Tickmill Scales MENA Operations with New Offices and Integrated App-Based CFD Trading

Tickmill has accelerated its expansion across the Middle East and North Africa through a combination of localized infrastructure and platform upgrades. By integrating CFD trading into its mobile application and establishing physical footprints in Kuwait and Oman, the multi-asset broker is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the region’s rapidly maturing retail and professional trading markets.

What was announced

Tickmill has detailed a significant push into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, anchored by the launch of new trading capabilities and physical office expansions. On September 16, 2026, the broker introduced Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading directly within its mobile application. This integration allows users to trade, fund, and manage their accounts through a single interface, streamlining the user journey for mobile-first traders in the region. This development is part of the firm's 2026 product roadmap, which includes additional services planned for the remainder of the year and into 2027.

The expansion includes the opening of new offices in Kuwait and Oman, aimed at establishing a localized presence in key Gulf markets. To bolster its analytical output, the firm has appointed Ranim Turfa as Head of Research & Market Analysis. Turfa brings specialized expertise in forex and Gulf stock markets to the role, where she will lead market analysis and regional thought leadership. This growth is supported by a multi-jurisdictional regulatory framework. Currently, Tickmill UK Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The firm also operates a Representative Office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The company has indicated it is pursuing an additional license to further deepen its market penetration and expand its service offerings across the MENA territory.

"These developments reaffirm our long-term commitment to the Middle East and our mission to provide investors with a transparent, secure, and empowering trading environment. Our product roadmap reflects our commitment to delivering genuine innovation that simplifies the trading experience. The launch of app-based CFDs and the extension of multi-asset access in 2026 demonstrate our investment in platform capabilities that matter to traders. With additional products in development, we're positioning Tickmill for accelerated growth not just in MENA, but globally."

Joseph Dahrieh, Managing Director - MENA at Tickmill.

The companies involved

Tickmill is a global multi-asset brokerage firm that provides trading services across a variety of financial instruments, including forex, stock indices, commodities, and bonds. The company operates under several regulatory umbrellas globally, which has allowed it to scale its operations from a retail-focused broker into a significant player in the professional trading space. Its digital infrastructure is designed to cater to high-frequency traders and those requiring low-latency execution. The firm’s strategy in recent years has focused on bridging the gap between traditional brokerage services and modern fintech solutions.

By maintaining a presence in major financial hubs like London and Dubai, Tickmill has positioned itself as a bridge for international capital entering emerging markets. The company’s focus on the MENA region is part of a broader effort to diversify its geographic footprint and reduce reliance on European markets, which face increasing regulatory tightening. The firm’s recent investments in localized research and physical offices in Kuwait and Oman suggest a shift toward a more high-touch service model in the Gulf, where personal relationships and local market expertise remain critical for institutional and high-net-worth client acquisition.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has previously tracked Tickmill’s efforts to modernize its onboarding processes and expand its regional partnerships. In early 2025, the broker announced it had integrated Sumsub to enhance user experience and ensure seamless digital verification. This move was aimed at automating the Know Your Customer (KYC) process to facilitate faster account opening for its global user base. Furthermore, the firm’s recent move into Oman follows earlier groundwork in the Sultanate. FF News reported in July 2025 that Tickmill partnered with ProTrade Investments to expand its presence in Oman. That partnership served as a precursor to the current establishment of a dedicated regional office, highlighting a phased approach to market entry that prioritizes local collaboration before full-scale infrastructure deployment.

What this means

The MENA region is becoming a primary battleground for multi-asset brokers as European markets reach saturation and regulatory overhead increases. Tickmill’s decision to embed CFD trading directly into its mobile app reflects an industry-wide shift toward "super-app" functionality, where the friction between analysis, execution, and account management is removed. By securing physical offices in Kuwait and Oman, the firm is challenging established regional players who have historically relied on a lack of local competition. The move puts pressure on other mid-tier brokers to match this level of localized investment or risk losing market share to firms that can offer both global liquidity and local regulatory comfort.