FP Trading formalises onshore presence in the UAE through new CMA licence

The company said the licence changes the basic structure through which it engages with the UAE market. Previously reliant on regulatory approvals held in other jurisdictions to reach clients and partners in the country, FP Trading can now operate through a locally licensed entity positioned inside the UAE itself. Trade execution and the custody of client funds will remain the responsibility of the firm's existing regulated operations elsewhere, with the new CMA licence applying specifically to marketing, promotion, and client introduction functions carried out within the country.

FP Trading attributed part of its decision to pursue the licence to the ongoing development of the UAE as one of the region's leading financial centres. Over recent years, the country has drawn an increasing number of brokers, fintech companies, and other financial services providers seeking to move past cross-border arrangements in favour of a more established, locally regulated presence. The company said its decision to secure a CMA licence reflects that same broader trend, placing FP Trading among the firms choosing to build a direct regulatory relationship with the UAE rather than continuing to operate at a distance from the market.

According to FP Trading, the shift carries practical implications for both its client base and its regional partner network. On the client side, the CMA licence adds to an already established framework of regulatory approvals spanning multiple jurisdictions, giving the firm a more direct and localised layer of oversight specifically for clients based in the UAE. This is intended to give clients in the region a clearer sense of the regulatory structure supporting the services they use, alongside the protections already in place through the company's other regulatory relationships.

For its network of partners in the UAE and the broader region, including introducing brokers and affiliates, the shift toward an onshore structure should bring a number of tangible benefits, the company said. It pointed to faster communication on day-to-day matters, a stronger working relationship built around an actual physical presence in the market, and infrastructure and support resources positioned closer to where those partners are actively operating, rather than being coordinated from outside the country.

FP Trading also situated the announcement within a longer-term regulatory strategy rather than treating it as a standalone milestone. Its approach to international growth has typically involved building out regulatory coverage on a market-by-market basis, the company said, prioritising jurisdictions where establishing a direct, locally licensed presence would meaningfully improve the experience of clients and partners. The UAE was identified as one of the more significant markets in that ongoing process, given both its scale and the speed at which its trading and financial services sector has continued to expand.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Narayan Joshi, General Manager of FP Trading, said: "Having this licence in place lets us work far more closely with our clients and partners in the UAE. It's a long-term commitment to the region, not a short-term move, and it fits into how we're building out our regulatory presence more broadly."

Looking ahead, the company plans to continue building out its regulatory coverage across additional markets, with the UAE now forming one of the central components of its broader regional strategy. This growth will not be limited to securing new licences alone, and the firm intends to continue investing in its trading infrastructure, technology, and client support functions so that its expanding regulatory footprint is matched by a consistent level of service across every market in which it operates. Further announcements relating to both its licensing activity and its wider regional plans are expected over the coming months, as the company continues to grow its presence across additional markets.

The company reiterated that the new CMA licence should be viewed as one part of an ongoing, long-term international growth strategy rather than an isolated development, and said it remains focused on strengthening its regulatory standing in the markets where it currently operates, while continuing to evaluate further jurisdictions where a similar onshore presence could benefit its clients and partners going forward.

About FP Trading

FP Trading is an international forex and CFD brokerage offering access to a broad range of trading instruments through platforms including MT4, MT5, and cTrader. The company holds regulatory approvals across a number of jurisdictions and continues to expand its regulatory footprint as part of an ongoing international growth strategy centred on secure, well-regulated market access for its clients and partners.