GCC Financial Services (GCCFS), our affiliate under common ownership, holds a UAE CMA licence. What it does for UAE clients, and what stays the same.
GCC Financial Services (GCCFS), an affiliated company under common ownership with GCC Brokers Limited, is licensed by the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA), formerly known as the SCA, under Category 5 (Introduction and Promotion), licence no. 20200000283, issued on 27 May 2025. It is a meaningful step for our clients in the UAE, and one worth explaining clearly rather than just announcing.
A UAE CMA License Is Not a Checkbox
The UAE Capital Market Authority is one of the more demanding regulators in the region. A Category 5 license, covering Introduction and Promotion, means GCCFS is authorized to introduce and promote financial services in the UAE under a recognized regulatory framework.
For clients based in the UAE, this matters. GCCFS operates under UAE law, is accountable to a UAE regulator, and is subject to the compliance standards that come with that license.
What GCCFS Adds, and What Stays the Same
GCC Brokers Limited, the company that holds client accounts, is licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius (licence no. GB22200739). STP is its primary execution model: client positions are hedged with liquidity providers, and execution is fully automated with no requotes. The FSC is a well-established, internationally recognized regulator with a rigorous licensing framework, and that foundation does not change.
GCC Brokers itself is not regulated in the UAE. What GCCFS adds is a UAE-licensed affiliate that introduces UAE clients to GCC Brokers Limited. For clients and partners in the UAE, that means:
- A licensed point of contact within the UAE
- A local legal and compliance framework governing introductory and promotional activity
GCCFS introduces clients; it does not hold accounts, client money or trades. Your trading relationship is with GCC Brokers Limited in Mauritius.
Why the UAE Specifically
Dubai and the broader UAE have spent the last several years building a financial services regulatory environment that is taken seriously globally. The UAE CMA — which replaced the SCA in name — has been active in tightening standards, increasing enforcement, and raising the bar for who can operate in the local market.
Having an affiliate licensed by that regulator is not incidental. It reflects a deliberate choice to operate where compliance carries real weight. For a brokerage that has built its model around transparency and structural honesty, a UAE-licensed affiliate is a natural extension, not a marketing move.
What This Means for Clients
If you are a trader or partner based in the UAE, your trading account is held with GCC Brokers Limited, which is licensed and regulated by the FSC Mauritius. GCCFS, an affiliated company under common ownership with GCC Brokers Limited, introduces UAE clients to GCC Brokers Limited. GCCFS does not open accounts, hold client money or execute trades, so your trading relationship remains with the FSC-regulated Mauritius entity.
If you are outside the UAE, nothing about your account changes. Seeking and maintaining a licence in one of the region's most scrutinized markets reflects how we intend to operate long-term.
The execution model, the spreads and the contracting entity stay the same.
You can find more about GCC Financial Services at gccfs.com. If you have questions about what this means for your account or relationship with us, reach out directly — we would rather explain it clearly than let you guess.
For information only. This is market commentary and education, not investment advice. Figures are as at the time of writing.