US-based CME Group has expanded into the Middle East with the opening of a new office in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The firm will operate locally under a Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) license.
“Surging institutional and retail participation in financial markets has fuelled 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 help clients manage risk and access key benchmark products.”
The Dubai office will be led by Sharif Jaghman, Head of Middle East and Africa, who has nearly two decades of experience in financial services, including senior roles at CME Group, the New York Stock Exchange, and Euronext.
CME Group provides listed futures, options, and cash markets across major asset classes including interest rates, equities, foreign exchange, energy, agriculture, metals, and cryptocurrency.
In June 2025, the firm listed the spot US Dollar/United Arab Emirates Dirham (USD/AED) currency pair on EBS Market and EBS Direct to meet regional client demand.
Featured image credit: DIFC
