Best Trading Platforms in UAE & Dubai Reviewed (2023)

Page Summary

This guide helps you find the best trading platforms in UAE and Dubai. It lists the 5 highest rated platforms considering the following criteria: assets (markets), fees (trading and non trading), accessibility (web, desktop, mobile app), trading tools & platforms, trading apps, research & education, regulation, Islamic accounts availability and customer support.

The guide assesses all (213) online brokers available in the UAE. To help users make an informed decision, the best trading platforms and apps in UAE are ranked as best for: forex & options, beginners, CFDs, stocks & ETFs and cryptocurrencies.

Top 5 Trading Platforms and Apps in UAE

  1. AVAtrade – Best Trading Platform for Forex and Options
  2. eToro – Best Trading Platform in UAE for Beginners
  3. Pepperstone – Best CFD Trading Platform
  4. Interactive Brokers – Best Platform For Stocks and ETFs
  5. OKX – Best Crypto Trading Platform

Best Online Trading Platforms in UAE

The best trading platforms in UAE are reviewed in more detail below.

1. AVATrade – Best Forex and Options Trading Platform

AVAtrade-platform-features-UAE

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.

Avatrade has 5 trading platforms:

  • WebTrader –  web based platform
  • AvaTradeGo – mobile trading app 
  • AVAoptions –  options platform
  • AVAsocial – social copy trading app
  • Mac Trading – MAC trading app

AVAtrade’s selection of platforms and tools compared with other top choices from our list

Broker AvaTrade eToro Pepperstone Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank OKX
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

The platform allows users to implement a wide range of third party integrations including: 

  • 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 platform features are available in Arabic language.

Avatrade charges low fixed 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 pf 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, 800+ CFDs and 44 forex options
  • Excellent copy trading features
  • Advanced mobile trading app (AvaOptions)
  • Competitive fee structure (0.6pip EUR/USD)
  • 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)
  • Costs: Fixed spreads on forex pairs

Read the full AVAtrade UAE review.

Ranked: Top forex brokers in UAE for fixed spreads


2. eToro – Best Beginner Trading Platform

etoro-platform-features-UAE

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 available on the eToro trading platform are listed below:

  • CopyTrader 
  • Charts and Pro Charts
  • Market, limit and advanced orders
  • Search tool
  • 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:

  • Zero commission stock trading
  • Easy to use interface
  • Crypto exchange & brokerage services
  • Fast registration and KYC on-boarding process
  • Multiple payment options

Recommended for:

  • Markets: Stocks, ETFs, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
  • Experience: Beginners and Average Trader
  • Strategy: Manual trading, automated trading (social/copy)
  • Costs: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs

eToro AUS Capital Ltd ACN 612 791 803 AFSL 491139. OTC Derivatives are speculative and leveraged. Not suitable for all investors. Capital at risk. See PDS and TMD

Read the full eToro UAE review.


3. Pepperstone – Best CFD Platform (Winner For Mobile)

pepperstone-platform-features-in-UAE

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.

Pepperstone list of trading platforms include:

  • 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.

Pepperstone’s research and education materials compared to other brokers:

Broker AvaTrade eToro Pepperstone Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank OKX
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 trading, Algorithmic trading, Swing trading, Scalping
  • Costs: Low spreads and commissions on ECN accounts

Read full Pepperstone review

Ranked: Best CFD platforms in UAE


4. Interactive Brokers – Best Stock and ETF Trading Platform (Winner for Day Traders)

interactive-brokers-platform-features-UAE

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 RefinitivIBKR 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 Platforms

Interactive Brokers charges an average spread of 1.4 pips on most forex pairs. They charge 0.18% on cryptocurrenciesand 0.9% on CFDs. This makes their overall trading cost the lowest in the industry.

