Highlights

  • CME Group opens the Dubai office under DFSA license to support regional clients.
  • Spot USD/AED currency pair added to EBS Market and EBS Direct in June 2025.
  • Sharif Jaghman was appointed as Head of Middle East and Africa for CME Group.

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME), one of the world’s leading derivatives marketplaces, has opened a new office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Operating under a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the new office signifies CME Group’s strategic expansion into the Middle East.

Regional Operations and Services

The Dubai office will serve as CME Group’s regional hub, supporting clients throughout the UAE and neighboring markets. It will provide access to trading and risk management services across key asset classes, including interest rates, equities, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, and cryptocurrencies.

Julie Winkler, Chief Commercial Officer at CME Group, said: “Surging institutional and retail participation in financial markets has fueled demand for broader trading access in the Middle East. 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.”

Serge Marston, Head of EMEA at CME Group, added: “This is a significant step forward in elevating our EMEA presence for our clients. 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.”

DIFC Authority Comments

Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC Authority, stated: “We are delighted to welcome CME Group to DIFC, strengthening a relationship we have built over many years. Their presence in the Centre is a testament to Dubai's strategic role as a global financial hub and underscores the growing opportunities in the region. We look forward to supporting CME Group as they capture new growth avenues and further strengthen their connections across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.”

Leadership and Expertise

The Dubai operation will be led by Sharif Jaghman, who assumes the role of Head of Middle East and Africa. Jaghman has nearly two decades of experience in financial services and has previously held senior roles at CME Group’s London office, the New York Stock Exchange, and Euronext.

Recent Market Initiatives

On June 30, 2025, CME group launched the spot USD/AED currency pair on both EBS Market and EBS Direct to meet the rising demand from regional clients, giving local participants direct access to a key foreign exchange instrument.