Page Summary
This guide helps users compare and find online brokers with the best trading platforms in UAE. With the growing number of transparent and non-transparent brokers, choosing the ideal platform for active trading or long-term investing can be challenging.
Proper research, comparison, and evaluation of brokers’ services can help select a trading platform with strict regulation, a wide range of trading and investment instruments, competitive fees, and professional customer support.
This guide compares 213 online brokers available in UAE for traders and investors to review and find the ideal platform for their needs. To help them make an informed decision, a list of the best trading platforms in UAE is shared below, followed by detailed comparison and reviews.
Best Trading Platforms in UAE
- AVAtrade | Best Trading Platform for Forex and Options
- eToro | Best Trading Platform in UAE for Beginners
- ActivTrades | For Variety of Trading platforms
- Pepperstone | Best Forex and CFD Trading Platform
- Interactive Brokers | Best Platform For Stocks, ETFs and Options
- Saxo Bank | Best Advanced Trading Platform
Top Online Trading Platforms in UAE Compared
Key features of online brokers with the highest rated trading platforms in UAE are compared in the table below.
| Broker | AVAtrade | eToro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. deposit UAE |
$100
|
$100
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
$5000
|
| Nr. of financial instruments |
1450+
|
5000+
|
1,624
|
1,200+
|
150.000
|
71.000+
|
| Available assets |
Forex,
Options, CFDs.. FX pairs: 62 Options:44 Stocks:700 ETFs:60 Cryptos:20 Indices:31 Commodities:18 |
Stocks & ETFs,
Forex, Crypto.. Fx pairs:49 FX options:0 Stocks:5,000 ETFs:264 Cryptos:32 Indices:250 Commodities: 54 |
FX pairs: 48
Stocks:1000 ETFs: 500 Cryptos: 16 Indices: 31 Commodities:22 Bonds: 6 |
Forex
CFDs Indexes.. Fx pairs:60+ FX options:0 Stocks:1000+ ETFs: 0 Cryptos:21 Indices:25 Commodities: 32 |
Stocks & ETFs,
Futures, Options.. FX pairs:115 Options:50 Stocks:87,000 ETFs:35,000 Cryptos:20 Indices:3,052 Commodities: 35 |
Forex,
Bonds, Funds.. Fx pairs:190 Options:3,000 Stocks:22,000 ETFs:6,400 Cryptos:20 Indices: 1,069 Commodities:0 |
| Trading fees |
Fx: 0.9 pips EUR/USD
CFDs: 3% avg. spread Forex: 0.9 pips EUR/USD Stocks: 3% average spread |
Fx: 0.9 pips EUR/USD
Stocks & ETFs: 0% |
Fx: 0.9 pips EUR/USD
Stock CFDs: 0.1 Index CFDs: 1.5 Fx: 0.9 pips EUR/USD Stock CFDs: 0.1 Index CFDs: 1.5 |
Fx: 0.0 pips EUR/USD
Stock CFDs: 0% Forex: from 0 pips + $3,5 Commission Stocks: 0% commission + spread |
Fx: 0.08 pips EUR/USD
Stocks & ETFs: 0% Forex commission: from 0.08 pips Stocks & ETFs: 0% commission |
Fx: 0.08 pips EUR/USD
Stocks & ETFs: 0% |
| Deposits & withdrawals |
Bank Wire, Credit Cards, e-wallets..
Paypal, Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money, Webmoney, Klarna, POLi, Boleto
|
Bank Wire, Credit Cards, e-wallets..
Paypal, Skrill, Neteller, Unionpay, Klarna, POLi, Ideal, Trustly, Przelewy
|
Bank Wire, Credit/Debit Card
Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay, Crypto
|
Bank Wire, Credit Cards, e-wallets..
|
Bank Wire
|
Bank Wire
|
| Experience level |
Beginner to Intermediate
|
Beginner & Intermediate
|
All
|
All
|
Intermediate to Pro
Intermediate, Advanced and Institutional investors
|
Intermediate to Pro
|
| Overall Rating |
4.9
|
4.8
|
4.7
|
4.7
|
4.8
|
4.9
|
| Open account | Open account | Open account | Open account | Open account | Open account |
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Trading and Non-Trading Fees Compared
Trading and non-trading fees of nominated platforms are compared in the table below.
| Broker |
EUR/USD spread (standard) |
Stock fees |
CFD fees (gold) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVAtrade | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |||||||||||||||
| eToro | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |||||||||||||||
| ActivTrades | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | |||||||||||||||
| Pepperstone | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |||||||||||||||
| Interactive Brokers | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | |||||||||||||||
| Saxo Bank | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Top Rated Brokers Reviewed
Online brokers with the highest rated trading platforms in UAE are reviewed in more detail below.