Interactive Brokers fees compared with other brokers:

Broker AvaTrade eToro Pepperstone Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank OKX
Stocks N/A $0,00 N/A $0,00 $1,00 N/A
ETFs N/A $0,00 N/A $0,00 $1,00 N/A
Options $0,90 N/A N/A $0,65 $1,25 N/A
Futures N/A N/A N/A $0,85 $1,25 0,05%
Mutual Funds N/A N/A N/A $14,95 $0,00 N/A
Broker Assisted Fee N/A N/A N/A $30,00 $50,00 N/A
Crypto N/A 1,00% N/A 0,18% N/A 0,08%
EUR/USD Spread 0.9 0.9 0.0 1.4 0.9 N/A
Swap-free Account
Inactivity Fee
Funding Fees
Monthly Fee

Key features:

  • Margin loan rates on stocks of 1.3%
  • Access to 135+ global markets
  • Advanced order types
  • Variety of trading tools
  • Access to fractional shares
  • Lowest commissions in the industry

Recommended For:

  • Markets: Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Indices
  • Experience: Casual, Advanced traders, Institutional investors
  • Strategy: Day trading, Swing trading, Scalping, Algorithmic and Auto investing
  • Costs: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs. 0.18% on crypto

Read the full Interactive Brokers UAE review

Ranked: Best CFD platforms in UAE


5. OKX – Best Cryptocurrency Trading Platform

okx-platform-features-UAE

OKX is a cryptocurrency and derivatives exchange, founded in 2017. It is regulated in the UAE with a license from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Their trading platform offers access to 340 cryptocurrencies and a handful of crypto 2.0 products (NFT’s, crypto derivatives, options & futures, perpetuals & swaps). Safety is provided through hot wallets and multiple online and off-line protection mechanisms. It has a user friendly interface for beginners and advanced.

OKX has two different trading apps: 

  1. OKX Simple – has basic trading tools: buy, sell and convert options
  2. OKX Active – has advanced trading tools: stop loss, take profit, market and limit orders, advance trading strategies and margin trading

Users have access through a desktop (Windows, Mac) and mobile app (iOS and Android). 

OKX trading fees are low ranging from 0.08 – 0.10% maker/taker. 

OKX-trading-fees

All users assets are held by OKX at a ratio of 1:1. Proof of reserves is transparent and publicly available.

Key features:

  • High liquidity
  • Great availability of coins
  • High Safety and Security Standards
  • Lowest trading fees in the industry
  • Great for beginners and advanced
  • Transparent proof of reserves

Recommended For:

  • Markets: Cryptocurrencies (Spot, Perpetual, Futures, Margin and Options)
  • Experience: Beginners, Average, Experienced traders
  • Strategy: Manual Trading, Day trading, Algorithmic trading, Swing trading, Long-term investing, Scalping
  • Costs: Low fees on spot Cryptos (0.1% taker fee) and on derivatives (0.05% taker fee)

Read the full OKX review.


How Did We Select The Best Trading Platforms and Apps For UAE Traders?

To get our list of the top platforms in UAE we have compared 184 online brokers in 8 different categories. They are listed below to help you make the right choice:

how-we-test-methodology

Platforms and Tools

Broker AvaTrade eToro Capital.com Forex.com Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank TradeStation OKX
Desktop Platform
Web Platform
Mobile Platform
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

Mobile Trading Apps

Feature AVAtrade eToro Capital.com Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank OKX
Android
Apple
Watchlist (mobile)
Economic Calendar (mobile)
Charting Tools (mobile)

Fees

Broker AvaTrade eToro Capital.com Forex.com Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank TradeStation OKX
Stocks N/A $0,00 N/A N/A $0,00 $1,00 $0,00 N/A
ETFs N/A $0,00 N/A N/A $0,00 $1,00 $0,00 N/A
Options $0,90 N/A N/A N/A $0,65 $1,25 $0,60 N/A
Futures N/A N/A N/A N/A $0,85 $1,25 $1,50 0,05%
Mutual Funds N/A N/A N/A N/A $14,95 $0,00 $25,00 N/A
Broker Assisted Fee N/A N/A N/A N/A $30,00 $50,00 $0,00 N/A
Crypto N/A 1,00% N/A N/A 0,18% N/A 1,00% 0,08%
EUR/USD Spread 0.9 0.9 0.6 1.1 1.4 0.9 N/A N/A
Swap-free Account
Inactivity Fee
Funding Fees
Monthly Fee

Deposit and Withdrawel

Broker AvaTrade eToro Capital.com Forex.com Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank TradeStation OKX
Bank Wire
Credit/Debit card
E-Wallets
Crypto
Account Minimum $100 $200 $20 $100 $0,00 $2,000 $0,00 $0,00

