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Best Forex Brokers in United Arab Emirates

By:
FX Empire Editorial Board
Updated: Aug 17, 2021

No matter where you are based finding a good forex broker is hard. If you are located in the UAE you’ll need a broker that caters to you. To make your job easier we have created a list of the very best brokers that offer their services to the UAE. We base our list on research on the service, product and reliability of the companies we review.

The brokers below represent the best Forex Brokers in UAE

Pro Tip: Most of these brokers offer free demo accounts so you can test the brokers and their platforms with virtual money. Give it a try with some play money before using your own cash.

Here’s a list of Best Forex Brokers in UAE  

Note: Not all Forex brokers accept US clients. For your convenience we specified those that accept US Forex traders as clients.

Swissquote

Regulated By:FCA, FINMA, SFC, MFSA, CSSF, MAS, DFSA
Headquarters:Switzerland
Foundation Year:1996
Min Deposit:$1000
Trading involves risks. Products and services of Swissquote are only intended for those permitted to receive them under local law.
Official Site:
Demo Account:Open Demo Account
Max Leverage:1:100 (FCA), 1:100 (FINMA), 1:100 (SFC), 1:100 (MFSA), 1:30 (CSSF), 1:100 (MAS), 1:100 (DFSA)
Publicly Traded:Yes
Deposit Options:Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Cryptocurrencies
Withdrawal Options:Wire Transfer
Products:FX Options, Currencies, Commodities, Indices, ETFs, Stocks, Bonds, Futures, Mutual Funds, Options, Crypto
Trading Platforms:MT4, MT5, Advanced Trader
Trading Desk Type:Bank, Dealing Desk, Market Maker, No dealing desk
OS Compatability:Desktop platform (Windows), Desktop platform (Mac), Web platform
Mobile Trading Options:Android, iOS

Swissquote Bank Ltd. is an online forex, CFD and derivatives trading broker that offers what may be called a total trading package that goes beyond forex or CFDs. Swissquote Bank is part of the Swissquote Group Holdings Ltd, and represents the Swiss-based trading division of the company. Swissquote Bank operates from Gland, Switzerland and commenced operations in 1996.

Pros Cons
  • Swissquote Bank is a regulated entity.
  • There is a comprehensive trader education suite.
  • Customer support is very responsive and provides timely service.
  • Investor protection is very strong.
  • Highly diversified asset base, which caters to all kinds of traders.
  • Many countries are excluded from doing business with Swissquote, which prevents traders in those countries from opening trading accounts.
  • Minimum deposit amounts are high.

FP Markets

Regulated By:ASIC, CySEC
Headquarters:Australia
Foundation Year:2005
Min Deposit:$100
Your capital is at risk
Official Site:www.fpmarkets.com
Demo Account:Open Demo Account
Max Leverage:1:500 (ASIC), 1:500 (CySEC)
Publicly Traded:No
Deposit Options:Wire Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Webmoney, QIWI, Paytrust88, Ngan Luong, Broker to Broker, FasaPay
Withdrawal Options:Wire Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Broker to Broker, QIWI, FasaPay, Paytrust88, Ngan Luong
Products:Currencies, Commodities, Indices, ETFs, Stocks, Futures, Crypto
Trading Platforms:MT4, MT5, IRESS, WebTrader
Trading Desk Type:DMA, ECN, No dealing desk, STP
OS Compatability:Desktop platform (Windows), Desktop platform (Mac), Web platform
Mobile Trading Options:Android, iOS

FP Markets was founded in 2005 and is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), offering segregation of client funds and top tier liquidity. FP Markets is a group of companies that includes First Prudential Markets Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.

FP Markets also offers a range of education and market analysis resources through the Traders Hub which includes technical analysis and fundamental analysis articles and videos, as well as, trading ebooks and video tutorials. Users can access live support via telephone, email and live chat 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Pros: Cons:
  • ASIC regulated.
  • ECN pricing and DMA trading available.
  • 10,000+ tradable financial instruments.
  • Wide range of trading platforms and trading tools available.
  • Excellent customer support and education tools.
  • The volume of choice of markets and accounts may be overwhelming for beginner traders.

FXTM

Regulated By:FCA, FSC, FSAR
Headquarters:Cyprus
Foundation Year:2011
Min Deposit:$10
82% of retail CFD accounts lose money
Official Site:
Demo Account:Open Demo Account
Max Leverage:1:30 (FCA), 1:30 (FSC), 1:50 (FSAR)
Publicly Traded:No
Deposit Options:Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Cryptocurrencies, Skrill, Neteller, QIWI, Webmoney, Maestro
Withdrawal Options:Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Cryptocurrencies, Skrill, Neteller, QIWI, Webmoney, Maestro
Products:Currencies, Commodities, Indices, Stocks, Crypto
Trading Platforms:MT4, MT5
Trading Desk Type:No dealing desk
OS Compatability:Desktop platform (Windows), Desktop platform (Mac), Web platform
Mobile Trading Options:Android, iOS

FXTM, otherwise known as ForexTime, was founded in 2011. The FXTM brand holds licences and authorisations from global regulators such as the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa and the Financial Services Commission of the Republic of Mauritius.

