Page Summary
This guide helps users to find online brokers in UAE with the best trading platforms for scalping. Scalping is a popular trading strategy in UAE because of its high profitability, independency of market trends and automatisation possibilities. With the wide range of online brokers that allow scalping, it can be hard to choose the ideal service for individual trading needs.
Proper evaluation, review and comparison of different brokers can help investors making an informed decision and selecting a platform with vast range of assets, low trading fees (direct access broker), high execution speeds & reliability, live feed and automatisation options.
This guide assesses 54 online brokers in UAE that allow scalping. To help users find the ideal option for their trading goals, it lists reviews and compares the best trading platforms in UAE for scalping considering algorithmic trading availability, fast order execution, competitive fees, scalping tools (VPS, EA compatibility, and free to use APIs) and scalping trading features (live feed).
Top 5 Scalping Trading Platforms in UAE
- Interactive Brokers – Best for Stocks and ETFs
- IC Markets – Best scalping trading platform for high-frequency trading
- TradeStation – Ideal for options and futures
- Capital.com – Top algorithmic trading platform for scalping
- AVAtrade – Optimal trading platform for scalping forex and CFDs
Best Brokers in UAE For Scalping Reviewed
Below we break down the best brokers in UAE for scalping including their pros, cons, and key features
1. Interactive Brokers – Best Broker For Scalping With Stocks & ETFs
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.
With margin loans between 5,33% and 6,33%, 30-second candlestick charting, and real-time news, Interactive Brokers shows great support for short-term trading decisions. Additionally, users have access to powerful APIs through their Trader Workstation platform and fast order execution through B SmartRouting which makes them an overall great fit for scalpers.
Other useful features for scalpers include interactive and customizable charts, multi-asset support, watchlists, customizable market scanners, the ability to draw trend lines, bars, and gradients, and the option to save charting layouts.
Interactive Brokers offers commission-free US stock and ETF trading and competitive FX trading rates between 0,08 and 0,20 basis points.
Scalpers are required to have a $25,000 minimum balance as per FINRA regulations. Users looking to scalp options and futures do not face any minimum balance requirements.
Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation and IBKR GlobalTrader Key Features for Scalpers:
- Wide Range of Scalpable Assets – IBKR allows traders to scalp stocks, ETFs, futures, options, forex, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies.
- Broad Selection of Research Tools – Access to Interactive Analytics, Portfolio Analytics, TWS Arbitrage Meter, IB Bigcharts, and IB Marketwatch News to stay up-to-date.
- Lightning-fast Order Execution – IB SmartRouting offers optimal execution conditions by searching for the best available stock and options prices across exchanges and dark pools.
- Supported Scalping Strategies – Manual trading, scalping, day trading, swing trading, scalping, and algorithmic trading.
| Minimum Deposit | None |
| Available Financial Instruments | Stocks, Options, Futures, ETFs, Warrants, SSFs, Forex, Metals, Indices, Mutual Funds, Fixed Income products |
| Trading Fees | Commission-free US stocks and ETF trading, Either fixed at $0,85 per contract or tiered from $0,25 to $0,85 per contract, based on monthly trading volume options and futures trading fees, between 0,08 and 0,20 basis points, based on monthly trading volume on forex pairs. |
| Trading Platform | Trader Workstation, IBKR EventTrader, Client Portal, IBKR Mobile, IBKR GlobalTrader, IMPACT |
| Account Types | Individual, Joint, Trust, IRA, UGMA/UTMA Accounts |
| Type of Broker | Market Maker |
| Regulatory Bodies | US SEC and CFTC |
| Deposit Methods | Bank wire transfer, ACH transfer, transfer from another broker, check |
| Maximum Leverage Ratio | 2:1 |
Pros
- Great choice of different trading instruments for scalping
- Competitive trading fees and commission-free stock and ETF trading
- Fast order execution and over 100 different order types available
Cons
- Only has a proprietary trading platform available (minimum algo trading and FHT support)
- Market data for paper trading of all products is delayed by 10-15 minutes except for OTC products (which makes testing scalping techniques virtually impossible)
- Very complex fee structure
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.
2. IC Markets – Best Trading Platform for High-Frequency Scalping in UAE
Min Deposit: $200
Fees: 4.7
Assets available: 3.6
Total Fees:
Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71,65% 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.
