Executive Search in Dubai.
Executive search and senior recruitment in Dubai for FX/CFD brokers, prop trading firms, crypto and digital asset businesses, payments and FinTech groups. C-suite, heads of department and the specialist leaders that trading businesses depend on.
Leadership Hiring For Dubai's Trading And FinTech Groups.
Dubai is now a leadership hub for much of the trading and FinTech industry. Brokers, prop firms and crypto businesses are building leadership teams there, often alongside existing hubs in Cyprus, Europe and Asia. The leaders they need are a small, well-connected group, and most of them are not applying for jobs.
Emerald Zebra runs executive search in Dubai for these businesses. Searches are led by founder Donna Stephenson, who has recruited across FX/CFD, FinTech, financial services and iGaming for 25 years. We map the market, approach passive leaders directly, and assess each one against your brief before they reach your shortlist.
Our searches cover leaders already in the UAE and those outside it who are open to Dubai. Many of our Dubai clients also hire in Cyprus or APAC, so one search partner covers every hub. See our wider executive recruitment service and global FinTech recruitment.
Where We've Searched In Dubai.
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Product Officer
Chief Growth Officer
Group Chief Risk Officer
Head of Derivatives Product
Head of Trading Risk Engine
Head of People and Operations
Group CEO
Leadership Roles In Dubai.
Chief Executives.
CEO, Group CEO, Managing Director and Country Head appointments for brokerages, prop firms and FinTech groups with a Dubai base.
Technology And Product.
CTO, CPTO, CPO, Head of Engineering and Head of IT for trading platforms, MT4/MT5 and proprietary stacks, payments and crypto infrastructure.
Risk And Trading.
Chief Risk Officer, Head of Dealing, Head of Trading Risk and Head of Derivatives for A/B book brokers, prop firms and crypto derivatives venues.
Growth And Commercial.
Chief Growth Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, Head of Sales, Head of Marketing and Head of Partnerships driving acquisition across MENA and internationally.
Compliance And Finance.
Head of Compliance, MLRO, CFO and Finance Director for firms operating under DFSA, VARA, SCA and offshore licences.
People And Operations.
COO, Head of Operations and Head of People for fast-growing teams that span Dubai and other hubs.
We Know The Licences Behind The Role.
Dubai trading groups rarely sit under one regulator. A typical group holds a European licence, one or more offshore licences and a UAE authorisation, and its leaders need to know what each one demands. We screen senior candidates for the frameworks you actually operate under.
Research-Led, Start To Finish.
Brief And Map.
We define the role, the team it leads and the success profile, then map the market in the UAE and Internationally.
Approach.
We approach passive leaders directly and discreetly, representing your business with the care a senior hire demands.
Assess.
Structured assessment against the brief: track record, regulatory fit and how each person has built and led teams.
Close.
We manage offer and negotiation, including UAE package structures, and stay close through the first months.
Executive Search In Dubai.
Do you only search for candidates already in the UAE?
No. We search the UAE market and leaders elsewhere who are open to Dubai, including candidates in Cyprus, Europe, the UK and APAC who already know the trading and FinTech sectors.
Can you run a search across Dubai and Cyprus together?
Yes. Many of our clients have teams in both, and we can run the same role in both markets so you can compare candidates side by side.
Do you work on a retained or contingency basis?
Both. For C-suite and business-critical roles we recommend a retained or exclusive search. For senior specialist roles, contingency can work well. We'll advise which fits your mandate.
Can you run a confidential search?
Yes. Replacing a sitting executive or building a team in stealth is common in this market. We approach candidates without naming your business until the right stage.
Hiring A Leader In Dubai?
Tell us about the role. We'll tell you plainly what the market looks like and how we would run the search.