Kudo.com Secures UAE Category 5 License and Adds Gulf-Listed Equities

CFD broker Kudo.com, formerly known as Kudotrade, announced it has secured a Category 5 license from the United Arab Emirates. The license, issued on June 9, facilitates the firm's expansion across the Gulf region.

The license permits "Promotion and Introduction" activities, allowing Kudo to market services and refer clients within the UAE but not execute trades or hold customer funds locally. This aligns with steps the company has signaled for months, including opening a Dubai office and rebranding to Kudo.com earlier in June.

Kudo described the issuer as the UAE Capital Markets Authority, though the federal regulator is the Securities and Commodities Authority. This limited license means Kudo's trading operations continue through its offshore entity, Kudo Trade (Mauritius) Ltd, which holds a Mauritius Financial Services Commission license.

Concurrently, Kudo added a suite of Gulf-listed equities to its platform. The list includes stocks from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, such as Emaar Properties, Saudi Aramco, and Qatar National Bank. As a CFD broker, Kudo provides exposure to these stocks rather than direct ownership.

Kudo's COO Finley Wilkinson linked the license to global expansion, stating it shows commitment to operating within trusted regulatory frameworks. The firm joins numerous brokers seeking UAE credentials, with the SCA reporting an 18% rise in applications. While some firms like Plus500 hold more extensive licenses, Kudo's current permit is for promotion and introduction.

The license and equity additions are part of Kudo's broader growth strategy. Launched in 2024, the broker introduced a prop trading product, Kudo Funded, in September 2025 and hired former Capital.com and HFM executive Stathis Flangofas as CFO. These moves aim to build an offering that extends beyond standard CFD trading.