Deriv, the global online trading platform, said this week that it has obtained a licence from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) for its newly formed subsidiary, Deriv Capital Contracts & Currencies L.L.C., establishing a new hub in the country..
Deriv Secures UAE SCA Licence to Accelerate Growth in Region
The approval marks a strategic step in Deriv’s regional expansion as it seeks to offer regulated, locally compliant trading services in one of the world’s most dynamic financial centres.
The company, which has a 26-year heritage and serves more than 3 million clients worldwide, said the move aligns with its mission to democratise access to financial markets.
“As we enter our 26th year, the SCA licence for our UAE entity anchors our next chapter of growth,” said Rakshit Choudhary, sole CEO of Deriv. He highlighted the UAE’s “fintech-forward vision” and young, digital-first population as key drivers of opportunity.
Operating under SCA oversight, the UAE entity will provide services tailored to the local market, including Arabic and English in-app support, region-specific payment options, and an AED 10,000 demo account.
Deriv’s mobile app will allow trading in contracts for difference (CFDs) on hundreds of instruments across six markets, with AED-based funding starting from AED 40 and risk-management tools such as stop loss and trailing stops.
Joanna Frendo, Executive Director of Deriv’s UAE subsidiary, said obtaining the licence was “fundamental to our regional strategy,” enabling the firm to deliver transparency, safeguards, and service quality to UAE clients.
The move follows licences in Mauritius and the Cayman Islands and a year of rapid innovation, including Deriv’s transition to an AI-first organisation.
