Page Summary
This guide helps users to find the best trading platforms in UAE for beginners. There are numerous online brokers available in the UAE for new traders, and it is often hard to separate the “wheat from the chaff” when choosing the best suitable platform for certain financial goals, needs, and trader personalities.
Proper research, comparison, and background check on different brokers can help traders and investors avoid selecting a platform with a complex interface, inconvenient trading features, high fees, and poor customer support.
This guide assesses 68 online brokers in UAE for users to review and find the ideal platforms for their needs. To help them make an informed decision, a list of the best trading platforms in the UAE for beginners is shared below, followed by detailed reviews and comparisons.
Top 6 Beginners Trading Platforms in UAE
- eToro – Best Overall Trading Platform in UAE for Beginners
- AVAtrade – Top For Forex Traders
- ActivTrades – Best Choice of trading platforms
- Pepperstone – Ideal CFD Platform
- Interactive Brokers – Great for Stock and ETFs
- Sarwa – Best Full Service Stock Broker in UAE
Top Brokers For Beginners in UAE Compared
Key features of online broker with the highest rated platforms for beginners are compared in the table below.
| Broker | eToro | AVAtrade | ActivTrades | Pepperstone | Interactive Brokers | Sarwa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. deposit UAE |
$100
|
$100
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
| Available assets |
Stocks & ETFs,
Forex, Crypto.. Fx pairs:49 FX options:0 Stocks:5,000 ETFs:264 Cryptos:32 Indices:250 Commodities: 54 |
Forex,
Options, CFDs.. FX pairs: 62 Options:44 Stocks:700 ETFs:60 Cryptos:20 Indices:31 Commodities:18 |
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 |
Stocks & ETFs,
Cryptos, Futures.. Stocks & ETFs, Cryptos, Futures, Options |
| Copy trading tools |
CopyTrader
|
AvaSocial, Zulutrade, Duplitrade
|
ZuluTrade, Mql5.com
|
DupliTrade, Mql5.com
|
N/A
Copy trading is not available
|
N/A
Copy trading tools are not available
|
| Trading fees |
Fx: 0.9 pips EUR/USD
Stocks & ETFs: 0% |
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
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 |
Stocks & ETFs: 0%
Crypto: 1% |
| Deposits & withdrawals |
Bank Wire, Credit Cards, e-wallets..
Paypal, Skrill, Neteller, Unionpay, Klarna, POLi, Ideal, Trustly, Przelewy
|
Bank Wire, Credit Cards, e-wallets..
Paypal, Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money, Webmoney, Klarna, POLi, Boleto
|
Bank Wire, Credit/Debit Card
Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay, Crypto
|
Bank Wire, Credit Cards, e-wallets..
|
Bank Wire
|
Bank Wire, Credit Cards, e-wallets..
|
| Trading app rating |
4.7
|
4.9
|
4.6
|
4.8
|
4.9
|
4.4
|
| Overall Rating |
4.8
|
4.9
|
4.7
|
4.7
|
4.8
|
4.7
|
| 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.
| Broker | eToro | AvaTrade | ActivTrades | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone | Sarwa |
| Min. Deposit | $50.00 | $100.00 | $0.00 | $0,00 | $0,00 | $0.00 |
| Assets | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Forex, CFDs | Forex, CFDs, Binary Options | Forex, CFDs | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Options, Futures, Cryptos, Forex, CFDs | Forex, CFDs | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos |
| Trading Platform | Proprietary | Web Trading, AvaTradeGO, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaOptions, | TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader | IBKR Global Trader, Client Portal, IBKR Mobile, TraderWorkstation | TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader | Sarwa |
| Copy Trading Tools | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Easy to Use | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Funding Fees | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Market Insights | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Daily News | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | Phone, Email, and Live Chat | Phone, Email, and Live Chat | Phone, Email, and Live Chat | Phone, Email, and Live Chat | Phone, Email, and Live Chat | Phone, Email, and Live Chat |
Best Trading Platforms in UAE for Beginners Reviewed
6 Online brokers with the highest listed trading platforms in UAE for beginners are reviewed below.
1. eToro – Best Trading Platform and App in UAE for Beginners
Min Deposit: $100
Fees: 4.8
Assets available: 4.8
Total Fees: 0.9 pips
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
With an easy-to-use trading platform, great educational materials and social/copy trading features, eToro is an interesting choice to be considered by beginners and casual traders.
