Page Summary
Explore our top list of regulated and trusted brokers, each tested with real money accounts. All brokers listed are available in the United Arab Emirates as of 2024.
| Rank | Broker | Score | Best For |
| 1 | Etoro | 4.9/5 | eToro is the best online broker and trading platform in 2024. Best for Beginners. Free Stock and ETF trading. Social trading |
| 2 | AvaTrade | 4.9/5 | Best Forex broker. Great research tools. Fast account openning |
| 3 | Interactive Brokers | 4.9/5 | Best for stocks and ETFs. Great choice of trading instruments. Low trading fees. |
| 4 | Pepperstone | 4.8/5 | Great choice of trading platforms. Low Forex fees. Great for research. |
| 5 | Saxo Bank | 4.8/5 | Best for professional traders. Wide range of trading products. Great research tools. |
| 6 | ActivTrades | 4.5/5 | Best for algorithmic trading. Low trading fees. Easy account opening |
| 7 | Trading 212 | 4.3/5 | Best customer support. Great for beginners. Low trading fees. |
| 8 | Oanda | 4.2/5 | Best research tools. Great trading tools. Fast account opening. |
| 9 | XTB | 4.2/5 | Best for Mobile trading. Low trading fees. Easy account opening. |
| 10 | Sarwa | 4.1/5 | Best local broker. Great for investors. Full-time broker |
International online brokers’ essential information overview
Many international online trading brokers offer great service, but the ones on our top list go further. These platforms provide a wide range of markets and assets, making them suitable for beginners and experienced traders.
| Broker | eToro | AVAtrade | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone | Saxo Bank | ActivTrades | Trading 212 | Oanda | XTB | Sarwa |
| Minimum deposit | $50 | $100 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days |
| Country of regulation | UK, USA, Cyprus, Australia | Australia, Japan, Ireland, Cyprus, South Africa, British Virgin Islands, UAE | USA, Ireland, UK, Hungary, India, Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore | Australia, Bahamas, Cyprus, Germany, Kenya, UK, UAE | Denmark, UK, France, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia | Bahamas, Portugal, UK | UK, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Australia | USA, UK, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Japan, British Virgin Islands | UK, Poland, Cyprus, Belize, UAE | UAE |
| US stock fee | $0 | – | $0.005 per share, Free for US clents with IBKR Lite plan | – | $0.08 per share, $0.03 for VIP clients | – | $0 | $0 | – | 0.25% |
| Credit/Debit Card | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Popularity of the top 10 online brokers in the United Arab Emirates
Here are the online brokers and trading platforms that traders in the UAE use. Check out the number of users and app downloads for each company below.
| Broker |
Popularity of broker |
Nr. of Trading app downloads |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | ||||
| AVAtrade | ||||
| Interactive Brokers | ||||
| Pepperstone | ||||
| Saxo Bank | ||||
| ActivTrades | ||||
| Trading212 | ||||
| Oanda | ||||
| Sarwa | ||||
| XTB |
Trading fees
The main factors for choosing a broker often include the costs for trades, such as spreads, commissions, and other fees. We gathered the most important fees for you in the table below.
Fees for the best international online brokers in the UAE in 2024
| Broker | eToro | AVAtrade | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone | Saxo Bank | ActivTrades | Trading 212 | Oanda | XTB | Sarwa |
| US stock fee | $0 | – | $0.005 per share, Free for US clents with IBKR Lite plan | – | 0.08%, 0.03% for VIP clients | – | $0 | $0 | – | 0.25% |
| UK stock fee | $0 | – | £0.05 per share | – | 0.08%, 0.03% for VIP clients | – | $0 | $0 | – | – |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $11.4 | $6 | $13.3 | $4.5 | $10.9 | $9 | $28.3 | $11.1 | $11.0 | – |
| US stock index options | – | – | $6.5 | – | $20 | – | – | – | – | $25 |
| Mutual fund | – | – | $15.00 | – | $0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $3.7 | $5 | $4.8 | $3.5 | $3.6 | $1.5 | $1.4 | $3.1 | $1.4 | – |
Other fees at international online brokers
Non-trading fees are charges that aren’t linked to specific trades. They usually include account maintenance fees, deposit and withdrawal fees, and inactivity fees.
