RoboMarkets Secures UAE SCA Category 1 Licence, Expands into Middle East Brokerage Market

RoboMarkets has strengthened its global footprint by obtaining a full brokerage licence (Category 1) from Dubai’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), marking a major step in its Middle East expansion strategy.

The approval was granted to RoboMarkets MENA for Financial Brokerage, a Dubai-based entity established in July 2024, according to the regulator’s register.

What Category 1 Means for RoboMarkets

Category 1 is considered the most comprehensive licence offered by the SCA. It authorizes brokers to:

  • Operate as trading and clearing brokers.
  • Act as brokers in global markets.
  • Provide services in non-exchange-traded derivatives and spot FX.
  • Function as on-market trading brokers and securities dealers.

This puts RoboMarkets in a select group of brokers able to provide a wide range of regulated services in the UAE.

A Competitive Dubai Landscape

The UAE has become one of the most competitive regions for online trading firms, with dozens of brokers seeking regulatory approval to capture the fast-growing Middle Eastern client base.

Most firms, however, have obtained Category 5 licenses, which limit them to marketing and client introductions rather than direct trading services. Brands operating under Category 5 include Exinity, VT Markets, Eightcap, EC Markets, and Taurex.

By contrast, only a few brokers hold the more prestigious Category 1 licence, including Plus500 and XTB. RoboMarkets now joins this group, highlighting its ambition to compete directly with established global players.

Meanwhile, IC Markets is also in the process of securing a UAE licence to bolster its regional presence, although details on its licence type have not yet been disclosed.

Leadership in MENA

The SCA’s register confirms that Karine Ugarte has been appointed CEO of RoboMarkets MENA, taking charge of the Dubai entity. Her LinkedIn profile shows she stepped into the role in May 2025, tasked with building out the broker’s Middle Eastern operations.

Strategic Shift for RoboMarkets

The move into the Middle East follows a series of strategic adjustments for the broker. Earlier this year, RoboMarkets’ Cyprus-regulated arm—formerly branded as RoboForex—exited the retail CFDs business, choosing to serve only institutional clients. Its Frankfurt-based subsidiary has since become the group’s hub for European retail traders, offering stocks, bonds, and ETFs instead of leveraged derivatives.

Meanwhile, the Belize-regulated RoboForex brand continues to operate offshore, providing CFDs and high-leverage trading services to international retail clients.

Industry Context

With the new Category 1 licence, RoboMarkets strengthens its position as a multi-jurisdictional broker while expanding into one of the world’s fastest-growing financial hubs. The UAE’s push to attract global trading firms has made Dubai a focal point for both offshore brokers seeking legitimacy and tier-one brands looking for regional growth.

RoboMarkets’ move to secure a Category 1 licence in Dubai highlights how brokers are racing to strengthen their presence across the Middle East’s tightly regulated markets. A similar push is underway from other industry players—most recently, Tickmill announced the opening of a new office in Oman to deepen its regional footprint and better serve clients in the Gulf.

Read the full article here: Tickmill Launches Oman Office to Strengthen Middle East Presence
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