Moneta Markets Expands Middle East Presence with UAE CMA Category 5 Licence

Moneta Markets has received a Category 5 licence from the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA) for its local entity, Moneta Global Financial Services LLC, marking the latest step in the broker's Middle East expansion. The approval was disclosed on Monday.

The licence lets Moneta operate through a regulated entity in the UAE, a market the company describes as a key regional financial hub. The broker said the move supports its long-term expansion strategy and strengthens its oversight framework locally. It also gives clients and partners clearer visibility into the activities the UAE entity is authorised to perform.

Moneta's founder and CEO David Bily called the licence an important step in the company's expansion strategy, reflecting a long-term commitment to the UAE and a focus on operating through a locally regulated entity. The firm plans to invest in staffing, compliance and governance as it builds out its UAE presence, and said the entity will help deepen relationships with clients and partners across the Middle East and North Africa. It also intends to align operations with local regulatory requirements as part of a wider strategy of operating through regulated entities in the jurisdictions where it provides services.

Moneta first entered the UAE market in 2024, offering services through Sterling Financial Services, a firm regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The company also established a Dubai office and expanded its local team at that time.

Moneta is not alone in pursuing a CMA Category 5 licence. In recent months, Vantage, Blueberry, BitDelta and Kudo.com have also obtained the same authorisation, as the UAE attracts more retail trading firms seeking a regulated foothold in the region.