| Broker | eToro | AVAtrade | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone | Saxo Bank | ActivTrades | Trading 212 | Oanda | XTB | Sarwa |
| Account fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $10/mo after 1y | $50 per quarter after 1y | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10/mo after 1y | $0 | $10/mo after 1y | $10/mo after 1y | $0 |
Best online brokers for residents in the United Arab Emirates compared
Easily compare and choose the best broker for your needs. Here’s a summary of our scores for the critical aspects of these trading platforms’ services.
| Broker | eToro | AVAtrade | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone | Saxo Bank | ActivTrades | Trading 212 | Oanda | XTB | Sarwa |
| Overall Score | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Fees Score | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 4.8 |
| Mobile Platform Score | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.6 |
| Deposit & Withdrawal score | 4.9 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| Accoiunt opening score | 5.0 | 4.9 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 3.1 |
If you’re unsure how brokerage fees work, read this article on the different fees, charges, and costs.
Financial Market Regulation in the United Arab Emirates
The frameworks for regulation in the UAE are comprehensive and complex. Traders have access to numerous brokerages offering various financial instruments, including stocks, forex, CFDs, commodities, and others. The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) oversees all non-banking financial services, including brokerages.
Brokerages that operate with a direct license from the SCA are known as mainland brokers. They are regulated by specific restrictions regarding ownership structure, capital requirements, and client money handling. These brokers also adhere to Sharia law (Islamic) and must provide interest-free products.
Additionally, there are two free financial zones in the UAE—Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC)—which have their own regulatory systems while still imposing strict rules to protect clients. Brokers in Dubai are regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), and international brokers regulated in the UK or EU can operate within these zones. While not required, many international brokers offer Sharia-compliant or swap-free accounts for Islamic customers.
To start trading forex or CFDs on commodities, precious metals, indices, or shares, you can open an account with an online broker. However, to buy or trade stocks, you need to open an account with a brokerage registered with one of the three exchanges in Dubai or Abu Dhabi: Dubai Financial Market (DFM), Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), or NASDAQ Dubai. You can also gain exposure to UAE and international stocks and indices through CFDs without owning the actual assets.
Now, let’s explore the top international online brokers for 2024 for residents in the United Arab Emirates, starting with the top choice, eToro.
1. eToro – Best for Beginners. Free Stock and ETF trading. Social trading
Min Deposit: $100
Fees: 4.8
Assets available: 4.8
Total Fees:
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more
eToro is a reputable global brand and industry leading broker for copy trading.
Their robust and cutting edge copy trading platform and social trading features allow users to copy trades and portfolios from professional traders and investors. As a CFD multi asset broker, eToro allows users to trade on over 3075 different symbols including stocks, forex, cryptos, indices and commodities. Trading spreads are wide, deposits are free and account minimum is low. There are conversion and inactivity fees. eToro provides a comprehensive list of technical tools, charts, and newsfeeds. Their customer support is available through email and live chat in Arabic and English. eToro is a well established market maker broker with a clean history record, regulated by top tier regulators.
| Broker | eToro |
| Minimum deposit | $50 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, eToro Money, Neteller, Skrill, Trustly, iDEAL, Przelewy 24, RapidTransfer, Klarna, Giropay |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, eToro Money, Neteller, Skrill, Trustly, iDEAL, Przelewy 24, RapidTransfer, Klarna, Giropay |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes |
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more
2. AVAtrade – Best Forex broker. Great research tools. Fast account openning
Min Deposit: $100
Fees: 4.9
Assets available: 4.9
Total Fees: 0.9 pip
AVAtrade is a well trusted global online broker for forex and CFD trading.
Their multi-asset trading platform and mobile trading app enable traders to access 1365+ tradable symbols overall, including 1200+ CFD’s, major currency pairs with low forex spreads and premium options. Beside their proprietary platform AVAtradeGo and MetaTrader, AVAtrade has great selection of copy trading solutions including ZuluTrade, DupliTrade and AVAsocial. Account opening is fast, deposits and withdrawals are free of charge. The minimum deposit is $100. Choose AVAtrade if you are a beginner or semi advanced forex trader, looking to trade major forex currency pairs, options or CFDs as stocks, cryptos, indices or commodities with premium services.
| Broker | AVAtrade |
| Minimum deposit | $100 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank Transfer, Credit/debit cards, Paypal, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, Klarna, Poli, Boleto, Pefect Money |
| Withdrawal method | Bank Transfer, Credit/debit cards, Paypal, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, Klarna, Poli, Boleto, Pefect Money |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes |
71% of retail CFD accounts lose money
3. Interactive Brokers – Best for stocks and ETFs. Great choice of trading instruments. Low trading fees.
Min Deposit: $0
Fees: 4.9
Assets available: 4.9
Total Fees:
All trading involves risk. More than 80% of investors lose in spread bet and CFD trading. As these complex instruments allow for the use of leverage, there is a high risk of losing more money than you have deposited. Before attempting to participate in spread bets and CFDs, consider how well you understand them and if you can afford to lose your money.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted global broker with a well-rounded offer of tradable markets, great educational content and sophisticated order type configuration.
