XTB Expands UAE Footprint with Category 1 and 2 Licences

XTB has strengthened its position in the UAE after receiving Category 1 and Category 2 licences from the local capital markets regulator, a move that allows the broker to operate on a broader local basis than before. The development marks a step up from the companys earlier mainland setup and gives it a more direct onshore role in the market.

What changes with the new licences

Before this upgrade, XTB already had a presence in the UAE through a Category 5 licence, which was mainly associated with promotion and client-introduction activity. Under that structure, a broker could market services locally, but the core brokerage relationship was still more limited in scope. The new Category 1 and 2 authorisations move XTB beyond that stage and allow a fuller local operating model, including the ability to onboard clients and execute trades in the UAE framework.

In practical terms, the difference is substantial. A Category 5 setup is often used to establish local visibility and a commercial presence. Category 1 status, by contrast, places a firm closer to a full domestic brokerage model. That shift matters in a market where many international brokers are present, but fewer operate under broader local permissions.

UAE becomes a more important part of XTB‘s regional map

The licence expansion fits a broader pattern in XTB’s international build-out. The company has already maintained a regulated presence in Dubai through XTB MENA Limited, which is supervised by the DFSA, while also continuing to develop its footprint in other regions. The UAE move suggests that the group is no longer treating the market only as a representative outpost, but as a jurisdiction where it wants a stronger operating base.

This also places XTB among the smaller group of brokers that have moved beyond entry-level mainland permissions in the UAE. In recent years, many firms entered through lighter local structures, while only a limited number progressed to broader onshore brokerage status.

What WikiFX currently shows

On WikiFX, XTB is shown with a score of 7.04/10 and a regulated status, with the profile indicating a long operating history and a multi-jurisdiction licensing structure. The broker page also highlights a comparatively strong software score and a regulation score above 7, which places the brand in a noticeably stronger position than many lower-tier retail broker profiles.

More broker information can be viewed here:

https://www.wikifx.com/en/dealer/1561892500.html

About WikiFX

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