IC Markets offer access to the full MetaTrader suite, cTrader Automate, and a Virtual Private Server that guarantees high frequency scalping. With their additionally offered low variable spreads (from at 0,0 pips on its cTrader Raw Spread platform) and fast order executions, they are a top choice to consider by scalpers looking for high frequency trade execution.
Their cTrader platform allows users to deploy C# automated trading systems by using APIs and to backtest algorithmic strategies. Their platform also offers users access to an Equinix NY4 Virtual Private Server that allows them to run their EAs hassle-free, without needing expensive computer hardware, backup internet connection, or power supply. The average order execution speed is below 40ms which is faster than most other scalping brokers.
Scalpers are allowed to trade on forex and CFD products with up to 500:1 leverage. The minimum deposit at IC Markets is $200 and can be funded by credit/debit card, PayPal, or by transferring funds from another broker. AED deposits will be converted to either EUR or USD.
ICMarkets Key Features:
- Low, Variable Spreads – ICMarkets streams prices from over 25 different sources which ensure traders pay the lowest spread possible. These spreads can go as low as 0,0 pips.
- Execution – The average order execution speed at ICMarkets is under 40ms. This makes the broker one of the most ideal brokers for scalpers.
- Broad Range of FX Pairs – Scalpers can trade over 60 forex pairs and 4 metals automatically with ICMarkets’s APIs and by using Expert Advisors.
- Competitive Swap Rates – ICMarkets offers competitive long and short swap rates for all FX pairs and metals which results in low overnight fees.
- Good for all Sorts of Traders – Suitable for beginners, average, and experienced traders
- Supported Scalping Strategies – Manual trading, algorithmic trading, scalping, day trading, social/copy trading
| Minimum Deposit | $200 |
| Available Financial Instruments | 1,980+ Forex pairs, CFDs, commodities, indices, bonds, cryptocurrencies, stocks, futures |
| Trading Fees | Low, variable spreads starting from 0,0 pips |
| Trading Platform | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, MT WebTrader, MT iPhone/iPad, MT Android, MT Mac, cTrader, cTrader Web, cTrader iPhone/iPad, cTrader Android, cTrader Automate, cTrader Copy Trading, ZuluTrade, Myfxbook AutoTrade |
| Account Types | Standard, Raw Spread cTrader, Raw Spread, Demo, Islamic |
| Type of Broker | True ECN Broker |
| Regulatory Bodies | ASIC, CySEC, FSA |
| Deposit Methods | Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay, Wire Transfer, Bpay, FasaPay, Broker Transfer, Poli, RapidPay, and Klarna |
| Maximum Leverage Ratio | 500:1 |
Pros
- Good choice of different trading platforms
- Competitive trading fees
- Supports algorithmic trading, Expert Advisors, and trading scripts
Cons
- Only offers forex and CFDs
- No investor compensation or negative balance protection
- Trading platforms may be overwhelming for beginners
Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71,65% 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.
3. TradeStation – Best Trading Platform in UAE for Scalping Options and Futures
Min Deposit: $0 ($2000 – Margin account; $25000 – Day Trading account; $5000 – Futures account)
Fees: 4.8
Assets available: 5.0
Total Fees:
With a great selection of trading instruments and a specialized futures and options trading platform (FuturesPlus), TradeStation is among the top platforms in UAE for scalping with Options and Futures. Users additionally have access to fast order execution (0,38 ms), competitive trading fees of $1,50 per contract per side, and automated trading via its available APIs.
The FuturesPlus platform allows users to visualize options prices, create scalping strategies, and analyze implied volatility, theoretical prices and Greeks. Users are also allowed to use detailed risk metrics and to assess performance across user-defined scenarios.
In addition, TradeStation charges no commissions on futures and options trades up to $10,000/trade, which makes it very cheap and suitable for different scalping strategies.
As a CFTC-licensed futures commission merchant (FCM) and member of CME, NFA, SIPC, and FINRA, they are allowed to offer index options and futures contracts to scalpers from a single brokerage account.
Account opening for UAE users at TradeStation starts at $5,000 for a futures trading account and $2,000 for a live margin trading account. They don’t offer Islamic accounts.
