News · Analysis
Equiti Opens First Physical Storefront in UAE
Equiti, a contracts-for-difference (CFD) broker, has opened its first physical storefront in Sharjah, UAE, the company announced on Monday 14 September 2026, according to Finance Magnates. The store lets visitors walk in and speak with what Equiti calls “an experienced team” for technology and market guidance, a model more commonly associated with Southeast Asia-focused brokers such as moomoo and Futu. The move reflects the UAE's status as a high-growth, high-touch market for CFD trading, though it remains to be seen whether rivals follow suit.
The digitisation of retail trading has, for most of the past decade, pushed brokers away from physical premises and towards app-based, remote onboarding. Equiti's decision to open a storefront in Sharjah runs against that trend, and signals how competitive the United Arab Emirates has become for CFD providers.
What happened
Equiti announced on Monday 14 September 2026 that it had opened a physical storefront in Sharjah, UAE, according to Finance Magnates. The broker described it as the first such brick-and-mortar location in its history. Visitors can reportedly walk in without an appointment and meet with what the company calls “an experienced team” for guidance on its trading technology and market conditions, per the same report.
Mohamed Hachichou, General Director of Equiti's Sharjah Branch, was quoted by Finance Magnates as saying that “access to financial services is not only about technology; it is also about having knowledgeable people available to offer guidance and answer questions,” adding that the store allows the firm “to provide that personal connection alongside our digital capabilities.”
Why it matters
Physical storefronts are not new to brokerage generally, but Finance Magnates notes that in the CFD sector specifically, Equiti appears to be alone in operating one in the UAE. The report points to precedents among Southeast Asia-centric brokers, including moomoo and Futu, which run similar walk-in stores across Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Finance Magnates also traces the concept back further, to the legacy walk-in investor branches that many brokers operated for decades before the shift to fully digital platforms.
The UAE, and Dubai in particular, has drawn a growing number of CFD brokers in recent years, which Finance Magnates attributes to the jurisdiction's clear licensing framework. Separately, the report cites Capital.com's earlier disclosure that the Middle East accounted for almost 60 per cent of its total platform volume, with the UAE its top market in the region — a figure that underlines why brokers are investing in local presence rather than relying solely on remote acquisition.
What it means for traders
For traders in the UAE, the practical implication is more optionality in how they interact with a broker, rather than any change to trading conditions, spreads or regulatory protections, none of which were addressed in Equiti's announcement as reported. Finance Magnates quotes IG Group's MENA CEO, Sharaz Hussain, describing the UAE as a “high-touch” market where traders have been known to visit local offices to interact with staff or open accounts, a dynamic Equiti's storefront appears designed to capture. Traders evaluating brokers on service quality, rather than purely on cost or platform features, may find this development relevant, though it says nothing about execution quality, licensing status or dispute-resolution track record — factors covered in our methodology for assessing brokers.
What to watch
The open question, as Finance Magnates frames it, is whether other CFD brokers operating in the UAE will follow Equiti's lead and open their own physical storefronts. If the model proves effective for client acquisition or retention, it could become a competitive feature in a market Capital.com's disclosed figures suggest is already a priority region for the industry. Readers comparing brokers' service models more broadly can consult our World FX Awards coverage for related analysis; this article does not state or imply that Equiti has received any such recognition.
FAQ
Is this Equiti's only physical location? According to Finance Magnates, the Sharjah store is described by Equiti as its first brick-and-mortar storefront; the report does not indicate additional physical locations.
Do other CFD brokers have similar stores in the UAE? Finance Magnates reports that Equiti appears to be the only CFD broker with a physical storefront in the UAE, though it notes that Southeast Asia-focused brokers such as moomoo and Futu operate comparable stores elsewhere.
Does opening a storefront change Equiti's trading terms? The Finance Magnates report does not mention any changes to spreads, fees or regulatory status tied to the storefront opening.