The broker offers the ability to trade on more than 250+ financial CFD instruments covering Currencies, Commodities, Indices, Metals and Stocks from six main account types under two categories called Standard and ECN. These offer a variety of commission-free and commission-based trading with low spreads and minimum deposits.

Pros: Cons:
  • Multiple regulations (FCA, CySEC, FSC).
  • 250+ financial CFD instruments.
  • Commission-free trading available.
  • Wide range of research and education.
  • Not available for USA, Canada, Japan residents.

OctaFX

OctaFX was founded in 2011 and offers Forex ECN trading, as well as CFD trading on Indices, Metals and Cryptocurrencies, across the MetaTrader and cTrader suite of trading platforms for Windows Desktop, Web (Windows and Mac) and Mobile (Android and iOS), as well as their own OctaFX Trading App.

The broker’s OctaFX.eu website is an approved domain registered with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under Octa Markets Cyprus Ltd. This enables users to trade with a broker under European regulatory oversight. The broker’s OctaFX.com website is registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and has no restrictions from European regulators, enabling users to take advantage of higher leverage and bonus promotions.

The services and features offered by OctaFX are designed for both beginner and professional traders, with access to Micro, Pro and ECN accounts, as well as the OctaFX Copy Trading programme and an impressive range of education and trading research tools including AutoChartist.

Pros: Cons:
  • Wide range of trading accounts (Micro, ECN, Pro, Sharia) for beginners and advanced traders
  • Can access Forex ECN with 1:500 leverage
  • Trade on MT4, MT5 and cTrader across Desktop, Web and Mobile
  • Access copy trading, bonus promotions and a wide range of research tools
  • Decision between CySEC regulated OctaFX.eu, or St.Vincent and the Grenadines registered OctaFX.com
  • Limited commodity markets, no individual Stock CFDs
  • Limited deposit and withdrawal options – only through Neteller, Skrill or Bitcoin*

*The broker offers additional payment methods for certain GEOs.

FBS

Regulated By:CySEC, FSCA, IFSC, MAS, CMA (Kenya), CSSF
Headquarters:Belize
Foundation Year:2009
Min Deposit:$0
Your capital is at risk
Official Site:www.fbs.com
Demo Account:Open Demo Account
Max Leverage:1:3000 (CySEC), 1:3000 (FSCA), 1:3000 (IFSC), 1:20 (MAS), 1:2000 (CMA (Kenya)), 1:30 (CSSF)
Publicly Traded:No
Deposit Options:Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Skrill, Neteller, PerfectMoney
Withdrawal Options:Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Skrill, Neteller, PerfectMoney
Products:Crypto
Trading Platforms:MT4, MT5
Trading Desk Type:ECN, No dealing desk, STP
OS Compatability:Desktop platform (Windows), Desktop platform (Mac), Web platform
Mobile Trading Options:Android, iOS

FBS is a Forex ECN and CFD broker which was established in 2009 and is regulated by the IFSC in Belize and the CySEC in Cyprus. Since then, the brand has grown in size, capacity and technology and now supports 12 million traders from over 190 countries trading across Forex, Commodities, Metals, Cryptocurrencies and more.

FBS uses the hybrid broker model of Straight Through Processing (STP) and an Electronic Communications Network (ECN). There is no dealing desk as orders are passed directly into the systems of the liquidity providers at the actual market prices.

Pros Cons
  • Broker is regulated by CySEC and the IFSC
  • Access to investor compensation in case of broker fraud
  • Comprehensive trader education
  • Good variety of research tools
  • Low capital requirements for account opening
  • Spreads are higher than many retail brokers
  • Regulation of global brand is not as robust as the EU brand
  • Leverage offered on global brand is too high (careful risk management is a must)

Plus 500

Regulated By:
Headquarters:Israel
Foundation Year:2008
Min Deposit:$0
72% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Official Site:
Demo Account:Open Demo Account
Max Leverage:
Publicly Traded:Yes
Deposit Options:Wire Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Moneybookers
Withdrawal Options:Wire Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Moneybookers
Products:Currencies, Commodities, Indices, ETFs, Stocks, Futures, Options, Crypto, Forex (CFD)
Trading Platforms:Plus500
Trading Desk Type:No dealing desk
OS Compatability:Desktop platform (Windows), Desktop platform (Mac), Web platform
Mobile Trading Options:Android, iOS

Plus500 was founded in 2008 and is the main sponsor of football club Atlético Madrid. The Plus500 trading platform is offered by Plus500 UK Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and is also a subsidiary of Plus500 Ltd which is a publicly-traded company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The CFD broker’s trading platform is available for clients in more than 50 countries and is authorised and regulated around the world by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Israel Securities Authority (ISA), among others.