Beginners can choose from over 5,000 financial instruments including:
- 2800 Shares & 2800 Stocks as CFDs
- 264 ETFs
- 32 Cryptocurrencies
- 49 Forex pairs
- 54 Commodities & 250 Indices
Most of them are available as “real assets” and also as CFDs.Trading-wise eToro only offers a web and mobile platform (Web Trader and Mobile Trader). Both are smooth, easy to use, and of course extended with copy trading abilities – it’s the feature that allows beginners to follow professional traders and copy their exact trades. Trading features are simple and include one-click trading, price alerts, and excellent charting.
eToro supports beginners with great research tools such as Tip Ranks, The Bull Club, and eToro Plus, which provide insights from leading analysts and financial institutions, a broad range of technical indicators and dynamic charting features.
Users can choose between 4 different account types, which include a beginner (retail) account with a low minimum deposit ($100), 1:30 leverage on CFDs, and access to all tradable assets. Keep in mind that as a beginner you can also make use of the free demo account and the $100,000 virtual money to test your trading strategies before investing real money.
eToro also offers great customer support around the clock in Arabic and English.
Pros
- Easy to use trading platform
- Broad range of educational material and research tools
- Excellent social trading services for all kinds of traders
Cons
- Some research tools are only available to VIP members
- Platform lacks features for professional traders such as advanced order types and MetaTrader 4 and 5 compatibility
- Relatively high fees on crypto trades (1%) compared to other brokers
Key features
- Great Social Trading platform for beginner and advanced traders
- Over 5,000 tradable assets
- More than 10 different payment methods to fund your account
- Super-fast registration and KYC process
- Commission-free stock trading
- Beginner-friendly trading platform and app
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
2. AVAtrade – Best Trading Platform For Beginner Forex and CFD Traders
Min Deposit: $100
Fees: 4.9
Assets available: 4.9
Total Fees: 0.9 pip
AvaTrade is a DFSA-regulated forex and CFD broker that provides users access to over 1,250 CFDs and 44 forex pairs. Users can start trading with as low as $100 or practice with a free $100,000 funded demo trading account. The maximum leverage ratio at AvaTrade is 30:1 and they also offer negative balance protection through AVAprotect.
AvaTrade users have access to 8 different trading platforms and beginner friendly add-ons including DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. Those allow beginners to copy trades from advanced traders instead of investing on their own. They also feature beginner friendly buy/sell options and technical analysis tools such as indicators, drawing tools, and an economic calendar.
Beginners have access to an extensive selection of educational resources which include guides, Ebooks and video tutorials on CFD and forex trading.
With no commissions charged on CFDs and an average spread during peak trading hours of only 0,22, AvaTrade is one of the cheapest brokers to trade with.
AvaTrade’s customer service is available 24/7 in English, Arabic via email, live chat, WhatsApp, and by phone. The UAE customer support number is 97-145-285-110.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly trading platform
- Up to 30:1 leverage, low spreads, no commissions, and instant order execution
- Broad range of educational material and research tools
Cons
- Not all educational material is aimed at beginners
- Only offers CFD trading
- Charges inactivity fees of $50 after 3 months of inactivity and $100 administration fee after 1 year of inactivity
Key features
- Over 1250 CFDs and 44 forex pairs available
- Beginner-friendly social trading platform
- Intuitively designed mobile trading app
- Low trading fees
- Well-suited for beginner traders
- Compatible with MetaTrader 4 and 5 and other external trading software
71% of retail CFD accounts lose money
3. ActivTrades – Best Choice of trading platforms
Min Deposit: $0
Fees: 3.6
Assets available: 3.8
Total Fees:
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 with over 100,000 users and one of the best for beginners. It offers traders access to popular platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ActivTrader, and Tradingview, which are easy for users to operate in.
The broker is known for its beginner-friendly and intuitively designed trading platforms. ActivTrades is famous for the $0 minimum deposit fee, which is the lowest among all the brokers.