1. AVAtrade – Best Forex and Options Trading Platform
ASSETS: Forex, Options, Stocks, Crypto, Commodities, Indices, CFDs
MIN. DEPOSIT: $100 (AED 370)
FEES: 0.6 pips (EUR/USD) and 0% commission on stocks and crypto
TRADING APP: YES
Avatrade is a regulated broker licensed by the ADGM and DFSA. Their trading platform offers access to a variety of assets including CFDs on forex, stocks, cryptos, commodities, and options. It is available through multiple devices including desktop, web and mobile apps. The brokers is preferred by intermediate and advanced traders looking to trade with CFDs on forex and options.
Trading platforms available at Avatrade are listed below.
- WebTrader – web based platform
- AvaTradeGo – mobile trading app
- AVAoptions – options platform
- AVAsocial – social copy trading app
- Mac Trading – MAC trading app
| Broker | AvaTrade | eToro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
| Desktop | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Easy to Use | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Watchlist | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Market Depth/Level 2 | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced Charting | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trading Alerts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo Account | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MT4/MT5 | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Other non-Proprietary | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Proprietary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Social/Copy Trading | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Strategy Tester | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Third party integrations available to AvaTrade users are listed below.
- Full MetaTrader Suite (MT4 & MT5)
- Zulutrade & DupliTrade
- Capitalise.ai
- Expert Advisors
- Guardian Angel
The variety of trading tools offered by Avatrade allows users to implement different trading styles from automated trading, short selling, scalping and hedging. The user interface is simple and intuitively designed. All trading features are available in Arabic language.
Avatrade charges low forex spreads from 0.6 pips (EUR/USD). Zero commission trading is available on stock and crypto CFDs. They additionally charge overnight, currency conversion, and inactivity fees which makes their overall costs industry average.
Deposits and withdrawals are free of charge. Trading accounts can be funded using bank wire transfer, credit card, or e-wallets (Neteller, Skrill, or WebMoney).
Key features:
- Access to 55 forex pairs, 44 forex options & 800+ CFDs
- Fixed forex spreads from 0.9pip EUR/USD
- Excellent copy trading features
- Advanced mobile trading app (AvaTradeGO)
- Access to the full meta trader suite (MT4 & MT5)
Recommended For:
- Markets: Forex, CFDs and Options
- Experience: Casual, advanced and algorithmic traders
- Strategy: Manual trading, short selling, scalping, automated trading (social/copy)
- Ranking: Top forex brokers in UAE for fixed spreads
71% of retail CFD accounts lose money
2. eToro – Best Beginner Trading Platform
ASSETS: Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, CFDs
MIN. DEPOSIT: $100 (370 AED)
FEES: 0.9 pips (EUR/USD) and 0% commission on stocks & ETFs
TRADING APP: 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
eToro is the best trading platform in UAE for beginners. It offers access to 5,000 financial instruments including stocks, ETFs, forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies and CFDs. Users can trade on multiple devices including a web and mobile app. Both have an easy to use interface for starters.
Trading tools at eToro are easy to use for beginners. A list of available features on eToro’s trading platform are listed below.
- CopyTrader (copy and social trading)
- Market, limit and advanced orders
- Smart Portfolios (thematic portfolios)
- Watch list
- Risk management tools
All trading tools and features are available in Arabic, English and three other languages.
eToro charges 0% commission on stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. They charge an average spread of 0.9 pips on most forex pairs. eToro’s non trading fees are above average and include overnight, inactivity ($10/month) and currency conversion fees ($5/conversion).
Educational materials are available in the form of technical and fundamental analysis, video series, webinars and podcasts. A free demo account is also available for educational purposes.
eToro’s customer support is available by email, phone and live chat in English and Arabic.