TradeStation FuturesPlus Key Scalping Features:
- Autofit Vol Curve – allows users to generate theoretical values and to apply their own vol curves using the built-in Vol Curve Manager. This is great for testing scalping techniques on paper trading accounts.
- Tradestation’s Trade Monitor – allows traders to view all market activity for options and futures on a per-product basis and gives scalpers detailed insights regarding market movements.
- Send RFQs Directly from Strategy Creation, Market Grid, Watchlist, RFQ Viewer, or Options Chain to execute scalp strategies faster.
- TradeStation’s Watchlist – allows traders to monitor and customize their futures scalping strategies by using first and second-order Greeks before sending RFQs.
- Access to Micro E-mini futures – allow users to purchase 1/10th the size of ‘’normal’’ futures ( fractional option contracts with leverage), which is great for scalpers with smaller amounts of capital.
- Supported Scalping Strategies – Manual trading, day trading, swing trading, and algorithmic trading.
| Minimum Deposit | $5,000 for futures accounts, $2,000 for margin accounts |
| Available Futures and Options | 350+ |
| Trading Fees | Commission-free, $1,50 per contract, per side when TradeStation Select member |
| Trading Platform | Web-based platform & mobile app (FuturesPlus) |
| Account Types | Demo, individual, joint, retirement, entity |
| Type of Broker | Broker dealer |
| Regulatory Bodies | SEC, CFTC, and FINRA |
| Deposit Methods | Wire transfer |
| Maximum Leverage Ratio | 4:1 |
Pros
- Overall best futures and options scalping trading platform for UAE residents
- Dedicated futures and options trading platform available on all kinds of devices
- Fast order execution and lots of scalping tools available
Cons
- Not compatible with MetaTrader 4/5, cTrader, or any other external trading platform or software
- High Minimum deposit required
- No Islamic accounts available
4. Capital.com Review – Best algorithmic trading platform for scalping
Min Deposit: 20 USD/EUR/GBP or 80 AED (bank cards)
Fees: 4.8
Assets available: 4.7
Total Fees:
CFD trading carries risk. Capital.com is regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority.
Capital.com offers users extensive research tools and excellent backtesting options via TradingView and MetaTrader, which is great for traders using algorithmic trading softwares and/or Expert Advisors. They also allow scalpers access to over 4,100 markets commission-free, and provide them with over 70 indicators, price alerts, and the ability to use up to 30:1 leverage. This makes them a top scalping platform for algorithmic traders.
Capital.com users have access to market sentiment analytics via their AI trade bias detection system and multi-chart toggling up to six tabs. They protect users with negative balance protection, meaning users cannot lose more than they deposit.
Capital.com offers free access to REST and WebSocket APIs that provide real-time prices and price history of all assets tradable via the broker. This is great for algorithmic traders and traders that use Expert Advisors to automate their trading.
The minimum deposit at Capital.com for UAE users is $20. Capital.com doesn’t offer Islamic accounts for those who want to trade according to Sharia Law.
Capital.com – Key Scalping Features
- Automated Trading Features – available through MetaTrader 4, TradingView, and APIs.
- Over 4,100 available Assets – including forex pairs, shares, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and indices.
- Dynamic Charting Features – extensive drawing toolkit provided by TradingView
- Suitable for All Types of Traders – Capital.com’s Web-based, desktop, and mobile trading platforms are suited for beginners, average, and experienced traders.
- Supported Trading Strategies – Manual trading, scalping, day trading, swing trading, and algorithmic trading.
| Minimum Deposit | $20 |
| Available Assets | 4,100+ |
| Trading Fees | Commission-free |
| Trading Platform | TradingView, MetaTrader 4, Capital.com Web Platform, Capital.com Mobile Platform |
| Account Types | Retail, Demo |
| Type of Broker | Market Maker |
| Regulatory Bodies | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, NBRB, FSA, and SCB |
| Deposit Methods | Bank wire transfer, credt/debit cards, E-Wallets |
| Maximum Leverage Ratio | 30:1 |
Pros
- Compatible with MetaTrader 4 and TradingView
- Great mobile trading features
- Freely available APIs for algorithmic and high-frequency traders and Expert Advisor users
Cons
- Only forex and CFDs available
- ECN account is not available
- No Islamic accounts available
CFD trading carries risk. Capital.com is regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority.