It is a high trusted and well capitalize company with an industry leading trading platform, a competitive fee structure and great global market access. Their low entry level and the Global Trader platform, which is intuitive and easy to use trading station, make this broker s great choice for beginners and advanced forex traders. Professional and seasoned traders will appreciate the great selection of advanced trading tools and order type configurations available on their proprietary Trader Workstation desktop platform (TWS).
| Broker | Interactive Brokers |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity Fee | No |
All trading involves risk. More than 80% of investors lose in spread bet and CFD trading. As these complex instruments allow for the use of leverage, there is a high risk of losing more money than you have deposited. Before attempting to participate in spread bets and CFDs, consider how well you understand them and if you can afford to lose your money.
4. Pepperstone – Great choice of trading platforms. Low Forex fees. Great for research.
Min Deposit: $0
Fees: 4.9
Assets available: 4.8
Total Fees:
Pepperstone is a trusted Forex and CFD broker well know for its support of multiple copy trading platforms, great variety of tradable assets and a enormous research and education section.
The combined offering of cTrader, MetaTrader and various social trading features makes this broker s great fit for copy traders and algorithmic traders. Pepperstone is available through 24/5 phone and online chat support plus offers an extensive FAQ web section, and e-mail.
| Broker | Pepperstone |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit card, Paypal, Neteller, Poli, Bpay, UnionPay |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit card, Paypal, Neteller, Poli, Bpay, UnionPay |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity Fee | No |
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money
5. Saxo Bank – Best for professional traders. Wide range of trading products. Great research tools.
Min Deposit: $5000
Fees: 4.7
Assets available: 4.9
Total Fees:
69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Saxo Bank is a reputable global brand known for its complete overall offer and exclusive conditions for high volume traders and investors.
Users can enjoy cutting edge trading technology paired with a premium interface and great trade execution on mobile and desktop. The Saxo Bank trading platform offers a feature rich trading experience, easy to use interface, competitive margin rates, and trading on over 40,000 financial instruments. This makes them an industry leader in trading assets coverage as an ECN broker. If you can afford the minimum deposit of $10.000, this is the go to broker for traders and investors at all levels. They combine high-quality in-house research with top-tier third-party providers and a diverse portfolio of investment options. Investors who are looking to trade in accordance with Sharia Law can open an islamic account. Saxo Bank also offers high quality customer service in Arabic and English language via phone, email or in person at their local office with guaranteed satisfying answers.
| Broker | Saxo Bank |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity Fee | No |
69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
6. ActivTrades – Best for algorithmic trading. Low trading fees. Easy account opening
Min Deposit: $0.00
Fees: 3.6
Assets available: 3.8
Total Fees:
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 83% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
ActivTrades is a reputable forex and CFD broker regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Their proprietary trading platform called ActivTrader is intuitive, fully customizable and offers a clear report on trading fees. Account opening is fast and easy, deposits and withdrawals are free of charge. Trading fees are below industry average. ActivTrades charges an inactivity fee. Tradable assets are limited to basic classes and instruments which will not be enough for professional traders. Research and educational materials are slim.
| Broker | ActivTrades |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay, Sofort |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay, Sofort |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes |
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 83% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
7. Trading212 – Best customer support. Great for beginners. Low trading fees.
Trading212 is a CySEC and FCA-regulated forex, CFD, and stock broker where traders can trade over 7,000 financial instruments including shares, commodities, ETF’s, cryptocurrencies with up to 1:30 leverage whilst paying no commission.