Key features:
- Access to 135 global markets in 33 countries
- Advanced order type management
- Variety of fundamental and technical analysis tools
- Fractional, OTCB and penny stocks
- Industry lowest commissions
- Low margin rates
Recommended For:
- Markets: Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Indices
- Experience: Casual, Advanced traders, Institutional investors
- Strategy: Day, Algorithmic, Swing trading, Scalping and Auto investing
- Costs: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs. 0.18% on crypto
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
3. ActivTrades – For Variety of Trading platforms
ASSETS: FX pairs: 48 Stocks:1000 ETFs: 500 Cryptos: 16 Indices: 31 Commodities:22 Bonds: 6
MIN. DEPOSIT: $0
FEES: Fx: 0.0 pips EUR/USD Stock CFDs: 0% Forex: from 0 pips + $3,5 Commission Stocks: 0% commission + spread
TRADING APP: 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.
ActivTrades is a multi-asset broker that started in 2001 and has over 100,000 users. Through ActivTrades, users can trade or invest in thousands of financial instruments, including shares, 49 forex pairs, indices, ETFs, commodities, cryptocurrencies, options, and CFDs on these asset classes across global stock markets.
ActivTrades trading platforms feature advanced analysis tools, fast and reliable order execution, real-time quotes, and fast and secure withdrawals. Additionally, its platforms are beginner-friendly and intuitively designed.
ActivTrades offers smooth CFD and forex trading and has low spreads, starting at 0,8 pips (on EUR/USD). Other trading fees include overnight margin funding fees and guaranteed stop-loss order fees. Additionally, ActivTrades charges users non-trading fees, including currency conversion fees and inactivity fees ($10/month) after 12 months of inactivity.
ActivTrades has carefully designed its account options to match its clients’ different trading goals. They offer different types of accounts for different needs, such as professional accounts, individual accounts, demo accounts for beginners, and Islamic accounts.
ActivTrades offers traders access to popular platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ActivTrader, and Tradingview.
ActivTrades offers users research and education tools through webinars, in-depth market analysis, an economic calendar, and explainer videos. Other options include copy trading and algo trading with other features.
Key features:
- Thousands of financial instruments
- CFD trading and long-term investing opportunities through real shares
- Access to options and futures trading
- Low margin rates and overnight funding fees
- Beginner-friendly proprietary trading platforms and apps
- Islamic Swap-Free and demo accounts available
Recommended For:
- Markets: shares, CFDs, forex, indices, ETFs, commodities, cryptocurrencies, options, futures
- Experience: beginner to intermediate
Strategy: day trading, swing trading, hedging, scalping
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.
4. Pepperstone – Best CFD Platform (Winner For Mobile)
ASSETS: Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Commodities, Indices
MIN. DEPOSIT $0 (0 AED)
FEES: 0.6 pips (EUR/USD) average spread
TRADING APP: YES
Pepperstone is a reputable CFD online broker with a license from the DFSA. They offer access to a wide range of assets including forex and CFDs on stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies.
Third party integrations available at Pepperstone are listed below.
- MetaTrader 4
- MetaTrader 5
- TradingView
- cTrader
Platforms are accessible on desktop (Windows and Mac OS), web (WebTrader) and mobile app (iOS and Android). Users can integrate a variety of third party add-ons including Capitalise.ai, AutoChartist, cTrader Automation, and VPS hosting. High liquidity is provided at 99.72% fill rate.
The platform offers access to a variety of trading tools which include:
- Copy Trading
- Real-time price quotes
- Strategy backtesting
- Advanced take profit/stop loss-levels
- MT4 and MT5 mobile trading app
- Expert advisors
- Robo-advisors
The platform charges zero spreads on most forex pairs and a fixed commission of $3,50. They charge competitive spreads on other assets which makes their overall costs low. There are no inactivity and withdrawal fees charged.
