CME Group opened an office in Dubai today (Wednesday), planting its first physical presence in the Middle East as trading volumes in the region climb faster than in older European markets.
The Chicago-based derivatives exchange will run the operation from Dubai International Financial Centre under a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The office will function as the company’s regional hub for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
CME Group said average daily trading volumes from the Middle East jumped 16% recently, outpacing growth in more established European markets. The company attributed the increase to rising participation from both institutional investors and retail traders looking for access to benchmark futures and options contracts.
Julie Winkler, Chief Commercial Officer at CME Group, Source: LinkedIn
“Surging institutional and retail participation in financial markets has fueled demand for broader trading access in the Middle East,” said Julie Winkler, Chief Commercial Officer at CME Group. “Building on years of collaboration with regulators and brokers in the region, our new office will accelerate our ability to help clients manage risk and pursue opportunities in some of the world’s most important benchmark products.”
The exchange has been working with regulators and brokers in the Gulf for several years before committing to a physical office. In June, CME listed the USD/AED currency pair on its EBS platform in response to client requests from the region.
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CFD brokers are also seeing a surge in volumes across the region. For instance, Capital.com now conducts over half of its trading activities in MENA, while Tickmill has increased its turnover in the Middle East by 54% year-on-year.
Jaghman Takes Regional Helm
Sharif Jaghman will run the Dubai office as Head of Middle East and Africa. Jaghman previously worked in London for CME Group, focusing on strategy and growth initiatives across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Before joining CME, he held senior roles at the New York Stock Exchange and Euronext, bringing nearly two decades of financial services experience to the role.
Serge Marston, Head of EMEA, CME Group
“This is a significant step forward in elevating our EMEA presence for our clients,” said Serge Marston, Head of EMEA, CME Group. “Our Dubai office will operate as CME Group’s Middle East hub, offering the UAE and surrounding markets a higher level of service than ever before.”
CME Group offers futures, options, and cash markets across interest rates, equities, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, and cryptocurrency products. The company operates the CME Globex trading platform, the BrokerTec fixed income platform, and the EBS foreign exchange platform.
DIFC Sees Increased Activity
Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC Authority
Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC Authority, said the center has been building a relationship with CME Group for years. “We are delighted to welcome CME Group to DIFC, strengthening a relationship we have built over many years,” he said.
The Dubai International Financial Centre hosts thousands of registered companies and operates as a free zone with its own regulatory framework separate from mainland Dubai. The center has been courting major financial firms as Dubai seeks to position itself as a trading hub between Europe and Asia.
As reported by FinanceMagnates.com in July, the first half of 2025 was the strongest in the history of this special economic zone. During the period, DIFC registered 1,081 new active companies, bringing the total number of active firms to 7,700. The Centre currently employs 47,901 professionals.
