JustMarketsBefore opening a CFD account, weigh how much of your balance a single move can take.
JustMarkets provides the account infrastructure for scalping, but the real question is whether your risk controls can survive the leverage and the noise.
Scalping is a game of small margins and big volume. The edge lives in the spread, the discipline lives in your position sizing, and the danger lives in the leverage you apply.
The Real Cost of Tight Spreads
For a scalper, the spread is your entry fee. On JustMarkets, the fee structure depends on which account type you pick. The difference between the Standard and Raw Spread accounts is the difference between paying a markup on every trade or paying a commission for a tighter price.
| Account Type | Min Deposit | Spread Model | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | from USD 10 | from ~1.0 pip | 0 |
| Cent | from USD 10 | from ~1.0 pip | 0 |
| Pro | USD 100-200 | Variable | No commission |
| Raw Spread | USD 100-200 | from 0.0 pip | Yes |
On the Raw Spread account, you get the interbank price but pay a commission per lot. On Standard, you pay zero commission but the spread is wider. A 1.0 pip spread on the Standard account means the price has to move in your favour by at least that much before you break even.
The Raw Spread account with a 0.0 pip spread and commission is usually the better deal for high-frequency traders, provided the commission is reasonable. That only works if you're trading enough volume to justify the account minimum of USD 100. With a USD 10 deposit on Standard, you're effectively locked into a slower, less efficient cost structure.
Leverage Realities in the UAE
The leverage cap is not a universal number. It depends on which regulator your broker's entity falls under, and this is the first thing to check on your client agreement.
According to the regulatory data for the UAE, mainland retail caps are reported at around 1:50 on major FX pairs, 1:20 on minors and exotics, 1:10 on commodities, and 1:3 on stocks. Within the DIFC free zone, the DFSA applies leverage around 1:30, which aligns with EU standards.
Offshore brokers marketing to UAE residents often advertise leverage of 1:500 or 1:1000+. The promotional page might show 1:1000, but your actual account settings might default to something else. The margin requirement is the inverse of leverage. At 1:1000, a 0.1% adverse move wipes out the margin on your position.
Risk in Plain Terms
The discipline doesn't come from the platform, it comes from your rules.
- The market moves in ticks, not in trends. A 5-pip loss on one trade is fine. A 5-pip loss on 20 trades in a row is a destroyed account unless you size down.
- Swap rates matter. If you hold a scalping position overnight, the swap can eat your edge. JustMarkets offers a swap-free Islamic account, which is relevant for many UAE traders, but if you're not using it, check the swap costs on your instrument.
- Slippage during high volatility is normal. During London or New York sessions, the spread widens. Your entry price might be worse than the one you see on the chart.
- Withdrawal speed matters more than deposit speed. You can deposit instantly with a card, but the real test is when you want to take profits out.
UAE licensing and verification
In the UAE, any firm offering forex or CFD services to the public must hold a local licence from the SCA/CMA on the mainland, the DFSA in DIFC, or the FSRA in ADGM. The registration number on the client agreement must match the legal entity operating your account.
You can check the DFSA public register or the SCA/CMA open-data register to confirm the entity you're dealing with. If the broker's entity is offshore and not licensed locally, you're trading under a different legal framework. The regulatory safety net is weaker. The SCA/CMA publishes a violations and warnings page, and regulators regularly issue alerts about unauthorised and impersonating firms using cold calls, WhatsApp, and social-media promotions.
If you can't find the registration number quickly, that's a red flag worth investigating before you fund the account.
Platforms and Execution
JustMarkets offers MT4, MT5, and a mobile app. For a scalper, MT5 is usually the better choice because of its superior backtesting engine and more granular timeframes. The platform itself is stable, but the connection speed depends on your internet and the server location.
JustMarkets covers FX, metals, energies, indices, crypto CFDs, and stocks. Not all instruments are created equal for scalping. The tightest spreads are usually on the major FX pairs like AUD/USD. Crypto CFDs can have wider spreads and unpredictable gaps. Stick to the liquid instruments during the London/NY overlap, which falls between 16:00 and 20:00 GST, when liquidity is at its peak.
What Changes the Game
The novice looks at the leverage, the bonus, and the minimum deposit. The experienced trader looks at the cost per trade, the maximum drawdown they can tolerate, and the regulatory entity on their client agreement.
The USD 30 no-deposit bonus and the 50% deposit bonus might look attractive, but bonuses usually come with volume requirements. Before you accept a bonus, read the terms. A bonus that demands a certain trading volume in a month can force you to trade when the market is dead, which is exactly when a scalper struggles.
For the experienced trader, the Raw Spread account is the more logical fit. The cost is transparent: a commission per lot and a raw spread. You can calculate your break-even point precisely.
Information for the UAE Trader
Local bank transfers from Emirates NBD, ADCB, or Dubai Islamic Bank work fine, but they take 1-2 business days. Card and e-wallet deposits are usually instant. To avoid conversion costs, look for an AED-denominated account. Otherwise, USD accounts are standard.
The AED is pegged to the USD (~3.6725), and profits can move in and out freely. The only friction comes from standard AML/KYC and source-of-funds checks on larger transfers. Keep your documentation handy.
Questions
Does JustMarkets allow scalping on all account types?
Yes, scalping is permitted across the account types. The Standard, Cent, Pro, and Raw Spread accounts all allow for opening and closing positions within seconds. The difference is the cost structure. The Raw Spread account is more cost-efficient for high-frequency scalping due to tighter raw spreads with a commission.
Which is better for scalping on JustMarkets, MT4 or MT5?
MT5 is the better choice for scalping. It offers more timeframes, a better built-in economic calendar, and significantly faster backtesting capabilities compared to MT4. Both platforms are stable for live execution, but MT5's additional features give a scalper more tools to analyse short-term moves.
Is the tight spread worth the commission on the Raw Spread account?
For scalpers, yes. If you're making dozens of trades a day, a 1.0 pip spread on the Standard account costs you USD 10 per standard lot round-trip on the spread alone. The Raw Spread account, with a 0.0 pip spread and a small commission per lot, often works out cheaper when the volume is high. You need to estimate your average spread and calculate the total cost per trade.
What leverage should a scalper use in the UAE?
Given the local regulatory context and general risk principles, lower leverage is safer, even if a broker advertises higher. Leverage of 1:30 or 1:50 is more than enough for scalping. Higher leverage reduces the distance to the margin call and amplifies sudden adverse moves. The advantage of any leverage above 1:50 is largely an illusion when the real trading capital is small.