In a global financial system long dominated by legacy institutions, complexity, and fragmented access, a new generation of firms is quietly reshaping how capital moves and who gets to participate.
Rostro Group is one of them. Headquartered in Dubai, Rostro was not conceived as another brokerage chasing volume. Instead, it was built to challenge structural inefficiencies across global and regional markets. These included fragmented infrastructure and opaque pricing, as well as the lack of meaningful access for emerging-market and next-generation investors.
That ambition, says Rostro’s leadership, began with a simple but critical question.
“We didn’t want to create what would be just another forex broker. We wanted to address an ecosystem that had become fragmented, slow, and heavily biased towards large institutions,” Michael Ayres – Group CEO, Rostro Group told Finance 360.
The idea for Rostro emerged from early conversations with founder Roger Hambury, centred on a shared frustration with how financial services were being delivered. While global markets were evolving rapidly, much of the industry infrastructure remained siloed, forcing investors to navigate multiple providers for trading, liquidity, custody, and access to newer asset classes.
“We identified not one, but multiple structural gaps in both global and regional financial markets; the need for true multi-asset access, technology that empowers, transparent pricing and integrated services,” Ayres said.
Rostro’s response was to build a vertically integrated financial ecosystem, one platform designed to support an entire financial journey rather than a single transaction.
Michael Ayres added: “Instead of making clients navigate a maze of disconnected providers, we give them a single, vertically integrated platform that supports their entire financial journey, from trading and liquidity to digital assets and prime brokerage, and soon, payments.”
Why Dubai Became the Strategic Anchor
Choosing Dubai as Rostro’s headquarters was not incidental, said Michael Ayres. The UAE’s positioning as a global financial hub — bridging East and West — aligned closely with Rostro’s focus on underserved and high-growth markets.
“The UAE is one of the world’s most forward-thinking financial hubs. It not only understands the pace at which modern markets are evolving, it also provides the infrastructure to make it possible.”
Beyond geography, regulation played a decisive role. As markets such as digital assets, multi-asset trading, and alternative investment structures mature, Rostro saw the UAE as a jurisdiction capable of balancing innovation with robust oversight.
“From digital assets to multi-asset trading, the UAE has created a regulatory environment that balances innovation with strong oversight, which is exactly what firms like ours need to scale responsibly.”
That regulatory clarity became even more significant with Rostro’s approval from the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority.
“With the recent licence we obtained from SCA, we’ve strengthened our position by operating under a robust regulatory framework that covers key activities and under the promise that our operations are transparent and aligned with best practice.”
One Platform for a Fragmented World
At its core, Rostro’s proposition is deliberately simple, especially in an industry known for complexity.
“For clients, the value proposition is simple: we give you one place for all things money,” Michael Ayres – Group CEO, Rostro Group said.
In the UAE, Rostro’s client base spans institutions, professional traders, family offices, asset managers, emerging hedge funds, and next-generation investors seeking structured access to global markets.
“We serve the full spectrum, but always through a lens of responsible access and institutional-grade infrastructure,” he added.
This institutional foundation has been critical as the group scales across both B2C and B2B channels, particularly through Scope Markets and Scope Prime.
A Turning Point Moment
For Rostro, regulatory approval in the UAE marked more than expansion; it signalled a shift in identity.
“This approval represents much more than a licence to us; it marks Rostro’s transition into a fully regulated financial ecosystem capable of serving both professional and institutional clients at scale.”
That transition has coincided with record trading volumes, the rollout of 24/7 crypto trading, and the launch of DMA Futures and Options, milestones that collectively underline Rostro’s maturation into a globally capable financial group.
“Together, these achievements signal a turning point because they show Rostro not just growing, but operating as a cohesive, vertically integrated financial organisation with genuine global capability.”
Leadership in a Multicultural Market
Operating from the UAE also means leading across cultures, disciplines, and expectations, a challenge Rostro embraces deliberately.
“Leadership in a multicultural environment starts with respect and curiosity.”
Rather than a top-down approach, Rostro’s leadership philosophy focuses on removing friction and empowering teams.
“My role isn’t to tell people how to do their jobs; it’s to give them the direction, support and space they need to do their best work,” according to Ayres.
Shared purpose, the leadership believes, is what sustains performance across borders.
“What unites us is the belief that Rostro can become something genuinely new in financial services,” he went on to say.
What’s Next?
Over the next 12 to 24 months, Rostro’s priorities are centred on disciplined growth, which includes expanding product depth, strengthening technology, and investing in people, with Dubai remaining the operational and strategic hub.
“Our priority is to grow in a way that stays true to our original mission: to create a financial ecosystem that is accessible, modern, and designed for markets and client segments that have historically been underserved.”
For founders and financial leaders considering the UAE, the advice is clear.
“Come in with a long-term mindset. The UAE rewards companies that build real substance — strong governance, solid teams, and a genuine commitment to the market.”