Pepperstone’s customer support is available 24/7 in English and Arabic. They are reachable through email, live chat, and phone.
| Broker | AvaTrade | eToro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
| Trading Signals | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Market Research | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Educational Resources | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webinars | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Daily News | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-depth Market Analysis | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Personal Training and Trading Room | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Key features:
- 60+ Forex pairs and 700+ different CFDs
- MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader
- TradingView integration
- Zero spreads
- Tools for professional traders
- Islamic swap-free account available
Recommended For:
- Markets: Forex and CFDs
- Experience: Average and Experienced Traders
- Strategy: Day, Algorithmic, Swing trading, and Scalping
- Costs: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs. 0.18% on crypto
- Ranked: Best CFD platforms in UAE
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money
5. Interactive Brokers – Best Stock and ETF Trading Platform (Winner for Day Traders)
ASSETS: Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Indices, Commodities, Forex
MIN. DEPOSIT $0 (0 AED)
FEES: 0% commission on stocks and ETFs
TRADING APP: YES
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 an electronic brokerage firm, founded in 1978. With 87,000 stocks as CFDs, they have the biggest selection of tradable shares. Their platform supports a wide range of trading tools including fundamental analysis tools, dynamic charting, a full-fledged news widget, option chains and detailed order flow information. All platforms are available on desktop, web and mobile.
Interactive Brokers has 4 proprietary platforms:
- Trader Workstation TWS: is the advanced desktop version for experienced traders and institutional investors
- Client Portal: is the web version, suitable for casual traders and beginners
- IBKR app: is the forex trading mobile trading app
- Impact app: is the stocks and crypto mobile app
Third party integrations available on the TWS platform are listed below.
- TradingView
- TC 2000 and
- Expert Advisors
It also features advanced research tools such as Refinitiv, IBKR Global Analyst stock screener and Trading Central. This makes it a great choice for advanced traders looking for customisation options.
The Client Portal platform has an easy to use interface which makes it better suited for beginners.
Interactive Brokers charges an average spread of 1.4 pips on most forex pairs. They charge 0.18% on cryptocurrencies and 0.9% on CFDs. This makes their overall trading cost the lowest in the industry.
| Broker | AvaTrade | eToro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
| Stocks | N/A | $0,00 | N/A | N/A | $0,00 | $1,00 |
| ETFs | N/A | $0,00 | N/A | N/A | $0,00 | $1,00 |
| Options | $0,90 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0,65 | $1,25 |
| Futures | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0,85 | $1,25 |
| Mutual Funds | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $14,95 | $0,00 |
| Broker Assisted Fee | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $30,00 | $50,00 |
| Crypto | N/A | 1,00% | N/A | N/A | 0,18% | N/A |
| EUR/USD Spread | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Swap-free Account | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Inactivity Fee | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Funding Fees | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Monthly Fee | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Key features:
- Access to 135 global markets in 33 countries
- Advanced order type management
- Variety of fundamental and technical analysis tools
- Fractional, OTCB and penny stocks
- Industry lowest commissions
- Low margin rates
Recommended For:
- Markets: Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Indices
- Experience: Casual, Advanced traders, Institutional investors
- Strategy: Day, Algorithmic, Swing and automated trading and Scalping
- Costs: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs. 0.18% on crypto
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.
6. Saxo Bank – Best Advanced Trading Platform
ASSETS: Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Indices, Commodities, Forex
MIN. DEPOSIT $2,000 (7,345 AED)
FEES: 0.8 pips (EUR/USD) average spread
TRADING APP: YES
69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
A vast selection of 71,000 financial instruments, high-end trading platform, and competitive pricing on higher trade volumes are only few characteristics that place Saxo Bank among the top trading platforms for advanced traders. It is an ideal choice for professionals looking for a flawless trading experience with unlimited customization options, order types, research features, and trade automatization capabilities. It provides free API access for users to deploy Expert Advisors, Robo-Advisors, and other forms of automated trading software.
Saxo Bank A/S is a well-capitalized investment bank founded in 1992. They provide traders and investors with worldwide market access, modern trading app technology, and competitive pricing. On the negative side, their minimum deposit requirement of $2,000 (7,350 AED) exceeds what most retail traders can afford.
Saxo Bank’s regulation by two major UAE financial authorities, The Central Bank of the UAE (Representative Office in Dubai) and the DFSA (Representative Office in DIFC), ensures UAE-based clients’ investments protection of up to 200,000 against bankruptcy and insolvency. Their long-lasting operational history and excellent capital ratios additionally help to establish it as a safe and trustworthy broker.
