CME Group Expands Middle East Presence with Dubai Office Opening

CME Group, the world's leading derivatives marketplace, has expanded into the Middle East with the opening of its Dubai office located in the Dubai International Financial Centre. The firm will operate locally under a DFSA license, marking a significant advancement in its regional strategy. This expansion responds to increasing institutional and retail participation in Middle Eastern financial markets, which has created demand for broader trading access across the region.

Julie Winkler, Chief Commercial Officer at CME Group, stated that surging market participation has fueled demand for expanded trading access in the Middle East. The new office builds on years of collaboration with regional regulators and brokers and will accelerate the company's ability to help clients manage risk and pursue opportunities in key benchmark products. This strategic move positions CME Group to better serve the growing financial ecosystem in the UAE and surrounding markets.

Serge Marston, Head of EMEA at CME Group, emphasized that the Dubai office represents a significant step forward in elevating the company's EMEA presence for clients. The office will operate as CME Group's Middle East hub, offering enhanced service levels to markets throughout the region. This expansion demonstrates the company's commitment to providing localized support and expertise to Middle Eastern clients seeking access to global derivatives markets.

Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC Authority, expressed delight in welcoming CME Group to DIFC, noting that their presence strengthens a relationship built over many years. Jaffery highlighted that CME Group's establishment in the Centre serves as testament to Dubai's strategic role as a global financial hub and underscores the growing opportunities throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia regions. The DIFC Authority looks forward to supporting CME Group as they capture new growth avenues and strengthen regional connections.

The Dubai office will be led by Sharif Jaghman, Head of Middle East and Africa, who brings nearly 20 years of financial services experience to the role. Jaghman previously served CME Group in London and has held various senior positions at the New York Stock Exchange and Euronext. His leadership will be crucial in navigating the complex regulatory landscape and building strong client relationships throughout the region.

CME Group provides listed futures, options and cash markets across every major investable asset class including interest rates, equities, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural, metals and cryptocurrency products. The company's expansion into Dubai follows its recent listing of the spot U.S. Dollar/United Arab Emirates Dirham currency pair on EBS Market and EBS Direct in response to client demand in the region. For more information on CME Group's Middle East operations, visit https://www.cmegroup.com/content/cmegroup/ar.html.

As the world's leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data through its comprehensive suite of services. The company operates multiple trading platforms including CME Globex for futures and options, BrokerTec for fixed income trading, and EBS for foreign exchange trading. CME Group also operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers through CME Clearing, providing critical risk management infrastructure for global financial markets.