FXEM Gains UAE Category 5 Licence as Regulatory Competition Intensifies

Empire Markets Financial Services, operating under the FXEM brand, has secured a Category 5 licence from the Securities and Commodities Authority in the United Arab Emirates, formally bringing its onshore activities under the country’s regulatory framework.

The authorisation enables the firm to conduct financial consultation and introduction services within the UAE. Category 5 permissions are generally structured around advisory and client referral activities, rather than full dealing or market-making operations, placing FXEM within a defined compliance perimeter.

The move reflects a broader shift in the regional brokerage landscape. Over the past year, a growing number of retail FX and CFDs providers have sought UAE licences amid tighter scrutiny of cross-border activity and increased demand for locally regulated engagement. For firms previously operating offshore — including those domiciled in jurisdictions such as Mauritius — establishing a UAE-regulated entity has become an important step in maintaining credibility with regional clients.

Khaled Assy, Managing Director at FXEM, described the approval as a structural milestone rather than a symbolic one, stating that regulatory alignment “sets the standard for how we show up for clients every day” and frames the company’s long-term positioning in the market.

Abdelaziz Albogdady, Market Research & Fintech Strategy Manager at FXEM, added that operating within a recognised regulatory structure supports the firm’s efforts to build client trust through defined operational standards and platform access.

FXEM provides clients with access to the MetaTrader 5 platform, offering multi-asset trading through a single account interface. While the firm has historically served clients through offshore entities, the UAE licence consolidates its ability to engage locally under direct regulatory supervision.

As the UAE continues to attract brokerage and fintech operators, regulatory status is increasingly shaping competitive positioning across the MENA trading sector.