UAE-based Islamic traders and investors can use Swap-free accounts to trade in compliance with Sharia Law. The account upgrade is possible through Saxo Bank’s professional customer support, available in English and Arabic in person (through their representative Office in Dubai), email, or a dedicated phone number (00 971 4 520 6999).
Key features
- 71,000 tradable instruments
- Advanced charting tools (MultiCharts, TradingView, Dynamic Trend)
- Low forex spreads (0.6 pips EUR/USD)
- Extensive educational resources
- Islamic swap-free accounts
Recommended For
- Markets: Forex, Options, Bonds and Cryptos
- Experience: Advanced and institutional
- Strategy: Automated, Day, Algorithmic, Swing trading and Scalping
- Costs: Low fees on for high volume traders (0.6 pips EUR/USD)
69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
How To Choose The Best Trading Platform and App in UAE?
Criteria for selecting an online broker in UAE with the ideal platform and app for traders individual needs are listed below.
Access to Wide Range Of Assets (Markets)
Brokers with access to a wider range of trading instruments should be preferred. They allow investment flexibility, deverzification and increases chances for profit.
Range of assets of the top choices are compared in the table below.
| Broker | AvaTrade | eToro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
| Stocks | 0 | 3000 | 0 | 0 | 16500 | 23500 |
| ETFs | 0 | 264 | 0 | 0 | 1200 | 7000 |
| Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1000000 | 5900 |
| Mutual Funds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45000 | 17700 |
| Crypto (spot) | 0 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Commodities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Options | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50000 | 3200 |
| Futures | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30000 | 250 |
| Forex | 59 | 49 | 49 | 138 | 105 | 190 |
| CFDs | 158 | 2800 | 1624 | 4000 | 7000 | 19100 |
Low Overall Fees (Trading & Non-Trading)
Two types of fees need to be considered: trading fees (spreads, commissions, flat rates) and non-trading fees (overnights, conversion fees, deposit and withdrawal fees). Brokers with lower overall fees should be preferred.
Fees for trading with different assets of the top 5 choices are compared in the table below.
| Broker | AvaTrade | eToro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
| Stocks | N/A | $0,00 | N/A | N/A | $0,00 | $0.01 |
| ETFs | N/A | $0,00 | N/A | N/A | $0,00 | $0.01 |
| Options | Spread from 7 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0,15 | $0.60 |
| Futures | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0,25 | $1.50 |
| Mutual Funds | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $14,95 | $0.00 |
| Broker Assisted Fee | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $30,00 | $50.00 |
| Crypto | N/A | 1,00% | N/A | N/A | 0,18% | N/A |
| EUR/USD Spread | 0,9 | 0,9 | 0,9 | 1,1 | 0,2 | 1 |
| CFD Gold spread/commision | 0,29 | 0,45 | 0 | 0,50 | 15.00% | 1 |
| CFD Bitcoin spread/commision | 44,46 | 614,28 | 101 | 15,00 | N/A | N/A |
| CFD Apple spread/commision | 0,21 | 0,61 | 0 | 0,20 | 0,05% | 0 |
| Swap-free Account | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Inactivity Fee | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Funding Fees | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Monthly Fee | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Preferred Deposit and Withdrawal Options
Preferred deposit and withdrawal options of users need to be considered. Banking options by top 5 choices are compared in the table below.
| Broker | Ava Trade | eTorro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
| Bank Wire | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| E-Payments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Direct AED Deposits | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Account Minimum | $100
(370 AED) |
$100
(370 AED) |
$0
(0 AED) |
$0
(0 AED) |
$0
(0 AED) |
$2000
(7300 AED) |
Preferred Third-Party Integrations
Third party integrations: Integrations of third party providers extend trading abilities (research, charting, automated trading). The most popular integrations are: MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, and NinjaTrader. Traders’ knowledge level, trading style, and trading goals should be considered when choosing the optimal choice.
