Page Summary
Are you looking for the best trading platform in Saudi Arabia?
We use a database of 105 brokers across 9 categories to find the Best Trading Platform in Saudi Arabia. We use categories including: mobile trading apps, customer support, platforms, assets, fees, deposits & withdrawals, regulation, research & education, and Islamic account availability.
Our review uses 214 variables and 3500 data points, to reveal the Best Trading Platform in Saudi Arabia.
Best Trading Platform In Saudi Arabia
- AVAtrade is best trading platform
- Capital.com is top choice for traders looking for a discount broker
- Interactive Brokers is best broker for professional tools
- Saxo Bank has the best comprehensive offer for Saudi Arabian citizens
- Sarwa – Suitable for both beginner and professional traders
Best Online Brokers in Saudi Arabia
| RANK | BROKER | GENERAL | PLATFORM SCORE | BEST FOR | WEBSITE |
| #1 | AVAtrade | Best For Forex and CFDs | 4.8 / 5 | Best trading platform | Official website |
| #2 | Capital.com | New age mobile trading app | 4.7 / 5 | Top choice for traders looking for a discount broker | Official website |
| #3 | Interactive Brokers | Industry leading fee structure | 4.9 / 5 | Professional traders | Official website |
| #4 | Saxo Bank | Best for locals | 4.9 / 5 | Best for local traders | Official Website |
| #5 | Sarwa | Multiple order types available | 4.9 / 5 | Suitable for both beginner and professional traders | Official website |
TOP 5 Trading Platforms In Overview:
1. AVAtrade – The Leading Web Trading Platform In Saudi Arabia
Min Deposit: $100
Fees: 4.9
Assets available: 4.9
Total Fees: 0.9 pip
AVAtrade is a well trusted global online broker for forex and CFD trading. Their multi-asset trading platform and mobile trading app enable traders to access 1365+ tradable symbols overall, including 1200+ CFD’s, major currency pairs with low forex spreads and premium options.
Besides their proprietary platform AVAtradeGo and MetaTrader, AVAtrade has great selection of copy trading solutions including ZuluTrade, DupliTrade and AVAsocial.
Account opening is fast, deposits and withdrawals are free of charge. The minimum deposit is $100.
Choose AVAtrade if you are a beginner or semi advanced forex trader, looking to trade major forex currency pairs, options or CFDs as stocks, cryptos, indices or commodities with premium services.
Pros
- Great Research and Educational tools
- Great Customer support
- Good choice of social trading options
Cons
- Comparing others relatively few trading instruments are offered; offers Forex, CFDs and Binary Options
Key features
- Access to 1250 CFDs and 44 forex options
- Excellent copy trading features
- Advanced mobile trading app (AvaOptions)
- Industry average pricing
- Perfect for casual and advanced traders
- Access to the full meta trader suite
2. Capital.com – Top choice for traders looking for a discount broker
Min Deposit: $20
Fees: 4.8
Assets available: 4.7
Total Fees:
Capital.com is a top choice for traders looking for a discount broker with great educational content and resources, advanced research tools and a premium trading interface. They offer a wide range of tradable assets including CFDs on cryptos, stocks, indices, commodities and forex pairs.
Founded in 2016, Capital.com is an international fintech company which has group of entities authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (“CySEC”), and the Financial Services Authority of Seychelles (“FSA”). It does not operate a bank and is not publicly traded.
Choose Capital.com if you are looking for a great mobile trading experience, professional web trading interface, day trading features. Beginner traders will like the low minimum deposit ($20), industry leading commission structure, and award winning education section.
Pros
- Newsroom grade educational videos and analysis
- Award winning education and research section
- New age mobile trading app
- Real time market updates and price alerts
- Hedging and risk management tools
Cons
- MT4 and MT5 not available
- Market access is industry average
Key features
- Access to 6.000 tradable symbols and 477 cryptocurrency CFDs
- High quality research and educational content
- Patented AI trade bias system
- $20 minimum deposit
- No inactivity fees
3. Interactive Brokers – Best For Professional Traders
Min Deposit: 0 ($2000 for margin account)
Fees: 4.9
Assets available: 4.9
Total Fees:
All trading involves risk. More than 80% of investors lose in spread bet and CFD trading. As these complex instruments allow for the use of leverage, there is a high risk of losing more money than you have deposited. Before attempting to participate in spread bets and CFDs, consider how well you understand them and if you can afford to lose your money.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted global broker with a well-rounded offer of tradable markets, great educational content and sophisticated order type configuration. It is a high trusted and well capitalize company with an industry leading trading platform, a competitive fee structure and great global market access. Their low entry level and the Global Trader platform, which is intuitive and easy to use trading station, make this broker s great choice for beginners and advanced forex traders.