5. AVAtrade – Best Trading Platform in UAE for Scalping Forex and CFDs
Min Deposit: $100
Fees: 4.9
Assets available: 4.9
Total Fees: 0.9 pip
AvaTrade allows scalpers access to multiple trading platforms including MetaTrader 4,5, DupliTrade and Capitalise.ai and over 1,250 financial instruments with up to 400:1 leverage. Users can deploy automated trading systems like Expert Advisors and use custom indicators scripted with MetaEditor.
AvaTrade also allows arbitrage trading and backtesting their EAs and other automated trading software with their multi-threaded Strategy Tester, which makes them a top choice to consider by forex and CFD scalpers.
Scalpers can trade 44 different forex pairs, options on these currency pairs and cryptocurrencies.
Avatrade users can open a live AvaTrade account with a minimum deposit of $100. Muslim traders can contact the AvaTrade support to convert their account to an Islamic account, which fully complies to Sharia Law.
AvaTrade – Key Scalping Features
- Ultra-low Spreads and Swap Rates – Starting from 0,9 pips on EUR/USD and -0,0058%.
- Deep Liquidity on All Asset Classes – Allowing instant order execution.
- Additional Risk Management – Via AvaProtect allowing to reimburse users looses at the end of the protected period.
- Copy Other Trader’s Scalping Techniques – via AvaSocial’s Copy Trading feature
- Usage of Own Trading Scripts, Robots & EAs – Via MetaEditor and available APIs
- Available Markets – Forex, CFDs
- Suitable for All Types of Traders – Beginners, average, and experienced traders
- Supported Scalping Strategies – Manual trading, algorithmic trading, day trading
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Available Assets | 1,250+ |
| Trading Fees | Low, variable spreads starting at 0,9 pips |
| Trading Platform | Web Trader, AvaTradeGO, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaOptions, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade, AvaSocial, MacTrading |
| Account Types | Retail, Professional, Standard, Plus, Premier, Invest, Demo |
| Type of Broker | Market Maker |
| Regulatory Bodies | ASIC, BVI, FSA, ADGM, FRSA, CySEC |
| Deposit Methods | Bank wire transfer, credt/debit cards, Apple pay, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill |
| Maximum Leverage Ratio | 400:1 |
Pros
- Multiple trading platforms available, including the full MetaTrader suite
- Offers advanced Strategy Tester and demo account to test scalping strategies
- Over 1,250 tradable assets with up to 400:1 leverage and deep liquidity
Cons
- Only forex and CFDs available
- Only offers Forex, CFDs, and Vanilla Options
- Charges inactivity fees of $50 per quarter after 3 months of inactivity and $100 administration fee after 12 months of non-use
71% of retail CFD accounts lose money
How To Find The Ideal Broker and Platform For Scalping?
Criteria to consider to select an online broker with the best trading platform for scalping in UAE are listed below.
- Scalping availability (the broker has to allow scalping)
- Tradable asset types (the trading platform must contain financial instruments that are convenient for scalping like Forex, CFDs, futures, and options)
- Broker has to support algorithmic trading via its trading platform
- The trading platform has to have features that support algorithmic trading like VPS, EA compatibility, and free-to-use APIs
- Speed of trade execution
- Other trading platform features that impact scalping
- Quality of the customer support
- Available deposit and withdrawal methods
- UAE Availability (whether UAE residents can open an account and make use of all offered futures trading services)
Top Brokers For Scalping in UAE Compared
Key features of online brokers with the best trading platforms in UAE for scalping are compared in the table below.
| Broker | Assets | Algorithmic Trading Availability | Order Execution Speed | Availability of Scalping Tools (VPS, EA, APIs, Live Feed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs | Yes | Under 40ms | Yes (VPS through third parties, EA compatibility through API, IB’s own API, live market data feeds) |
| IC Markets | Forex, CFDs (including indices, commodities, bonds, futures, cryptocurrencies) | Yes | Under 40ms | Yes (Free VPS services for traders who meet deposit and trading volume requirements, MetaTrader EAs, cTrader API, live market data feeds) |
| TradeStation | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Mutual Funds | Yes | Under 40ms | Yes (VPS through third parties, EasyLanguage for creating EAs, TradeStation API, live market data feeds) |
| Capital.com | Forex, CFDs (including indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, stocks, ETFs) | Yes (via third-party integrations) | Under 40ms | Yes (EAs, API available, live market data feeds) |
| AvaTrade | Forex, CFDs (including indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, stocks, bonds, ETFs) | Yes | Under 40ms | Yes (VPS through third parties, EAs compatible with MetaTrader, AvaTrade API, live market data feeds) |
What is Scalping (Meaning)?
Scalping is a popular day trading strategy where the trader, or scalper, opens a position and sells it back within a few minutes with the aim of making small profits. The time a scalper holds a position varies from a second to several minutes. If the trader holds the position longer, this is no longer called scalping. The idea behind scalping is that the short-term price is easier to predict. By trading with large amounts, you can earn a lot of money with scalping.
Types of Scalping
Scalpers have different strategies for different market conditions:
- Moving Average Strategy: This approach uses simple or exponential moving averages to identify the average price over a chosen period. Price characteristic is to fall back to their moving averages; scalpers use this method to execute the trade in real time.
- Parabolic Stop and Reverse (SAR) Indicator Strategy: Employs the Parabolic SAR indicator to identify potential reversal points in price, aiding in risk management by setting strategic stop-loss orders.
- Relative Strength Index (RSI) Strategy: The RSI tells the overbought and oversold in the price by measuring the momentum and speed of price movements. Scalpers use RSI signals to identify entry and exit points for trades.
- Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) Strategy: The MACD combines and analyzes the relationship between two moving averages to interpret changes in momentum and potential future price trends. By reading MACD signals, scalpers can aim to capitalize on those trends.
Pros and Cons of Scalping
Benefits:
- Small, Consistent Gains: Scalpers capitalize on small repetitive gains; this way, they compound the gains over time.
- Limited Exposure: Traders don’t stay on the trade for longer than minutes; this quick entry and exit nature minimizes a trader’s exposure to negative market movements, potentially reducing overall risk.
- Rule-Based System: Scalping involves following specific trading rules, which can improve discipline and even allow some trading parts to be automated.
Risks:
- High Costs: Taking more traders directly implies higher fees; this frequent fee can add to a huge amount over time.
- Time-Consuming: Scalping trading is not a part time job; it requires constant monitoring of markets and quick decision-making, making it a very demanding trading style.
- Potential for Losses: Without experience and tested strategy, scalping can easily destroy the capital with many cuts.
Conclusion
There is a growing number of local and international brokers in UAE allowing scalping, which makes it hard to find the ideal provider for individual needs. Researching and comparing services of different providers requires time and expertise.
This guide does the hard work for you by comparing and evaluating the top choices for availability of trading tools and features. The results of our analysis of brokers in UAE with the best trading platforms for scalping are wrapped up in the table below.
| RANK | BROKER | PLATFORM SCORE | BEST FOR | WEBSITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Interactive Brokers | 4,9/5 | Overall | Official website |
| #2 | IC Markets | 4,7/5 | High-frequency trading | Official website |
| #3 | TradeStation | 4,9/5 | Options and futures | Official website |
| #4 | Capital.com | 4.7/5 | Algorithmic trading platform | Official website |
| #5 | AVAtrade | 4,9/5 | Forex and CFD Swing Trading | Official website |
FAQ
Is scalping legal in UAE?
Scalping is not specifically prohibited in UAE. This means that retail and professional traders can use this trading strategy in the UAE.
Is scalping a recommended for beginners?
Scalping is an advanced trading strategy and is generally not recommended for beginners. It exposes the traders to high stress and fast pace of trading, it requires fast decision making, involves high fees & commission and requires significant time commitment.
Can I make good money with scalping?
Scalping can be a profitable trading strategy, but it is also connected with a great risk of loosing money.
What are the most common strategies for scalping in the UAE?
The most common trading strategies used by scalpers in UAE include spread scalping, dynamic scalping, news scalping and 1-Minute scalping strategy.
How to choose a stock for scalping in UAE?
Scalpers most commonly look at three things: a target profit amount per trade, level 2 data to follow breakouts of stocks to new intraday highs or lows, and trends that show whether or not an asset has become volatile.
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.
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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.