Trading212 allows investors to buy fractional shares and has two trading platforms available, one for stocks and ETF’s and one for CFD’s. Trading212 is not compatible with MetaTrader 4, 5, cTrader or other external trading platforms, but its own trading platforms are beginner-friendly and feature all the tools and functionalities needed to trade the financial markets successfully. Traders can make use of dynamic charting, multiple advanced order types, and technical analysis tools like indicators. Trading212 provides educational material in the form of Youtube videos and has a free demo account available for those who want to test-drive the trading platform before trading with real money. Opening a live trading account can be done from $10. The Trading212 customer support is available by live chat and email in English, German, French, and 5 other languages.
| Broker | Trading 212 |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, OnlineBankingPL, Giropay, Carte Bleue, Blik, Direct eBanking, Apple / Google Pay, PayPal, iDEAL |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, OnlineBankingPL, Giropay, Carte Bleue, Blik, Direct eBanking, Apple / Google Pay, PayPal, iDEAL |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity Fee | No |
8. Oanda – Best research tools. Great trading tools. Fast account opening.
Min Deposit: $0
Fees: 3.1
Assets available: 1.8
Total Fees:
OandA is a low risk CFD and forex broker with an extensive market research section, daily market updates and social trading features.
Authorized by 6 tier one regulators, it is considered low risk for traders all across the globe. Their trading platform is intuitive, automate-executing and offers multiple features for algorithmic and social trading. Mobile trading is available through fxTrade on industry leading research and charting tools. For a low cost broker, their fees and commissions are above industry average across all accounts (core and default).
| Broker | Oanda |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes |
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money
9. XTB – Best for Mobile trading. Low trading fees. Easy account opening.
Min Deposit: $0
Fees: 3.7
Assets available: 2.9
Total Fees:
XTB is a FSC-regulated broker which offers traders the opportunity to trade forex, indices, commodities, and CFDs on stocks, ETFs, and crypto on their proprietary trading platform (xStation 5) at low cost.
XTB has a minimalistic design and provides its clients with great research tools like daily market news, up-to-date price tables, and market calendars. XTB provides excellent multilingual customer support, a vast library of educational material, and even cashback rebates to professional traders. Beginner traders can familiarize themselves with XTB’s xStation 5 trading platform with the free demo account XTB offers.
| Broker | XTB |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Paysafe, Skrill, ecommpay, PayU, PayPal |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes |
81% of CFD retail account lose money
10. Sarwa – Best local broker. Great for investors. Full-time broker
Sarwa, founded in 2017, is the most popular DFSA and FSRA-regulated Robo-Advisor for both beginner and professional Dubai-based investors.
It features an automated trading platform that offers investors the opportunity to invest in multiple mutual funds and ETFs or trade the markets themselves according to their risk appetite. Sarwa has low trading fees, offers personalized investment options, and is backed by robust technology, making investing and portfolio management easy and accessible to its users.
| Broker | Sarwa |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity Fee | No |
How To Choose The Best International Online Brokers in UAE in 2024
We evaluated the brokers based on the following criteria:
- Verified if the broker is regulated by a trusted authority.
- Compared fees, including spreads, withdrawal fees, and commissions.
- Analyzed every aspect of their services.
- Opened accounts and tested the platform, assessing charting, features, and usability with real money.
Save hours of research! Our expert team has done the work for you, reviewing brokers according to our unique methodology.
FAQ
Do I need to pay tax as a trader in the UAE?
No tax on income or capital gains from trading securities, forex, or CFDs in the UAE.
What is an Islamic account?
An Islamic account follows Sharia law, which prohibits interest. It charges a fixed fee instead of a swap and does not incur interest for overnight positions. Brokers under the SCA must comply with these rules.
Which broker should I choose as a beginner?
Choose a well-regulated broker with low fees. Look for a user-friendly platform and mobile options. A demo account for practice and educational materials are also helpful. Check our BrokerChooser education page and use our “find my broker” tool to find the best fit for you.
How can I invest in UAE-listed stocks?
To buy UAE stocks, open an account with a broker registered with one of the three exchanges: Dubai Financial Market (DFM), Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), or NASDAQ Dubai. You need an investor number (NIN), which you can get online or through a broker.
What is the difference between a stock and a stock CFD?
Stocks mean you own shares outright. CFDs let you speculate on stock price movements without owning them. You don’t need an NIN for CFDs. With CFDs, you profit from the price difference with your broker. Brokers may offer leverage to trade larger positions, but it can increase both gains and losses.
Disclaimer
eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.
Please note that CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
This communication is intended for information and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or investment recommendation. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more
eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which has been prepared by our partner utilizing publicly available non-entity specific information about eToro.
Stefan Grasic is the owner of Business24-7 and has considerable experience in the financial and investment niche, but also enjoys writing articles for the general readership. Stefan is an active stock, CFD, crypto and general investment researcher, advising blockchain companies such as Blockbird, GoCrypto, Hive Terminal at their start up level.