“Losses Are the Only Certainty in Trading”: iFX EXPO Dubai 2026 Kicks Off Exhibitions and Sessions

iFX EXPO Dubai opens its exhibition floor today at Circle Dot, launching a full day of speaker sessions, meetings, and networking activities for professionals across the online trading and fintech sectors.

The 2026 edition of the event began yesterday (Tuesday) evening with a Welcome Party at Bla Bla Dubai (Beach Club), where brokers, fintech firms, liquidity providers, and service companies gathered ahead of the main conference agenda.

Running from 10–12 February, the three-day expo features panel discussions, keynote speeches, industry awards, and business development opportunities.

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InvestingLive has introduced the investingLive Academy, a new online platform offering structured trading courses led by market professionals. The academy provides practical, self-paced learning, allowing traders to develop their skills through clear, step-by-step courses. Participants can progress at their own speed and receive certification upon completing the programs.

How Language Shapes Belief and Choice

The session “From Identity to Outcome: The Power of Words in Shaping Belief & Choice” featured Dr. Assad Rizq, Co-Founder and CTO of Quifiy Holdings. In this stand-alone talk, Dr. Rizq explored how language influences belief, identity, and decision-making.

Drawing from his experience as a former neurology doctor and a leading figure in digital finance, he highlighted how the words we hear and choose to embrace can shape personal and professional outcomes. The session offered practical and reflective insights for attendees, emphasizing the role of language in guiding behavior, shaping perspectives, and influencing long-term success.

Redesigning Fintech: MENA’s Regulatory Approach

The session “Inside the Regulator’s Room: How MENA Is Quietly Redesigning the Global Fintech Rulebook” featured Ahmed Allam, financial expert at H.H. The Ruler's Court of Dubai; Paul Herman Boots, Senior Director and Head of Sector Development at the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA); and Nameer Khan, Chairman and Founder of the MENA Fintech Association and FILS.

The discussion provided a high-level look at how fintech regulation is evolving in the MENA region. Panelists explored VARA’s regulatory approach, collaboration between industry bodies and regulators, and Dubai’s role as a global benchmark for fintech, digital assets, and responsible financial innovation.

The conversation also highlighted regulatory priorities, strategic considerations, and emerging opportunities that fintech founders, brokers, payment providers, and investors need to understand to scale successfully in the region.

Burnout, Overtrading, and Cognitive Overload Explained

The session “The Human Side of FinTech: Burnout, Overtrading, and Cognitive Overload in 24/5 Markets” featured Souhail Fadlallah, Business Development Manager at Vantage. The discussion focused on the psychological challenges faced by traders in today’s fast-paced financial markets, where constant connectivity and instant execution can take a toll.

Topics included the hidden costs of being continuously active in the market, managing information overload, and understanding the impact of gamification on trading behavior. The session offered practical strategies for maintaining mental well-being while navigating high-pressure trading environments.

Inside Trading Platforms: Real Experiences Shared

The session “Ask Me Anything: The Untold Stories of Men and Trading Platforms” featured Aeby Samuel, Founder and CEO of FYNXT; Otakar Suffner, CEO of FTMO; and Daniel Cheung, trader and entrepreneur at WChampfx.

The discussion offered a practical, behind-the-scenes look at online trading platforms, covering topics such as using charts, trading tools, and trend analysis. Speakers shared real-world experiences, challenges, and insights that are rarely highlighted publicly, providing guidance and tips for traders navigating the complexities of online markets.

Behind the Scenes of Trading Platforms

The session “Ask Me Anything: The Untold Stories of Men and Trading Platforms” featured Aeby Samuel, Founder and CEO of FYNXT; Otakar Suffner, CEO of FTMO; and Daniel Cheung, trader and entrepreneur at WChampfx.

The panel provided a behind-the-scenes look at navigating online trading platforms, covering topics such as using charts, trading tools, and trend lines effectively. Speakers shared practical insights, personal experiences, and common challenges that are rarely discussed publicly, offering guidance for traders looking to improve their approach and understanding of the platforms.

From Personal Loss to Trading Growth

The session “Trading Life’s Hardest Lessons: From Personal Loss to Professional Growth” featured Riz Iqbal, founder and host of Words of Rizdom and Chart Fanatics. In this standalone talk, Riz shared his personal journey of loss and resilience, beginning with the impact of losing his father at a young age.

He drew connections between life’s toughest challenges and the pressures faced in trading, discussing how adversity can shape the way traders manage losses, risk, and stress. Through candid stories and practical insights, the session explored how pressure can become a catalyst for growth, helping professionals develop performance, clarity, and confidence. It emphasized that the most significant lessons in trading often come from resilience cultivated outside the markets.

Learn Trading Basics at iFX Expo

The “Beginner Workshop: Trading Fundamentals Masterclass [Part 1]” at iFX EXPO Dubai featured Greg Michalowski, Director of Client Education and Technical Analysis at investingLive.com. The 90-minute session was designed for traders seeking a solid foundation and structured approach to trading.

