MENA — and the GCC specifically — has emerged as the most consequential regional growth story for the prop firm industry.
Three forces are converging: a young, digitally native trader population; a regulatory environment that is actively building bespoke frameworks; and a capital base that views prop trading as a strategically interesting sub-segment of fintech.
MENA deposit growth outpaced the global average by 21 percentage points in 2025. The UAE's draft licensing regime is the most operator-friendly framework being developed anywhere in the world.
Key Report Takeaways
- MENA deposit growth outpaced the global average by 21 ppts in 2025.
- UAE licensing draft is the most operator-friendly framework globally.
- Saudi entry is the next regulatory event to watch.
- North Africa is an emerging trader-base story, not yet an operator-base story.
Table of contents
- Regional overview
- The UAE framework
- Saudi & the GCC
- North Africa
- Trader-base demographics
- Operator entry playbooks
- Banking & payment rails
- Outlook
The UAE framework
The UAE SCA's consultation draft separates challenge-based operators from traditional prop desks, with distinct capital, marketing, and payout-segregation requirements. The result, if adopted, would be the world's first bespoke prop firm regime.
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MENAGCCRegional
