Is the UAE Becoming the New Wall Street?

As global capital flows shift eastward, the UAE is positioning itself as a serious contender to Wall Street’s legacy. In this episode, James Bradie of IBKR UK joins Andrew Wilkinson to explore how fintech, regulation, and investor migration are transforming the Gulf into a global financial powerhouse.

Summary – IBKR Podcasts Ep. 315

The following is a summary of a live audio recording and may contain errors in spelling or grammar. Although IBKR has edited for clarity no material changes have been made.

Andrew Wilkinson 

Welcome to today’s episode. I first met today’s guest in March 2007, in a small makeshift kitchen in the office building right next door to where I’m standing today. At the time, he was the only other Englishman in the building when I first joined the company, and he knew the lay of the land around these parts here in Connecticut. He helped me assimilate into the company. Fast forward to today and James Bradie is now the Senior Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers, DIFC, which is part of IBKR UK. Welcome to the program, James. 

James Bradie 

Thanks for the introduction, Andrew. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

So, Interactive Brokers recently opened its first office in the MENA region. 

James Bradie 

Good question. Um, we looked at where the next wave of investor growth would come from. The UAE stood out immediately. They have a government actively driving financial innovation, a young, globally connected investor base, and a clear ambition to become the financial hub of the GCC region. Opening in DIFC allowed us to bring IBKR’s global reach to a market that’s sophisticated, fast-evolving, and hungry for access. It’s a natural fit. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

So now the UAE has a vision for 2030, which is only five years away. From the Dubai Industrial Strategy to Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision, both outline bold ambitions. How does Interactive Brokers’ presence there align with those visions? 

James Bradie 

If you look at the key points of the UAE’s Vision 2030 plan, they all share a common thread: diversification, innovation, and sustainability. That aligns perfectly with IBKR’s philosophy. We’re not just here to offer trading access. We’re here to empower the private sector, entrepreneurs, and individual investors to participate in the global markets. The UAE is moving beyond oil, and IBKR gives investors the tools to explore different products and asset classes. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

James, Abu Dhabi has always been central to the UAE’s financial landscape. How important is that to IBKR’s strategy there? 

James Bradie 

Yeah, Abu Dhabi is very important. A large portion of our client base is in Abu Dhabi—family offices, institutions, investors who value sophisticated tools and global diversification. The ADGM and DIFC frameworks are world-class. What we’re seeing here in the UAE is a serious commitment to developing capital markets. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

Now, you deal closely with both retail and non-retail investors across the UAE. How would you describe the mindset that you’re seeing? 

James Bradie 

Okay, it’s evolving rapidly, to say the least. There’s a new generation of investors who are extremely informed, globally aware, and digitally savvy. They’re looking at the US and Asian markets just as comfortably as they would the local markets like ADX and DFM. At the same time, there’s a growing appreciation for diversification. Investors are no longer just chasing returns. They’re thinking about risk management, portfolio balance, and efficiency. That’s where our multi-asset platform really shines. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

Let’s talk about the new wave of wealth to the region. We’re seeing record numbers of high-net-worth individuals relocating to the UAE. How is the influx of millionaires and entrepreneurial capital changing the region’s investment landscape? And what role does Interactive Brokers play in servicing this new class of investor? 

James Bradie 

That’s one of the most fascinating dynamics we’re witnessing. The UAE isn’t just attracting tourists or corporations anymore. It’s attracting people who want to move their balance sheet here. The combination of lifestyle, stability, and world-class regulation has turned Dubai and Abu Dhabi into magnets for wealth creation. What that means for us is a shift in client behavior. These investors are globally minded. They want efficient access to US, European, and Asian markets, and the ability to trade multiple currencies with increasing local convenience, such as AED funding and transfers. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

Now, FinTech—financial technology—is a core part of the UAE’s digital economic strategy. How is IBKR contributing to that transformation, James? 

James Bradie 

Well, as you well know, IBKR was a FinTech before FinTech became fashionable. We’ve always believed that transparency and technology should be at the heart of investing. Here in the UAE, that means providing best-in-class execution, low costs, and full transparency around pricing. This is something that strongly resonates with investors in the region. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

The UAE has made remarkable progress in building world-class regulatory frameworks—from DFSA in Dubai to ADGM in Abu Dhabi. How important are these developments for Interactive Brokers? 

James Bradie 

What makes the UAE unique is the sophistication of its regulators—DFSA, ADGM, and ESCA. They’re all forward-looking, pragmatic, and collaborative. For us, this provides the confidence to operate in a stable, transparent environment that protects investors and encourages innovation. The balance of strong oversight and openness is exactly what attracts global players like us to the UAE. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

So James, IBKR is well known among individual investors, but you’ve also been expanding institutional and B2B relationships across the region. What’s driving that growth? 

James Bradie 

That’s absolutely right. Over the past year, we’ve seen a surge in engagement from institutions who want to leverage our technology for their clients. The UAE is home to some of the largest and most sophisticated institutions in the region. Many are looking for partners who can offer direct market access, efficiency, and scalability. We’re seeing a strong wave of engagement from firms who want to leverage our underlying technology. They’re realizing there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. IBKR provides institutional-grade technology, global market access, and robust risk management systems. We also learn a lot from these institutions. It helps us refine our offering for the region. It’s not a one-way relationship, so to speak. It’s a partnership. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

And James, if we fast forward to that 2030 date—that vision from the UAE—where do you see the local capital markets and IBKR’s role within that future? 

James Bradie 

I think the UAE will become a true gateway between East and West—not just geographically, but financially. The combination of progressive regulation, strong capital inflows, and digital transformation is building the foundation for a global financial hub. IBKR’s role is to make sure investors have the same quality of access, transparency, and efficiency as they do anywhere else in the world. If we can play even a small part in supporting the UAE’s vision for 2030, that’s a legacy worth building. 

Andrew Wilkinson 

James Bradie, Senior Executive Officer of IBKR UK, DIFC branch. Thank you very much for joining me today.