Assets

Broker AvaTrade eToro Capital.com Forex.com Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank TradeStation OKX
Stocks N/A $0,00 N/A N/A $0,00 $1,00 $0,00 N/A
ETFs N/A $0,00 N/A N/A $0,00 $1,00 $0,00 N/A
Options $0,90 N/A N/A N/A $0,65 $1,25 $0,60 N/A
Futures N/A N/A N/A N/A $0,85 $1,25 $1,50 0,05%
Mutual Funds N/A N/A N/A N/A $14,95 $0,00 $25,00 N/A
Broker Assisted Fee N/A N/A N/A N/A $30,00 $50,00 $0,00 N/A
Crypto N/A 1,00% N/A N/A 0,18% N/A 1,00% 0,08%
EUR/USD Spread 0.9 0.9 0.6 1.1 1.4 0.9 N/A N/A
Swap-free Account
Inactivity Fee
Funding Fees
Monthly Fee

Regulation

Broker AvaTrade eToro Capital.com Forex.com Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank TradeStation OKX
Broker/Exchange Broker Broker Broker Broker Broker Broker Broker Crypto Exchange
Regulation ASIC, FSA, FSCA, MiFID, BVI FSC, ADGM ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCS FCA, NBRB, ASIC, CySEC, FSA IIROC, SFC, CySEC, FSA, NFA, FTC, MAS, CIMA, ASIC, FCA NYSE, FINRA, SIPC Asic, SFC, JFSA, MAS, FINRA, FCA FINRA, CTFC, NFA VFAA

Research and Education

Broker AvaTrade eToro Capital.com Forex.com Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank TradeStation OKX
Trading Signals
Market Research
Educational Resources
Webinars
Daily News
In-depth Market Analysis
Personal Training and Trading Room

Customer Support

Broker AvaTrade eToro Capital.com Forex.com Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank TradeStation OKX
Email
Phone
Chat
24/5
24/7
Personal Account Manager
Easy Account Opening

How Is Online Trading Regulated In The UAE?

Online trading regulation in UAE has two regions: the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the rest of the UAE.

UAE-regulation-bodies
  • 1. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is a economic zone in Dubai under independent regulation by the Dubai Financial Service Authority (DFSA)
  • 2. The rest of the UAE is regulated by 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).

Traders need to register for a NIN investor number to trade with securities listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). Traders without a brokerage licence also need to open a brokerage account with a local UAE broker. 

Tips for Beginners 

If you are new to the world of investing, there are a few things to consider before signing up with any of the brokers from our list.

Make Use Of Trading Ideas

To increase your chances for profitable trading it is advisable to make use of trading ideas and trading recommendations. Those can be accesses through brokers in house tools or third party integrations like TradingView. 

Start Trading on a Demo Account

If you are a beginner, always start with a platform offering demo or paper trading accounts. A demo account allows you to familiarise yourself with the trading dashboard, order types and it’s also a great way to test your trading strategy using virtual money.

Avoid Trading With Certain Assets

When you are starting out, avoid trading with CFDs, options and penny stocks because those are “high risk” assets that require extensive experience.

Don’t Fall For Leverage Trading

Most of the platform offer trading with leverage to a different extend, but as promising as it sound to trade with borrowed money, its nothing that beginners should make use of. Trades you open with a leveraged position can swing both ways and the same way the bigger positions enable you to earn higher profits, they can also make you loose more than your have initially deposited.

Summary

This guide helps you choose the right platform to expend your options for profit. It assess 213 brokers available in UAE across 9 categories.

The best trading platforms in UAE are Avatrade, eToro, Pepperstone, Interactive Brokers and OKX.

Watch the Short Video Recap:

FAQ

Are There Commission-Free Brokers In UAE?

Yes, there are commission free brokers available in UAE. eToro is a top choice for commission-free trading in UAE.

Is Dirham A Base Currency for Online Trading in UAE?

Yes, the Dirham (AED) is a base currency for online trading in UAE. Despite that, most online brokers require UAE clients to exchange Dirhams (AED) to a major currency like USD, EUR or JPY.

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).

Do Traders Pay Tax on Profits in UAE?

There is no income tax in UAE on personal or corporate profits made through online trading.

Which Platform in UAE is Available in Malayalam and Kananda Language?

Zerodha is the only broker in UAE that supports trading in Malayalam and Kananda language.

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. 68% 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.

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Trading history presented is less than 5 complete years and may not suffice as basis for investment decision.

Copy trading is a portfolio management service, provided by eToro (Europe) Ltd., which is authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.

Cryptoasset investing is unregulated in some EU countries and the UK. No consumer protection. Your capital is at risk.

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.

8 COMMENTS

    • 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.

    • 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

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