XS.com Secures UAE Licence, Boosting Gulf Presence and Fintech Credentials

Editorial Team

Last updated 13-10-2025

3 min

XS com secures a UAE SCA licence, allowing it to deepen its Middle East presence.

Operating under robust regulations, XS com already holds licences in Australia, Cyprus, and South Africa.

The UAE licence highlights trust and commitment to client protection, enhancing XS com's credibility.

XS com's entry strengthens the regional fintech ecosystem, encouraging cross-border activity with MENA investors.

Sustaining trust through regulated growth is key for XS com's long-term success in global finance.

XS.com has bagged a big win on its global expansion journey, securing a licence from the UAE’s Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA). The new move allows the fintech player to set up a fresh entity under the SCA’s Category 5 licence – a rather coveted one among brokers aiming to operate in the Emirates’ tightly regulated financial landscape.

For context, XS.com isn’t new to working within robust regulatory frameworks. The company already carries licences from watchdogs like ASIC in Australia, CySEC in Cyprus, and the FSCA in South Africa, to name just a few. Now with the SCA’s approval in its back pocket, XS.com is keen on deepening its footprint in what many see as the Gulf’s leading financial hub.

Speaking on the licence, Shadi Salloum, the firm’s Regional Director for MENA, called the development *“a moment of pride for everyone at XS.com and a powerful validation of the credibility we have built over the years.”* He went on to emphasise that the UAE’s international standing makes the new licence not just a formal milestone, but a broader statement of trust and commitment to client protection. Spot on, really — the UAE has a knack for setting the bar high when it comes to governance and transparency.

Established back in 2010 in Australia, XS.com has grown into a major global broker, connecting traders and institutional investors with access to multiple asset classes. Its pitch is fairly straightforward: deep liquidity, responsive technology, and customer service that doesn’t leave traders waiting endlessly on hold. I’ve seen plenty of brokers make similar claims, but XS.com does seem to have substance behind the talk.

That said, not everything in fintech is sunshine and roses. Trading on margin carries serious risk — it’s not for the faint-hearted or the unprepared. The company itself reminds clients that losses can exceed deposits. Always good advice, even if it tends to be buried in small print.

From where I’m sitting at **Arageek**, this move feels quite strategic. The UAE has become something of a magnet for fintech players, and anyone looking to make a regional impact can hardly ignore Dubai or Abu Dhabi. And believe it or not, each time a new firm like XS.com enters with proper licensing, it nudges the whole regional ecosystem a bit higher.

I reckon this approval could pave the way for more cross-border activity between MENA investors and international markets. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves — sustaining trust takes consistent delivery. As someone who’s watched a fair few startups scale too fast and trip over compliance, I’d say XS.com will need to tread carefully.

Still, for a company that’s been expanding steadily for over a decade, this latest stamp of approval is something to be chuffed about. It signals confidence not just in its business model, but in the region’s role within global finance. And if the past few years are anything to go by, UAE’s fintech scene is just getting started — which, frankly, is exciting news for founders and investors alike.

Anyway, the bigger picture’s clear: regulated, responsible growth might be a bit of a faff at first, but it’s exactly what keeps serious players standing tall when the markets get rough. XS.com seems to have learnt that lesson early… and it shows.

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