Professional and seasoned traders will appreciate the great selection of advanced trading tools and order type configurations available on their proprietary Trader Workstation desktop platform (TWS).
Pros
- Best market coverage in the industry (100k+ assets on different instruments)
- Access to 16,500 shares and 8,000 stocks as CFDs
- Professional trading platform suitable for different types of traders
- Intuitive and easy to use mobile trading app
- Industry leading fee structure
- Compatible features for casual and professional traders
- Responsive customer support
Cons
- Few deposit and withdrawal options
- Research and education materials missing
Key features
- Margin loan rates on stocks of 1.3%
- Access to 135+ global markets
- Advanced order types, tools and features
- Access to frictional shares
- Lowest commissions in the industry
4. Saxo Bank – The Most Tradable Assets For Saudi Arabian Clients
Min Deposit: $2000
Fees: 4.7
Assets available: 4.9
Total Fees:
69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Saxo Bank is a reputable global brand known for its complete overall offer and exclusive conditions for high volume traders and investors. Users can enjoy cutting edge trading technology paired with a premium interface and great trade execution on mobile and desktop. The Saxo Bank trading platform offers a feature rich trading experience, easy to use interface, competitive margin rates, and trading on over 40,000 financial instruments. This makes them an industry leader in trading assets coverage as an ECN broker.
If you can afford the minimum deposit of $10.000, this is the go to broker for traders and investors at all levels. They combine high-quality in-house research with top-tier third-party providers and a diverse portfolio of investment options.
Investors who are looking to trade in accordance with Sharia Law can open an islamic account. Saxo Bank also offers high quality customer service in Arabic and English language via phone, email or in person at their local office with guaranteed satisfying answers.
Pros
- Industry leading market coverage
- Excellent Trading Features with SaxoTraderGo
- Advanced order type and account protection features
- Intuitive and easy to use mobile trading app
- Great education and research materials
- Competitive fee structure for active traders
Cons
- $10,000 minimum deposit for UAE users
- High time investment to set up
- Only for advanced traders
Key features
- 40.000 tradable symbols available (crypto derivatives, forex options and futures)
- Advanced account protection and order types
- Fast execution of trades
- $2.000 minimum deposit
- “Best in class” educational resources
- Great ease of use level combined with advanced features
5. Sarwa – Suitable for both beginner and professional traders
Sarwa, founded in 2017, is the most popular DFSA and FSRA-regulated Robo-Advisor for both beginner and professional Dubai-based investors. It features an automated trading platform that offers investors the opportunity to invest in multiple mutual funds and ETFs or trade the markets themselves according to their risk appetite.
Sarwa has low trading fees, offers personalized investment options, and is backed by robust technology, making investing and portfolio management easy and accessible to its users.
Pros
- Suitable for both beginner and professional traders
- Option to visit their offices in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and receive direct investment advice
- Competitive trading fees
Cons
- Few banking options
Key features
- Invest in or trade over 2,000 US stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies
- 5 differently diversified portfolios available to invest in
- Physical offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- Well-suited for both beginner and advanced traders and investors
- Multiple order types available
- Access to historical and real-time price data
- Transfer money without paying any fees from local UAE bank accounts
How We Choose The Top International Trading Platforms For Saudi Arabian Residents?
We choose the Best Trading Platform in Saudi Arabia by using data from 105 online brokers in 9 different categories. The categories we use are: research & education, assets available, platforms, costs, withdrawal & deposit, copy trading, customer support, regulation, mobile apps, and Islamic account availability.
Research & Education
Brokers are more than a trading platform and should include research and educational material with an account. Make sure your broker delivers the information you need.
| Feature | AVAtrade | IQ Optio | Capital.com | eToro | Forex.com | Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Resources | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Daily News Updates | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Personal Training and Room Access | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Market In-depth Analysis | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Market Research | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Trading Signals | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Asset
Any broker you consider should have a range of tradable assets, like ETFs, stocks, futures, forex, mutual funds, bonds, commodities, indices, and cryptos.Any broker you consider should have a range of tradable assets, like ETFs, stocks, futures, forex, mutual funds, bonds, commodities, indices, and cryptos.