Attendees explored how trading decisions are made, learned to plan trades before entering, and received guidance on building good habits while avoiding common beginner mistakes. The session included live presentations, step-by-step explanations, an interactive quiz, and an open Q&A. Participants who attend both sessions on February 11 will receive a certificate from investingLive Academy recognizing their training and participation.

2026 Prop Trading Roadmap for MENA

The panel “The 2026 Prop Trading Roadmap for MENA Traders” featured insights from Kathy Lien, Director at BKTraders/PropTraderEdge; Nora Bar Tahhan, Managing Director at The5ers; Petros Kalaitzis, General Manager at IC Funded; and Syed Abdullah Jayed, Founder and CEO of FundedNext.

The discussion focused on how prop traders in the MENA region can navigate changing market conditions, evolving prop firm rules, and new trading technologies in 2026. Panelists shared practical strategies for maintaining funding, scaling trading performance, and preparing for shifts in the global prop trading landscape, offering guidance suitable for traders at all experience levels.

Crypto vs Fiat: The Future Debate

The panel “Crypto Messiah vs. Fiat Fundamentalist: Who Owns the Future?” featured insights from Erica Badocco, Founder and General Manager of BLegal.ae – Badocco & Lemieux Legal Consultants FZ-LLC; David Veselinovic, Founder of Crypto 12; Meryem Habibi, Chief Revenue Officer at Bitpace; and Tom Higgins, Founder and CEO of Gold-i.

The discussion examined the evolving role of cryptocurrency in global finance, from its challenge to gold as a store of value to its impact on payments and regulatory frameworks. Speakers debated whether crypto represents a long-term shift in financial markets or a temporary hype cycle, and considered how traditional finance may adapt or retain its central role. The panel also explored regulatory influence on innovation and the potential winners and losers if crypto adoption accelerates, providing a mix of practical insights and differing perspectives on the future of money.

Mind Over Market: AI Uncovered

The panel “Mind over Market: AI Strategies Brokers Don’t Put in Pitch Decks” has brought together industry leaders including Alakh Verma, CEO and Strategic Advisor at Bcentriqe.AI and PwC; Ajay Setia, Founder and CEO of Invincible Ocean; Sameera Fernandes, CEO and Chairperson of Econova Global and Dubai Stockbrokers & Investment Services Business Group; Ahmed Yousre, Promotion Manager at PU PRIME; Prof. Christian Farioli, CEO, lecturer, and author at ESD FZC; and Slobodan Draksimovic, CEO of WAIM.

Panelists discussed how artificial intelligence is transforming brokerage operations behind the scenes, often in ways not shared publicly.

The session highlighted AI applications used to optimize pricing and execution during volatile markets, as well as predictive models for client behavior that have had measurable effects on retention.

The discussion also addressed the limits of AI surveillance, including areas where it accurately identifies anomalies and instances where it may misclassify activity. Speakers shared real-world outcomes of AI implementation, including performance gains, operational challenges, and unintended side effects.

iFX EXPO Dubai Hosts Panels, Awards

Speaker sessions are taking place throughout the day, covering topics such as market structure, regulation Regulation Like any other industry with a high net worth, the financial services industry is tightly regulated to help curb illicit behavior and manipulation. Each asset class has its own set of protocols put in place to combat their respective forms of abuse.In the foreign exchange space, regulation is assumed by authorities in multiple jurisdictions, though ultimately lacking a binding international order. Who are the Industry’s Leading Regulators?Regulators such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ( Like any other industry with a high net worth, the financial services industry is tightly regulated to help curb illicit behavior and manipulation. Each asset class has its own set of protocols put in place to combat their respective forms of abuse.In the foreign exchange space, regulation is assumed by authorities in multiple jurisdictions, though ultimately lacking a binding international order. Who are the Industry’s Leading Regulators?Regulators such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ( Read this Term, trading technology, and growth strategies.

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The UF AWARDS MEA 2026 will be held in the Traders Arena, recognizing companies across the online trading Online Trading Online trading represents the trading of fiat currencies, digital currencies, commodities, stocks and indices, where traders and investors intend to make a profit, via the purchase or sale of the aforementioned products. This is done through an electronic network, made accessible by brokers in the form of an online trading platform or hub.Online trading continues to see a rapid growth year on year, due to a number of reasons. Firstly, the number of brokers offering their services, with more mone Online trading represents the trading of fiat currencies, digital currencies, commodities, stocks and indices, where traders and investors intend to make a profit, via the purchase or sale of the aforementioned products. This is done through an electronic network, made accessible by brokers in the form of an online trading platform or hub.Online trading continues to see a rapid growth year on year, due to a number of reasons. Firstly, the number of brokers offering their services, with more mone Read this Term and fintech industries.

The exhibition doors close at 18:00.

The day will conclude with “A Night with Dealing: The Official Launch Party” at Iris Dubai, bringing attendees together for an evening networking event following the first full day on the show floor.

iFX EXPO Drives Partnerships, Business Development

iFX EXPO is a global event series for the online trading industry, connecting brokers, technology providers, liquidity firms, affiliates, and other market participants. The expo serves as a platform for business development, partnerships, and industry discussions.