Availability of third-party integrations of the top choices are compared in the table below.
| Broker | AvaTrade | eToro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
| Third-party integrations | MT4, MT5, Zulutrade, DupliTrade, Capitalise.ai | N/A | MT4, MT5, Zulutrade, TradingView | MT4, MT5, TradingView, cTrader, Autochartist | TradingView, NinjaTrader, Capitalise.ai | TradingView, MultiCharts, Open API Excell, UpData |
Great Reputation (Nr. of Users & Licences)
Reputation: Choosing a reputable online broker helps to increase trader’s overall safety and avoiding scams. Brokers with a high number of users, positive reviews (feedback), and tier-one licences should be preferred.
| Broker | AvaTrade | eToro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
| Number Of Users | 400K | 2.8M | 100k | 300K | 2M | 1M |
| Tier One Licences | ASIC, FSA, FSCA, MiFID, BVI FSC, ADGM | ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCS | FCA, CSSF, SCB, CMVM, Bacen | FCA, ASIC, DFSA | NYSE, FINRA, SIPC | ASIC, SFC, JFSA, MAS, FINMA, FCA |
Mobile Trading Apps
Mobile app: Mobile apps are used to trade on the go. Users need to consider the following characteristics of mobile apps: compatibility of operating systems (iOS, Android), functionality (access to the same trading features as available on desktop and web versions), and user experience (intuitive trading interface).
| Broker | Ava Trade | eTorro | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank |
| Android app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MT4 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| MT5 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| cTrader | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Watchlist | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting – Indicators | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting – Drawing tools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting – Timeframes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Economic calendar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Traders Personal Preferences
Personal Preferences: Trader’s preferences that should be taken into account are: religion (Islamic account options), language (Arabic, English, Malayalam, Kananda), investment style (automated trading, swing trading, day trading, algorithmic trading, leverage), and residential status in UAE (citizen, expat, tourist).
Which Are the Best Trading Apps for UAE and Dubai?
The best trading apps in UAE include:
- AvaTradeGO – Top overall experience. Slick design resembling the web trading experience, syncing watch-lists and intuitive trading features including a risk management tool (AvaProtect).
- Pepperstone cTrader app – Intuitive design. Wide range of trading features including TradingView, various customisation options and frequent updates.
- IBKR Mobile – Ideal for professional traders. Vast selection of advanced trading features, portfolio management options and fast data streaming.
- eToro app – Great choice for beginner. Ease of use, mirroring features of the web platform including watchlist syncs and responsive charting options.
You can compare key features of the top rated app in the table below.
| Broker |
Trading app rating |
Nr. of Trading app downloads |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVAtrade | ||||||
| eToro | ||||||
| ActivTrades | ||||||
| Pepperstone | ||||||
| Interactive Brokers | ||||||
| Saxo Bank |
What To Consider Before Starting (Tips for Beginners and Intermediate Traders)?
Guidelines to be considered by inexperienced traders are listed below.
Make Use Of Trading Ideas (signals, social & copy trading)
The use of trading ideas and trading recommendations increase chances for profit. Those can be accessed through brokers’ in-house tools (signals, copy trading features) or third party integrations (TradingView, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade).
Start Trading on a Demo Account
Demo account allows users to test their trading strategies and familiarise with the trading dashboard. Demo accounts allow trading with virtual money and prevent inexperienced traders from unexpected losses.
Avoid Trading With Certain Assets
Trading with CFDs, options and penny stocks increase the risk potential of losing money. Inexperienced traders should avoid trading with the listed assets.
Don’t Fall For Leverage Trading
Trading with leverage (borrowed money from the platform) allows traders to amplify their trading position. While it increases potential profits, it also amplifies the risk of potential losses. Trading with leverage should be avoided by beginner traders because of the greater chances of losing money.
How Is Online Trading Regulated In The UAE?
Online trading in UAE is regulated on two levels: the federal and economic free zone level.
- Online trading on the federal level (UAE mainland) is regulated by the the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The SCA is a federal government agency established in 2000. It overseas financial activities on the security and commodity markets in UAE including the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
- Online trading in the economic free zone areas is regulated by their independent regulatory authorities. The main bodies are the Dubai Financial Service Authority (DFSA), the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). Traders can check if a brokers is regulated by the DFSA on their official website in the public register section. Existence and validity of FSRA licences can be confirmed on ADGM’s website.
Are Traders and Investors in the UAE Protected Against Fraud?