| Feature | AVAtrade | IQ Optio | Capital.com | eToro | Forex.com | Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shares | 0 | 0 | 1000 | 2800 | 0 | 30000 | 16500 |
| ETF and Funds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5900 | 35000 |
| Crypto | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 9 | 4 |
| Commodities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Indices | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3052 |
| Options | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3000 | 50000 |
| Futures | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 245 |
| Bonds | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4200 | 1000000 |
| Forex | 59 | 33 | 138 | 49 | 91 | 200 | 115 |
| CFD Stocks | 100 | 194 | 3600 | 2800 | 9500 | 19000 | 8000 |
| CFD Commodities | 15 | 3 | 33 | 54 | 22 | 50 | 2 |
| CFD Crypto | 14 | 19 | 207 | 32 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Trading Platforms
Brokers have dedicated trading platforms, and also offer MT4 and MT5. You need to understand the platform before you start trading, and all the features it has.
| Feature | AVAtrade | IQ Optio | Capital.com | eToro | Forex.com | Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generic Platforms | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop version | Yes | Trader Workstation, Client Portal | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Web version | Yes | Yes (Trader Workstation) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader4 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| MetaTrader5 | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Other Generic | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Fees
Trading fees add up, and some brokers offer 0% trading fees. When you choose a broker, look at the fees, and if you are a frequent trader, keep the fees low.
| Feature | AVAtrade | IQ Optio | Capital.com | eToro | Forex.com | Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit Fee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Withdrawal Fee | 0 | 0 | 0 | $5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Inactivity Fee | $50 quaterly after 3 months | Yes | No | $10 monthly after 1 year | $15 per month (after 12 months) | $100 – 6months | 0 |
| Overnight Fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2.5% | Yes | Yes on CFD’s |
| Cost Per Trade | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost Per Month | 0 | €10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock and ETFs | 0 | 0.48 pips | Varies | 0 | 0+spread | $1 | $0.005 per share |
| FOREX (EURUSD) | 0.9 pips | 4.7 pips | 2.4 pips | 1.1 pips | 0.8 pips | 1 | 0.2 pips + 0.08 to 0.20 bps times trade size comission |
| Crypto | 0.35% | 127.14 pips | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.12% to 0.18% of trade value |
| CFD (gold) | 3.4 pips | 4.8 pips | 8.9 pips | 5 pips | 0.8 pips | 0.6 pip | 0.02% |
Deposit & Withdrawal
Deposits and withdrawals should be free, so look and make sure your broker has a fee structure that works for your deposit and withdrawal preference.
| Feature | AVAtrade | IQ Optio | Capital.com | eToro | Forex.com | Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum in UAE | $100 | $10 | $20 | $200 | $100 | $2000 | 0 ($2000 for margin account) |
| Bank Wire | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cash | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Credit/Debit Card | Yes | $50 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Check | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes from a US bank account |
| Islamic Account Transfer | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| E-Paymenst | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Paypal | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Skrill | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Neteller | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Social / Copy Trading
Social and copy trading gets you into the market fast. Social and copy trading are available with major brokers.
Customer Support
You need a broker with 24/7 customer support in a language you understand. Choose a broker that speaks your language, and has contact options that work for you.
| Feature | AVAtrade | IQ Optio | Capital.com | eToro | Forex.com | Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Multilingual | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Account manager | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Regulations
Only choose brokers regulated by the FCA, CySEC, and ASIC. Don’t bother with brokers that aren’t compliant with regulations in a top-tier market.
| Feature | AVAtrade | Capital.com | eToro | Forex.com | Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulators | ASIC, FSA, FSCA, CBI FFAJ, ADGM | FCA, NBRB, ASIC, CySEC | ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCS | IIROC, SFC, CySEC, FSA, NFA, FTC, MAS, CIMA, ASIC, FCA | ASIC, SFC, JFSA, MAS, Finma, FCA | NYSE, FINRA, SIPC |
Mobile Trading
Mobile trading keeps you in the markets from anywhere your mobile device works. Every broker offers different mobile trading features, so make sure you understand your broker’s mobile platform.
| Feature | AVAtrade | IQ Optio | Capital.com | eToro | Forex.com | Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Android | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist (mobile) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar (mobile) | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting Tools (mobile) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*Islamic Accounts: The Best Trading Platforms in Saudi Arabia follow Sharia law. You can choose a broker that follows Islamic law.
Which is the best Mobile Trading App in Saudi Arabia?
