Financial and Business News

CFI Strengthens Middle East Presence with Second UAE License

Friday, 24/11/2023 | 10:48 GMT by Tareq Sikder
  • The license positions the firm for expansion in the Middle East and wider MENA region.
  • Earlier, the firm inked a one-year sponsorship deal with English football club Sheffield United.
CFI

CFI Financial Group recently announced its acquisition of a Category One license from the UAE's Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), marking its second license in the country. The Group's has regulatory presence in various jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Oman, Mauritius, and others.

CFI’s Presence with Additional License in the Middle East

Expressing his views on this, Hisham Mansour, Co-Founder and Managing Director of CFI, emphasized the implication of obtaining the SCA license. He highlighted that the Category One license, with its elevated paid-up capital requirements, underscores CFI’s aim to provide secure and regulated access to financial markets.

Hisham Mansour, CFI
Hisham Mansour, Co-Founder and Managing Director. Source: CFI

Mansour noted: "This marks our fifth entity launch this year, following our expansions into Egypt, Kuwait, Palestine, and Oman."

Nidal Abdel Hadi
Nidal Abdel Hadi, CEO, CFI Dubai

The SCA license, granted in the same country as CFI's Dubai headquarters, holds value for the Group, positioning it strategically to serve its client base in the Middle East and facilitating further growth in the wider MENA region.

Nidal Abdel Hadi, CEO of CFI Dubai’s SCA licensed entity, emphasized the significance of regional oversight from one of the UAE’s financial regulators. He stated: "The UAE is our home. Our aim is to leverage the region's stability and extensive growth to provide the best in terms of our products, platforms, trading tools, and client service."

European Football Presence with Sheffield United Sponsorship

Finance Magnates reported earlier that CFI had expanded its involvement in European football by securing an initial one-year sponsorship agreement with the English football club Sheffield United. The Dubai-based firm, which enlisted the current Manchester City coach Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola as its Global Brand Ambassador last year, revealed the new partnership back in April this year.

As per the arrangement, CFI will serve as the club's front-of-shirt sponsor or Principal and Official Financial Trading Partner for the upcoming Premier League 2023/2024 seasons.

Under the terms of the deal, Sheffield United, affectionately known as the Blades, would don CFI-branded shirts during their final pre-season fixture scheduled against VfB Stuttgart, a football club competing in Germany’s Bundesliga. Mansour expressed enthusiasm about the agreement: "Sheffield United and the Premier League offer worldwide exposure for our business, and that is something we are very keen to embrace."

CFI Financial Group recently announced its acquisition of a Category One license from the UAE's Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), marking its second license in the country. The Group's has regulatory presence in various jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Oman, Mauritius, and others.

CFI’s Presence with Additional License in the Middle East

Expressing his views on this, Hisham Mansour, Co-Founder and Managing Director of CFI, emphasized the implication of obtaining the SCA license. He highlighted that the Category One license, with its elevated paid-up capital requirements, underscores CFI’s aim to provide secure and regulated access to financial markets.

Hisham Mansour, CFI
Hisham Mansour, Co-Founder and Managing Director. Source: CFI

Mansour noted: "This marks our fifth entity launch this year, following our expansions into Egypt, Kuwait, Palestine, and Oman."

Nidal Abdel Hadi
Nidal Abdel Hadi, CEO, CFI Dubai

The SCA license, granted in the same country as CFI's Dubai headquarters, holds value for the Group, positioning it strategically to serve its client base in the Middle East and facilitating further growth in the wider MENA region.

Nidal Abdel Hadi, CEO of CFI Dubai’s SCA licensed entity, emphasized the significance of regional oversight from one of the UAE’s financial regulators. He stated: "The UAE is our home. Our aim is to leverage the region's stability and extensive growth to provide the best in terms of our products, platforms, trading tools, and client service."

European Football Presence with Sheffield United Sponsorship

Finance Magnates reported earlier that CFI had expanded its involvement in European football by securing an initial one-year sponsorship agreement with the English football club Sheffield United. The Dubai-based firm, which enlisted the current Manchester City coach Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola as its Global Brand Ambassador last year, revealed the new partnership back in April this year.

As per the arrangement, CFI will serve as the club's front-of-shirt sponsor or Principal and Official Financial Trading Partner for the upcoming Premier League 2023/2024 seasons.

Under the terms of the deal, Sheffield United, affectionately known as the Blades, would don CFI-branded shirts during their final pre-season fixture scheduled against VfB Stuttgart, a football club competing in Germany’s Bundesliga. Mansour expressed enthusiasm about the agreement: "Sheffield United and the Premier League offer worldwide exposure for our business, and that is something we are very keen to embrace."

Topics
dubai
licence
retail brokers
CFI Financial Group
About the Author: Tareq Sikder
Tareq Sikder
  • 2110 Articles
  • 37 Followers
A Forex technical analyst and writer who has been engaged in financial writing for 12 years.

More from the Author

Retail FX

Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI

Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI

Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025. In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on: 🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation 🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards 🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets 🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements 🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes 🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape. 🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025 👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events. #FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI

Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025. In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on: 🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation 🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards 🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets 🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements 🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes 🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape. 🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025 👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events. #FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
More Videos

  • Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25

    Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25

    In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide. We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand. We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error. We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.

    In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide. We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand. We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error. We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.

  • Executive Interview | Brendan Callan | CEO, TRADU | FMLS:25

    Executive Interview | Brendan Callan | CEO, TRADU | FMLS:25

    Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner. In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences. We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading. This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.

    Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner. In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences. We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading. This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.

  • Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse

    Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse

    Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025. 🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on: 🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation 🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth 🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations 🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords 🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally 🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy 🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market. 🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025 👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events. #FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview

    Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025. 🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on: 🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation 🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth 🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations 🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords 🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally 🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy 🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market. 🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025 👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events. #FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview

  • Blueberry Broker Review 2026: Regulation, Platforms, Fees & Trading Conditions | Finance Magnates

    Blueberry Broker Review 2026: Regulation, Platforms, Fees & Trading Conditions | Finance Magnates

    In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles. We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading. You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts. We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services. Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance. 📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage. Connect with us: 🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates 👍 Facebook: /financemagnates 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates 🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates ▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official #Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights

    In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles. We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading. You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts. We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services. Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance. 📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage. Connect with us: 🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates 👍 Facebook: /financemagnates 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates 🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates ▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official #Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights