To help you find the best broker and platform in the UAE & Dubai, we’ve spent 150+ hours researching the market and collecting over 70,000 user reviews from Google, Trustpilot, and App Store.
All of this data is summarised in the following guide.
In This Guide
A Complete List of the Best Trading Platforms in the UAE & Dubai:
- Best Trading Platform: CMC Markets
- Best Local Trading Platform: ADIB Securities
- Best Stock Trading Platform: IG Markets
- Best Forex Trading Platform: Oanda
In the guide below, you’ll find our recommended brokers with information about their licenses, deposit methods, trading platforms, and more.
Moreover, we’ve created local trading guides to help you get started. Click the table of contents to get directed to the section that you’re looking for.
Which is the Best Trading Platform in the UAE & Dubai?
CMC Markets is a global trading service based in the UK but with customers and offices all around the globe.
A combination of great trading tools, tons of assets, and long experience in the industry make CMC Markets an excellent choice for most traders.
✔ Huge selection of assets
✔ Well-established broker
✔ Top-notch trading platform
✔ Complicated registration
✔ High spread on stocks
✔ Fees on many transactions
✔ Huge selection of assets
✔ Well-established broker
✔ Top-notch trading platform
✗ Complicated registration
✗ High spread on stocks
✗ Fees on many transactions
Fees: 0 commission on FX and CFDs
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: Zero
Assets: 10,000+
License: CySEC, FCA, ASIC
CMC Markets is a global online broker with an established presence in the UAE and Dubai. The broker even has a small local office in Dubai, which helps them stay on top of the local markets.
What sets CMC Markets apart from its many competitors is the large number of assets offered. There are over 10,000 assets listed on CMC Markets’ platform, ranging from international and domestic stocks, to forex, cryptocurrencies and more.
Unfortunately, CMC Markets are known to charge high fees for their services, including commission on certain stocks and fees for transactions to and from your account balance. Furthermore, this broker does not offer Direct Market Access (DMA) to traders in the UAE.
Which is the Best Local Securities Trading Platform in the UAE & Dubai?
ADIB Securities is one of the leading brokers based in the United Arab Emirates. The broker offers access to some of the most popular securities both internationally and domestically.
You can handle all your investments online or by using the ADIB app which has been downloaded well over 10,000 times.
✔ Access to local stocks and securities
✔ Licensed and regulated by SCA
✔ Desktop and mobile compatible
✗ High fees
✗ Limited trading (mostly investments)
✗ Confusing number of apps
✔ Access to local stocks and securities
✔ Licensed and regulated by SCA
✔ Desktop and mobile compatible
✗ High fees
✗ Limited trading (mostly investments)
✗ Confusing number of apps
Fees: You pay commission and investment fees
Demo Account: No
Min Deposit: N/A
Assets: Large range of securities
Licenses: Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
ADIB Securities is one of the highest-ranked local trading platforms in the UAE and Dubai.
The broker is based in Abu Dhabi, but it has local offices all over the UAE. They offer a great online trading platform and allow you to invest and trade both international stocks and domestic stocks.
Over the years, ADIB has been awarded several prestigious prizes, as well as belonging to the top-tier of brokers based in the UAE.
As with many traditional stockbrokers, you can expect to pay higher fees and commissions when trading with ADIB. In fact, their fee system is quite complicated and it can be difficult to calculate exactly how much each investment will cost you.
Which is the Best Stock Trading Platform in the UAE & Dubai?
IG Markets is one of the oldest and biggest online brokers in the world.
This UK-based broker has been offering trading opportunities since the early 1970s.
Still to this day, IG Markets keeps trail blazing the industry and setting the standard for all other online brokers.
✔ Real stock trading of the exchanges
✔ Huge selection of international stocks.
✔ High minimum deposit.
✔ Commission on spread betting and CFD stock trading.
✔ Real stock trading of the exchanges
✔ Huge selection of international stocks.
✗ High minimum deposit.
✗ Commission on spread betting and CFD stock trading.
Fees: Low spread & commission.
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: £300
Deposit Options: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Bank Transfer
Assets: 10,000+
License: FCA, ASIC, CFTC, MAS
IG Markets is perhaps the most well-established online trading platform in the UAE and Dubai, with a major office in Dubai and long-standing experience offering stockbroking on the local market.
With an IG Markets account, you’ll gain access to over 10,000 international stocks and a range of cutting-edge tools to help you perform at your best.
One issue with IG Markets is that their main demographic are experienced traders, meaning their trading tools can feel overwhelming and unnecessarily difficult for beginners.
We also strongly believe that this trading platform could have opted for a better platform setup with fewer options. With the current setup, one has to switch between different accounts and platforms to get the best opportunities.
Which is the Best Forex Trading Platform in the UAE & Dubai?
Oanda is one of the world’s most elite online brokers based in New York and with a global reach that few brokers can compete against.
✔ Their unparalleled global reach
✔ 5 different platforms
✔ High fees and commission
✔ A limited selection of assets in some jurisdictions
✔ Their unparalleled global reach
✔ 5 different platforms
✗ High fees and commission
✗ A limited selection of assets in some jurisdictions
Fees: Commission, fees, and spread depending on the assets/securities
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: 0
Assets: Thousands
Licenses: (CFTC), (FCA) & (IIROC)
Oanda is one of the biggest global platforms for forex trading in the business and they have had a presence in the UAE, Dubai, and the Middle East for quite some time.
In addition to a great selection of currency pairs, Oanda gives you access to innovative graphs, automated trading apps, indicators, alarms, and great educational material.
Like many other forex trading platforms, Oanda’s selection of assets that are not currencies leaves a lot to wish for. They also have higher fees than many, and since they are very active in North America, certain features and assets are limited.
Trading Guide for Traders in the UAE & Dubai
While trading is legal and fully regulated in both the UAE and Dubai, the market also has a few unique characteristics that you need to be aware of, to stay safe and ensure that you trade legally.
1. Different Trading Laws
Dubai is one of the world’s leading global economic cities and within the city, there are several established free-zones, with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) being the most well-known.
Because of these financial zones, the city of Dubai has different financial regulations than the rest of the UAE. In turn, this has resulted in two different regulatory bodies overseeing the local economic market.
- Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) is based in Dubai and regulates trading in Dubai.
- Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) is based in Abu Dhabi and regulates trading in the rest of the United Arab Emirates.
Note that there is some overlapping between the two regulatory bodies and that the SCA has the upper hand in many cases. Also, brokers can be licensed in Europe and still operate legally in the UAE & Dubai.
2. Different Local Markets
Because of how the domestic economic system is set up, as outlined above, the UAE and Dubai also have several local markets and exchanges, namely the following three:
- Dubai Financial Market (DFM) – with 67 locally listed companies.
- Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) – the main stock exchange in the UAE.
- Nasdaq Dubai – an exchange that was launched to trade international stocks.
3. Islamic Trading Accounts
Lastly, several of the best online brokers in the UAE and Dubai offer Islamic Trading accounts for those who want to trade following Islamic principles.
It’s not required to use an Islamic Trading account, neither is it something that all brokers offer.
How to Choose the Best Platform, Broker and App in the UAE & Dubai
There are a few things to keep in mind when finding the right broker in Dubai, which we’ve boiled down to four steps:
1. Regulated Brokers Only
Never trade with an unregulated broker. There are plenty of safe and honest brokers with licenses in the UAE and Dubai, so there is no reason why you would trade with an unregulated broker.
All the brokers that we recommend are fully regulated in the UAE and Dubai, as well as in Europe, Australia, South Africa, and more.
2. What Are You Trading?
The broker you pick will depend a lot on the assets and securities you’re looking to trade.
In the guide above, you can find the best forex broker in Dubai, the best stockbroker in the UAE, and even the best apps for trading forex, stocks, and more, in the region.
3. Compare Brokers
After you’ve chosen 2 or 3 brokers that might suit you, we suggest you compare and test them.
Using our comprehensive reviews, as well as a demo account with the said brokers, you can take your time and find the broker that suits you the best.
4. Education is Key
Regardless of which broker you end up picking, you need to learn how to trade if you’re going to have any chance of succeeding.
All the best brokers in the UAE and Dubai offer educational material and there is an endless supply of books, videos, courses, and movies available online.
How Can I Start Trading in the UAE & Dubai?
Using our guide above, you can quickly find the best broker in the UAE and Dubai for your needs. Make sure you read our guide carefully and that you consider our tips when picking a broker.
Never underestimate the value of knowledge when trading. The more you study and practise, the better your chances of succeeding will be.
Is Forex and Stock Trading Legal in the UAE & Dubai?
Yes, all forms of trading and investing in the United Arab Emirates are regulated and overseen by two regulatory bodies: the SCA (Abu Dhabi) and the DFSA (Dubai).
How Can I Buy US Stocks in the UAE & Dubai?
Using the best stock broker in the UAE, which we have listed above, you can trade stocks from the US and the rest of the world.
To invest in US stocks long-term, you need a local broker that gives you access to the Nasdaq Dubai.
How Can I Trade Gold Online in Dubai?
Using an online broker offering commodities futures or spot contracts, you can trade gold and other precious metals online.
See our recommendation for the best trading platform in the UAE, to start trading gold online in Dubai.
FAQs
Is IQ Option Legal in the UAE?
IQ Option is a binary options broker that also offers a range of CFD and forex services and the broker is legal in the UAE and Dubai.
Binary options trading has been banned in the EU, but is still available to UAE traders.
Where Can I Invest My Money in the UAE?
By using the top broker that we’ve listed above, you can start investing in several markets such as stocks, commodities, forex, etc. in the UAE and Dubai.
The best way to invest locally is by buying stocks from one of the three stock exchanges in the UAE.
How Can I Trade Stocks in the UAE?
Either by using the best stockbroker in the UAE, as listed at the top of this guide, or by registering an account with one of the top local stockbrokers.
How Can I Open a Forex Account in Dubai?
Oanda is currently the top forex broker in Dubai right now and by following the broker links provided by us, you can open a forex account and start trading already today.
How Can I Start Share Trading in Dubai?
By doing so, you’ll gain access to shares from all over the world, including the United States, the UK, and the United Arab Emirates.
How Can I Invest in the UAE Stock Market?
The UAE has three different stock exchanges and two of them only have local companies listed. In other words, to invest in the UAE stock market, you need to find a broker that gives you access to the market.
See our recommendations for tips on the best stockbrokers in the UAE.
Conclusion
Thanks to convenient regulation and a thriving financial market, both the United Arab Emirates and the city of Dubai, offer great investment and trading opportunities.
In this guide above, we’ve outlined the top tier of brokers and trading apps in UAE and Dubai so that you can find the best broker for you.
Remember that trading is associated with certain risk and that you should only ever trade with regulated brokers using money that you can afford to loose.
Note: No information, nor financial advice related to online trading is offered through the comment.
Trading Platforms, Brokers & Apps That We Tested:
- Markets.com
- 24Option
- IQ Option
- BDSwiss
- HotForex
- Trade.com
- Libertex
- Plus500
- XTB
- InstaForex
- IG Markets
- GKFX
- LionsFX
- Valutrades
- XM
- IronFX
- Blackwellglobal
- FPMarkets
- AmanaCapital
- Admiralmarkets
- Alvexo
- Bizintra
- Pepperstone
- Windsorbrokers
- FXPro
- ForexTime
- HYCM
- FXGrow
- TeleTrade
- Trader.online
- Marketscube
- Finmaxbo
- FXCC
- Oanda
- Forex.com
- LCG
- CMC Markets
- FXCM
- iForex
- IFC Markets
- Aaatrade
Is Trading Allowed In My Country?
CFD Regulation Country by Country. The CFD trading services we are listing in this article are available in the following countries.
Europe:
- Albania
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Excluded: Belgium
North America
- Belize
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- The Bahamas
Excluded: United States
South America
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Excluded: Brazil
Africa
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- The Ivory Coast
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Western Sahara
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Middle East
- Georgia
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Iran
- Iraq
- Syria
- Lebanon
- Cyprus
- Israel
- Jordan
- Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
- Oman
- Yemen
Asia
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Cambodia
- China
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kazakstan
- Kirgizistan
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
Excluded: Hong Kong
Oceania:
- Australia
- New Zealand
Read more about him by visiting his LinkedIn profile or contact us directly to learn more about the team.Our Author:
Adam Jarfjord is a Swedish day trader, investor, and copywriter. He works as head of content at BullMarketz.com and has been providing editorial content within the financial sector for more than 5 years.
COMMENTS