Our research says that AVAtrade, Interactive Brokers, Capital.com, and Saxo Bank offer the best mobile trading apps in Saudi Arabia. All the mobile platforms support iOS and Android, and traders can use them for free.
Here are the brokers you should consider for mobile trading:
- AVAtrade
gives its clients three options for mobile trading, including AvaTradeGo, and the mobile versions of MT4 and MT5. AvaTradeGo is like the desktop version, and any trader that uses AVAtrade’s desktop platform will like the mobile platform. - Interactive Brokers
there are two ways to trade on the go with Interactive Brokers which has IMPACT for cryptos and stocks, and IBKR for all its other assets. IBKR is customizable, but it isn’t intuitive. If you want a mobile trading platform that dose anything, IBKR makes sense. - Capital.com
has the mobile version of MetaTrader 4 (MT4) for clients, and its own trading app as well. Traders use whatever they want, and Capital.com includes its Investmate education app too. - Saxo Bank
SaxoTraderGO works for both desktops and mobile. Anyone who likes the desktop version of SaxoTraderGO appreciates the mobile version, as it has the same features and markets. Traders access advanced charts, advanced orders and market data with the app. The mobile version of MT4 is also offered by Saxo, but with less access to assets.
Online trading in Saudi Arabia
Traders in Saudi Arabia trade with online brokers accessing global markets, like commodities, ETFs, stocks, CFDs, bonds, and mutual funds.
The Saudi Arabian Capital Market Authority regulates financial markets in Saudi Arabia, and the best trading platforms in Saudi Arabia are offshore.
Investors in Saudi Arabia send and receive money to offshore brokers for legal purposes. Information about regulated brokers in Saudi Arabia is accessible via the Capital Market Authority.
How to Open a Brokerage Account in Saudi Arabia?
It’s easy to open brokerage accounts in Saudi Arabia with the correct information. To do it, you need a form of legal ID, like a driver’s license or passport, a bank account, and proof of address.
STEP ONE: Choose a broker and look for the broker’s minimum deposit. Open an account online when you find a broker you like. Islamic swap-free accounts make trading easy for observant muslims.
STEP TWO: The broker will ask you for a KYC check, and you need ID like a drivers license or a passport. After the KYC check, transfer money to fund your account.
The best trading platforms in Saudi Arabia are offshore, so look for brokers that have transfer options that work for you. Wire transfers add costs, and there are better options, like e-wallets.
STEP THREE: Your trading account is ready to go, and you can learn how to use trading platforms like MT4, MT5 or the proprietary platform your broker offers.
The brokers we recommend give you a free trading platform, and a demo account. You also get educational resources, so use the demo account to practice trading, and learn how to trade.
Points to consider before you get started
Anyone who is trading online in Saudi Arabia needs to consider a few things before they get started.
Here are some things to consider before you fund an account:
- Have Goals
When you invest or trade, investment goals come first. Consider where you want to be in a year before you put money in the markets. You need to create an investment style before you choose a broker, as short term and long term investments require different brokers. A broker that sells ETFs is better for long term investment, and a futures broker is the choice for traders. - Markets and Assets Matter
You need to understand custody, and exposure to both counterparty risk, and assets. A CFD broker sells derivatives, and these are tradable, but not good for long term investment. On the other hand, there are rules about day trading that make the direct purchase and sale of US stocks unattractive for traders. Know the markets, and make them work for you. - Investment Timeframe
Think about how long you want to hold investments, and choose a broker that makes sense for your investment philosophy. If you plan to create a portfolio of ETFs for the long term, you don’t need to worry about trading fees, but if you plan to day trade, pay attention to what every trade costs.
Final Verdict
Our review of 105 online brokers in 9 different categories, says that AVAtrade is the Best Trading Platform in Saudi Arabia. We know AVAtrade has great mobile trading platforms and you can trade from a desktop or mobile device. The broker also offers full time customer support, and a fair fee structure.
FAQ
Is Online Trading Legal in Saudi Arabia?
Online trading is legal in Saudi Arabia, and you can trade with confidence with the brokers we recommend.
Is Funding an Offshore Account Difficult?
It is simple to fund an offshore trading account, but there are fees for wire transfers. Look for a broker that offers good funding methods, like PayPal, or Skrill.
What is the Best Trading Platform in Saudi Arabia?
After researching all the brokers that serve Saudi clients, our research says AVAtrade is the best online broker in Saudi Arabia.
Are There Halal Trading Accounts?
Saudi Arabian investors and traders can access Sharia compliant accounts that don’t use interest.
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.