CME Group opened an workplace in Dubai right this moment (Wednesday), planting its first bodily presence within the Center East as buying and selling volumes within the area climb sooner than in older European markets.
The Chicago-based derivatives alternate will run the operation from Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre underneath a license from the Dubai Monetary Providers Authority. The workplace will operate as the corporate’s regional hub for the Center East, Africa, and South Asia.
CME Group mentioned common each day buying and selling volumes from the Center East jumped 16% just lately, outpacing progress in additional established European markets. The corporate attributed the rise to rising participation from each institutional traders and retail merchants in search of entry to benchmark futures and choices contracts.
Julie Winkler, Chief Business Officer at CME Group, Supply: LinkedIn
“Surging institutional and retail participation in monetary markets has fueled demand for broader buying and selling entry within the Center East,” mentioned Julie Winkler, Chief Business Officer at CME Group. “Constructing on years of collaboration with regulators and brokers within the area, our new workplace will speed up our means to assist shoppers handle threat and pursue alternatives in among the world’s most vital benchmark merchandise.”
The alternate has been working with regulators and brokers within the Gulf for a number of years earlier than committing to a bodily workplace. In June, CME listed the USD/AED forex pair on its EBS platform in response to shopper requests from the area.
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CFD brokers are additionally seeing a surge in volumes throughout the area. For example, Capital.com now conducts over half of its buying and selling actions in MENA, whereas Tickmill has elevated its turnover within the Center East by 54% year-on-year.
Jaghman Takes Regional Helm
Sharif Jaghman will run the Dubai workplace as Head of Center East and Africa. Jaghman beforehand labored in London for CME Group, specializing in technique and progress initiatives throughout Europe, the Center East, and Africa. Earlier than becoming a member of CME, he held senior roles on the New York Inventory Alternate and Euronext, bringing practically twenty years of economic companies expertise to the position.
Serge Marston, Head of EMEA, CME Group
“It is a important step ahead in elevating our EMEA presence for our shoppers,” mentioned Serge Marston, Head of EMEA, CME Group. “Our Dubai workplace will function as CME Group’s Center East hub, providing the UAE and surrounding markets the next degree of service than ever earlier than.”
CME Group provides futures, choices, and money markets throughout rates of interest, equities, overseas alternate, power, agricultural commodities, metals, and cryptocurrency merchandise. The corporate operates the CME Globex buying and selling platform, the BrokerTec mounted revenue platform, and the EBS overseas alternate platform.
DIFC Sees Elevated Exercise
Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Enterprise Improvement Officer at DIFC Authority
Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Enterprise Improvement Officer at DIFC Authority, mentioned the middle has been constructing a relationship with CME Group for years. “We’re delighted to welcome CME Group to DIFC, strengthening a relationship we now have constructed over a few years,” he mentioned.
The Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre hosts hundreds of registered firms and operates as a free zone with its personal regulatory framework separate from mainland Dubai. The middle has been courting main monetary companies as Dubai seeks to place itself as a buying and selling hub between Europe and Asia.
As reported by FinanceMagnates.com in July, the primary half of 2025 was the strongest within the historical past of this particular financial zone. Through the interval, DIFC registered 1,081 new lively firms, bringing the overall variety of lively companies to 7,700. The Centre at present employs 47,901 professionals.
