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ActivTrades Financial Services LLC obtained a Category 5 licence from the UAE Capital Market Authority under registration number 20200000480 according to a report by FX News Group. The approval covers financial consultation arrangement introduction and promotional activities within the UAE LeapRate first detailed the development. Clients introduced through the UAE entity will open accounts and conduct trading with the group’s Mauritius regulated operation under the Financial Services Commission.
Category 5 authorisation does not permit the local subsidiary to execute trades hold client funds or act as a full broker in over the counter derivatives or spot forex according to TradeInformer analysis of the framework. The structure follows a common model among international brokers entering the UAE market this year with execution remaining offshore. A separate Category 1 licence would be required for local dealing and custody functions which carries higher regulatory fees of AED 300000 compared with AED 10000 for promotion and introduction activities.
The London headquartered broker already holds licences across multiple jurisdictions including the UK Financial Conduct Authority under number 434413 the Portuguese CMVM for EU operations the Bahamas Securities Commission Brazil’s Bacen and CVM and the Mauritius FSC for its markets entity FX News Group reported. Founder Alex Pusco controls the group which began operations in 2001 initially in Switzerland before relocating its headquarters to London in 2005. ActivTrades offers trading in forex CFDs on shares indices commodities ETFs bonds and cryptocurrencies.
UAE regulators have issued similar Category 5 approvals to more than a dozen brokers during 2026 as the jurisdiction positions itself as a regional financial gateway according to a LeapRate review of licensing activity. Recipients include FP Markets licensed on September 9 Vantage BitDelta Mitrade Pepperstone XM Eightcap BeeMarkets PU Prime Finalto Empire Markets and Blueberry among others. The wave reflects heightened demand for regulated onshore presence amid the CMA’s evolution from the former Securities and Commodities Authority.
Federal Decree Laws 32 and 33 of 2025 which took effect on January 1 2026 created the modernised Capital Market Authority framework replacing the 2000 legislation a King and Spalding legal briefing noted. The changes consolidated oversight and introduced stricter enforcement mechanisms while allowing transitional periods for existing entities to regularise their status. Industry participants have used Category 5 as an initial step to establish compliant marketing operations before considering broader authorisations.
ActivTrades joins a growing roster of international firms that have secured the licence to serve professional and retail investors in the UAE and wider GCC without shifting core brokerage functions onshore according to data compiled by Due Diligence Hub. The subsidiary will focus on compliant client onboarding and partner relations from its UAE base. No client asset risk transfers to the local entity under the approved scope.
