The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) is the federal regulator of the United Arab Emirates’ securities, commodities and derivatives markets. It licenses and supervises brokers operating across the UAE mainland (distinct from the free-zone regulators such as the DFSA in the DIFC).
What SCA regulation means for traders
- Licensing: firms offering brokerage, dealing or margin trading to UAE clients must be licensed by the SCA.
- Conduct rules: the SCA sets requirements for disclosure, client classification and fair dealing.
- Market integrity: it enforces rules against insider dealing and market manipulation.
- Local presence: licensed firms typically maintain a regulated onshore entity in the UAE.
How to verify an SCA broker
The SCA publishes a register of licensed companies on its website. UAE residents should confirm a broker’s onshore licence there, and note whether a firm is regulated by the SCA, a free-zone authority (DFSA/ADGM’s FSRA), or only offshore.
In short
SCA authorisation signals a credible, locally supervised broker for UAE clients. As with most regional regulators, protection centres on conduct and licensing rather than a compensation scheme. Compare regulated brokers in our broker reviews.