Users can trade commission-free with tight spreads on more than 2,500+ leveraged contracts for difference (CFD) instruments covering Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, Options and Cryptocurrencies* on the broker’s own proprietary-based trading platform which is feature-rich and includes advanced risk management tools, including guaranteed stop and trailing stop orders.

*Availability subject to regulation

Pros: Cons:
  • Multiple regulations from around the world – FCA, CySEC, ASIC, MAS, ISA.
  • More than 2,500+ CFDs to trade on, covering multiple asset classes.
  • Commission-free trading.
  • Simple to use proprietary trading platform.
  • Multilingual customer support 24/7.
  • No phone support offered.
  • Lack of market news and trader education.

How to Choose a Forex Broker in UAE

With the forex market not having a central marketplace, it is necessary for a UAE trader to have a forex broker that serves him. When it comes to choosing the forex broker that is right for you, some of the areas you need to take into consideration are the currency pairs being offered, their overall customer service, the various accounts being offered, their regulatory compliance, and their trading platform. In this article we will look at all of these factors and suggest the brokers that stand up to our criteria.

General Regulation & UAE Regulation

The UAE is subject to a toughly regulated environment. This is comprised from two main local regions, first the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and then the rest of the UAE.  The UAE has a standalone regulatory system, which accounts to both the Central Bank of Dubai, The Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (ESCA) and the Ministry of Economy and Planning. At the same time Dubai is accountable to its own regulatory authority the DFSA.

UAE’s authority the SECA maintains oversight over the brokers in the area, so it can maintain a high level of integrity in the industry.

Trading Platform & Software

When it comes to using a trading platform and software, this is your portal to the forex market. It is important to make sure that the software and platform that you are using is easy to use and reliable.

You would hope for a layout that is visually pleasing and for a number of different fundamental analysis and technical tools that you can choose from. All of these features will help simplify the trades that you enter and exit. Some platforms will include a “panic” button that allows you to cancel every position that you currently have open. The standard for a good platform is ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ buttons that are clearly visible. If the interface is poorly designed, it could lead to order entry mistakes that will come with a heavy price tag to pay.

Commissions & Spreads

The commissions and spreads is how a broker generates their income. You have some brokers that don’t charge any commission and instead make their money on the spread (the difference between the buy and sell price), while others will charge a small percentage of the spread along with their commission. It is important to be cautious about those that charge a wider spread, because the size of the spread could greatly reduce the amount of profit that you make from your investment.

Account Types

There are a variety of different account types offered by UAE brokers. They usually start from:

  • Mini account – the account for real beginners, sometimes also offered a micro account.
  • Standard account – usually the most popular type of trading account.
  • VIP account – for institutional or high end traders that create a large volume, often the conditions are much better with this account, such a slower spreads and free VPN to speed up the platform.

In the UAE you will always be able to access the Islamic account too, which is Shariah law compliant. Also you will often find you can start trading with a free demo account.

Customer Service

One of the great benefits about forex trading is that it is happening 24 hours a day, as such you would expect to get customer service whenever you can trade. This includes speaking with a live person and not an automated system.

Funding Your Account

Various brokers will allow you the opportunity to fund your account in a number of ways, such as PayPal, credit card, wire transfer, ACH payment, and business or personal check. Most withdrawals are made by wire transfer or check. A fee may be required for either service.

Additional Services

You can usually expect a variety of additional services. These can include free trade alerts, a trading education centre, daily market news and analysis, sometime news or strategy videos.

Conclusion

As we have gathered there are many factors to consider when choosing a good forex broker in UAE. FXEmpire is here to help save you time and work though, as we have already conducted all of this research on your behalf and come up with the very best broker in the UAE.

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About the Author

FX Empire Editorial BoardDothraki Dukes of Drollery

FX Empire's all-star team of professional analysts with over 45 years of combined financial market experience. From equity to forex, commodities, futures, and cryptocurrencies, their diverse backgrounds and intensive trading knowledge deliver insightful broker recommendations.

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At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.

Why you can trust FX Empire

FXEmpire was founded in 2011, making us one of the first forex broker review sites. You can trust FXEmpire because of our thorough and unbiased review process. With over a decade of experience, we have a team of industry experts who conduct rigorous tests to ensure our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Our reviews are designed to bring clarity and confidence to the process of choosing a broker, and are based on objective criteria and measurable data. Our editorial team is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists, who ensure that our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Additionally, our review system is based on 9 core categories and over 250 distinct variables, which ensures that all aspects of a broker are considered before giving a final rating. So, you can trust FXEmpire to provide you with honest and informative reviews that will help you make an informed decision on which broker will best enable you to reach your financial goals.