Interactive Brokers has made a strategic move by opening a new office in the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), marking its expansion into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The brokerage firm, recognized globally for offering access to over 150 markets, aims to capitalize on the UAE’s growing demand for financial services by providing traders and investors with a direct gateway to global markets.
A Growing Presence in the Middle East
The establishment of the DIFC office represents Interactive Brokers’ commitment to the Middle East, a region that has seen rapid growth in its financial services sector. The new office will serve a diverse clientele, including active traders, hedge funds, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), offering them a wide range of investment opportunities across asset classes such as stocks, options, futures, bonds, and currencies.
“Dubai’s position as a global financial hub made it the ideal choice for Interactive Brokers to set up shop,” the company stated. DIFC’s thriving environment of technological innovation and financial services aligns with Interactive Brokers’ mission to deliver world-class financial solutions.
Institutional FX and Access to Global Markets
Interactive Brokers, holding a Category 4 license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), is now positioned to enhance access to its trading platform for institutional and retail clients in the region. This move will allow investors in the UAE and across the GCC to trade a wide array of securities on a single platform, further diversifying their portfolios with ease and flexibility.
The company also highlighted its unique appeal to institutional clients, particularly in the institutional FX space, which has seen growing demand in the region due to increasing liquidity needs.
Strengthening Global Reach through Strategic Partnerships
This Dubai expansion is part of Interactive Brokers’ larger strategy to strengthen its global footprint through partnerships. Recently, the firm partnered with Acuity Trading to integrate advanced research and decision-making tools into its platform, further enhancing the trading experience for its users.
In addition, Interactive Brokers has teamed up with Saudi Arabia’s SNB Capital, a firm licensed by the Capital Market Authority, to provide international investors direct access to the Saudi Exchange. This collaboration allows clients to trade Saudi stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), broadening the investment options available through Interactive Brokers.
Strong Growth and Performance Metrics
The expansion follows a period of robust financial performance for Interactive Brokers. In September, the firm reported a significant increase in trading activity, with Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs) reaching 2.634 million—a 46% rise compared to the previous year. Client equity also surged to $541.5 billion, reflecting a 46% year-on-year increase.
This latest office opening in Dubai not only underscores Interactive Brokers’ strong growth trajectory but also highlights the firm’s ambition to establish a deeper presence in the GCC financial markets, providing regional investors with world-class trading opportunities.
