFD broker, has obtained a license from the UAE Capital Markets Authority (CMA), the firm announced today (Thursday), entering the country's mainland market as an energy crisis tied to the Strait of Hormuz continues to drive sharp moves across global asset classes.
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The CMA license, listed under number 20200000397, is Mitrade's sixth regulatory approval globally, the company said. It allows the broker to offer CFD products covering forex, commodities, indices, shares, and ETFs to UAE-based clients. According to Mitrade, the platform currently connects more than six million traders to over 1,100 OTC derivative instruments.
The timing of 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.
"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. "Mitrade is built for speed, reliability, and the ability to trade from anywhere, which is exactly what turbulent markets demand."
A Queue at the CMA's Door
Mitrade's UAE entry follows a well-worn path. The CMA license has become one of the most sought-after regulatory approvals in the FX and CFD industry, with brokers lining up to secure a mainland UAE presence as the region's retail trading market continues to expand, driven in part by a large and financially active expatriate population.
PU Prime obtained a Category 5 CMA licence in February 2026, joining a long list of international brokers that have made the same move. Empire Markets (FXEM), focused on the MENA region, also announced a CMA Category 5 license in March 2026.
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A Finance Magnates analysis published yesterday (Wednesday) noted that the CMA's legal reach across the entire UAE mainland is its most compelling benefit for international firms, while the Category 5 route offers a lower-capital entry point for brands not yet ready for full operational commitments in the market.
It is worth noting, however, that a Category 5 CMA license - the category Mitrade appears to hold - is defined as an "Arranging and Advisory" authorization, covering financial consultation and introduction services.
A notice from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority stated plainly 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 clarify through which regulated entity UAE clients would execute trades.
Sixth License, Sixth Market Push
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 now the UAE's CMA. The South African license, added through 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 approval extends that regional strategy northward into the Gulf.
The broker has also been expanding its product roster and payment infrastructure. In mid-2025, Mitrade added Apple Pay and Google Pay to its platform, a move targeted at younger retail traders in Australia, where digital wallet payments have become a dominant payment method. The company said its instrument count grew from 500 to 800 CFD products during 2025.
