PU Prime Expands to UAE
Global brokerage group PU Prime has secured a Capital Market Authority (CMA) license in the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai-based entity, PU Prime Financial Services LLC, is now permitted to conduct regulated financial promotion activities within the country. This move expands the firm's regulatory footprint, which already includes licenses in Australia, South Africa, and other jurisdictions.
- The "Category Five" license obtained by PU Prime is for arrangement and advisory services, permitting activities like financial consulting, promotion, and introducing clients to regulated entities abroad. This license category requires a minimum paid-up capital of AED 500,000. - The regulator, the Capital Market Authority (CMA), was recently rebranded from the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) as of January 1, 2026. This was part of a broader modernization of the UAE's financial framework to align with international standards and enhance investor protection. - The move is part of a larger trend of financial firms flocking to the UAE. In 2025, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) saw a 39% year-on-year increase in new company registrations, reaching a total of 8,844 active firms. - The number of wealth and asset management firms in the DIFC grew by 22% in 2025 to over 500, which includes 102 hedge funds. The total workforce in the financial hub grew to 50,200 professionals. - Other major financial institutions that recently expanded their presence in Dubai include Allianz Trade, Cambridge Associates, PIMCO, Starwood Capital, and Warburg Pincus. - This influx of firms is a response to Dubai's growing reputation as a global financial hub, which is supported by significant infrastructure investment and strategic initiatives like the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). In 2025, the Dubai International Chamber of Commerce attracted 64 new multinational corporations to the city.
