Rostro Group Secures Category 5 Licence From UAE Regulator SCA

Rostro Group has obtained a Category 5 licence from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), marking a pivotal milestone in its expansion strategy and affirming its commitment to operating within one of the world’s most progressive regulatory environments. The licensing approval elevates the Group’s standing as a compliant and trusted participant within the UAE’s rapidly developing financial ecosystem.

The award of the licence coincides with the SCA’s ongoing efforts to raise industry standards through enhanced oversight, transparency, and investor protection. For Rostro, the approval reflects both regulatory confidence and alignment with the UAE’s ambitions to build a robust, future-ready financial marketplace capable of attracting global institutional participation.

Rostro Group’s regional leadership, guided by CEO Michael Ayres, positions the UAE as a central hub in the firm’s long-term strategy. Ayres emphasised that the financial transformation underway in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is unmatched globally, noting that the UAE is emerging as a peer to financial centres such as London, Singapore, and New York.

Expansion of CFD Offering and Development of Regional Market Indices

The Group has significantly expanded its product suite to include access to more than 60 regional CFD equities, giving traders exposure to some of the UAE’s most active and strategically significant companies. This expansion enhances Rostro’s ability to serve both regional and global investors viewking opportunities in the Gulf’s quick-growing markets.

In addition to equities, Rostro has developed proprietary CFD indices designed to track the performance of Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock markets. These indices provide investors with diversified, benchmark-style access to the UAE’s capital markets and reflect the country’s increasing relevance within global investment strategies.

The widened product offering supports the Group’s objective of creating a unified, multi-brand ecosystem that accommodates various investor categories. Together, Scope Prime and Scope Markets deliver institutional-grade infrastructure alongside streamlined retail access, reinforcing Rostro’s integrated approach to global financial services.

Strengthening Regional Infrastructure Through Banking and Brokerage Capabilities

Rostro Group has already established key banking relationships within the UAE, ensuring it can support seamless client onboarding and liquidity flows across both institutional and retail channels. These foundations enable the firm to meet regional expectations for operational resilience and regulatory compliance.

The Scope Prime division is now positioned to deliver multi-asset prime brokerage services across the GCC, offering institutions access to advanced trading infrastructure. This includes enhanced connectivity, liquidity answers, and technology frameworks designed to serve sophisticated market participants.

Meanwhile, Scope Markets is expanding its retail footprint by offering accounts denominated in multiple currencies, including AED and USD. This flexibility aligns with the UAE’s diverse investor base and supports Rostro’s broader mission to deliver frictionless access to global markets through a unified ecosystem.