The SCA is the main authority that aims to protect traders and investors in the UAE against fraudulent tactics, including deceptive, manipulative, and speculative activities. The main mechanisms adopted by the SCA to protect investors against fraud include regular reviews of licensed brokers, requirement for segregated accounts, sufficient account balances, transparent and effective disputes resolution and adoption of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and know-your-client (KYC) practices.
Traders and investors in the UAE are not protected through an investor protection fund (IPF) in case of fraud or broker bankruptcy.
Conclusion
Online trading and investing is a popular way in the UAE to achieve financial gains and grow wealth. However, the various financial services available on the market require users to evaluate, compare and review a large amount of data to find a suitable option for their needs.
This guide does the hard for our readers to keep them safe and informed by comparing, evaluating, and reviewing the services of 213 brokers available to UAE citizens, residents, and capital nomads. The results of our assessment of the best trading platforms in the UAE are summed up in the table below.
Leveraged and speculative product. Not suitable for all investors. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Capital is at risk.
| RANK | BROKER | BUSINESS24-7 PLATFORM SCORE | RECOMMENDED FOR | MINIMUM DEPOSIT |
| #1 | AVAtrade | 5 | Forex Forex and Options | $100.00 |
| #2 | eToro | 5 | Beginners | $100.00 |
| #3 | ActivTrades | 5 | For Variety of Trading platforms | $0.00 |
| #4 | Pepperstone | 5 | Trading with CFDs | $0.00 |
| #5 | Interactive Brokers | 5 | Investing in stocks and ETFs | $0.00 |
| #6 | Saxo Bank | 5 | Advanced Traders | $0.00 |
Video Summary
Watch a short recap of the top rated choices in the video below or read our review on Linkedin.
FAQ
Which brokers allows direct AED (Dirham) deposits?
Brokers that allow direct AED (Dirham) deposits without conversion fees are eToro and Interactive Brokers. Other brokerages from our list require USD deposits and charge conversion fees currency deposits other than USD.
Is Dirham A Base Currency for Online Trading in UAE?
Yes, the Dirham (AED) is a base currency for online trading in UAE. However, most online brokers require UAE clients to exchange Dirhams (AED) to a major currency like USD, EUR or JPY to make an account deposit.
Which brokers offer commission-free trading in UAE?
Brokers that offer zero commission trading in UAE include eToro, AvaTrade and Pepperstone.
Is online trading legal in UAE?
Yes, online trading is legal in UAE. It is regulated by two financial regulators: the Dubai Financial Service Authority (DFSA) and the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA).
How are profits of individuals generated with online trading and investing taxed in the UAE?
Profits of UAE citizens and residents generated with online trading are not subject to income tax in the UAE. Profits of expats and tourists living in the UAE are subject to tax laws of their country of residence.
Which trading provider in UAE is available in Malayalam and Kananda Language?
Zerodha is the only broker in UAE that supports trading in Malayalam and Kananda language.
What makes the UAE an attractive market to invest?
Criteria that make the UAE market attractive for national and international investments include a stable and diverse economy, political stability, beneficial tax laws, a protective legal environment, and an expat-friendly regulatory environment.
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.
What is the best choice for trading with cryptocurrencies in your opinion?
Hey Haja,
we would definitely recommend OKX – it has low fees, is great for beginners and advanced traders, has lots of staking options and a great mobile app.
Do I need to register for a NIN investor number to start trading in UAE?
Hey Mumaham,
you only need to register for a NIN number if you want to trade UAE stocks listed on the DFM, ADX, or Dubai NASDAQ. If you use an offshore broker or any online broker to trade UAE stocks, you don’t need to register for a NIN number.
I am mostly trading mobile..which broker would you suggest is offering the best mobile app?
Hey Ilya,
all of the brokers we have listed have great mobile apps and it really depends on what you are looking for in an app.
– AVAtrade basically offers the whole spectrum of apps (proprietary apps AVAtradeGO, AVAoptions, third party integrations in MT4 and MT5)
– Capital.com offer 3 different apps where one of them is only for educational purposes
– eToro offers a great app for beginners
– Saxo bank has a great app for professional traders with advanced features and customisation options
Hope this helps
Can I use DFSA or ADGM regulated broker if I live in Abu Dhabi?
Hey Fatmah,
you can use DFSA and ADGM regulated brokers in any country/state in the UAE – so the answer is YES!