Through ActivTrades, users can trade or invest in thousands of financial instruments, including shares, forex pairs, indices, ETFs, commodities, cryptocurrencies, options, and CFDs on these asset classes across global stock markets.
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.
Pros
- $0 deposit requirement to open an account
- Regulated by the FCA
- Access to various financial instruments with up to 200:1 leverage
Cons
- Platforms lack features for advanced traders
- Little long-term investment options compared to other brokers
Key features
- Beginner-friendly trading platforms and apps
- Low-cost trading and competitive spreads
- The option to invest over the long term or to conduct self-directed short-term trading (day trading, swing trading, scalping, etc.)
- Free demo account available for beginner traders
- A wide range of educational material, research tools, and analysis features
- Multiple order types (market order, limit order, guaranteed limit order, etc.)
- $0 minimum deposit.
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
Min Deposit: $0
Fees: 4.9
Assets available: 4.8
Total Fees: 0.0 pips
Pepperstone is an Australian CFD broker, founded in 2010. Their platforms offers access to 180 + financial instruments including forex and CFDs on stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies.
Trading platforms available on Pepperstone are listed below.
- MetaTrader 4
- MetaTrader 5
- TradingView
- cTrader
The platform charges zero spreads on most forex pairs and a fixed commission of $3,50. Pepperstone is a reputable broker regulated by top-tier financial authorities including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Pepperstone’s customer support is available 24/7 in English and Arabic. They are reachable through email, live chat, and phone.
Pros
- Algorithmic trading features
- Multiple third party integrations (MT4, MT5, cTrader, Tradingview)
- Competitive fees
- Social trading features
- Excellent education and research materials
Cons
- Limited video educational resources
- Limited advanced order types
- Customer not available in Arabic
Key features
- 60+ Forex pairs and 700+ different CFDs
- MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader trading platforms
- TradingView integration
- Zero spreads on a few forex pairs including EUR/USD
- Special set of tools for professional traders
- Islamic swap-free account available
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money
5. Sarwa – Best Full Service Stock Broker in UAE
Sarwa is a full-service broker based in Dubai, that allows users to trade and invest in 4,000+ different US stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, indices, and cryptocurrencies.
With combining automated investing, self-directed trading, and financial advisory services from the same dashboard, Sarwa makes it easy for beginners to enter the market. Those can either let professionals trade on their behalf or trade on their own with support from a financial advisor.
With commission-free stock trading, 0,50% – 0,85% advisory fees on investment services, and 0,75% spreads on cryptocurrency transactions, Sarwa’s fees are low. Users are also allowed to make deposits in AED without paying any extra transaction or conversion fees.
Sarwa’s trading platform is intuitive and easy to use, featuring basic buy/sell options, watch lists and search features which is great for beginners. Those can also make use of five pre-made portfolios: Conventional, Halal, Socially Responsible, Conventional Crypto, or Socially Responsible Crypto without having to do any research.
The Sarwa customer service is available 24/7 in English and Arabic by email, live chat, and phone. Users can also visit one of Sarwa’s physical offices in the UAE and speak with their financial advisors directly.
Sarwa is regulated by two top-tier financial regulators from the UAE including the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi (FSRA), which makes it a safe broker to trade with.
| Sarwa Invest Account Type / Features | Starter | Standard | Premium | Platinum |
| Personalized Financial Advice | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Low-cost, Globally Diversified Portfolios | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Easy Rebalancing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dividend Reinvesting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free Financial Education | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access to Expert Financial Advice | 1 Free Call | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Financial Planning | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lower Advisory Fees | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Pros
- No minimum deposit requirement to open account
- Access to financial advisors and long-term investment services
- Beginner-friendly trading and investing platform
Cons
- No demo account available
- You cannot choose your own long-term investments
- Even crypto portfolios have only 5% exposure to crypto
Key features
- Trade or invest in over 4,000 US stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies
- 5 Differently diversified portfolios available to invest in
- Physical offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- Well-suited for both beginners and advanced traders and investors
- Multiple order types available (Limit, Market, and Stop Limit)
- Access to historical and real-time price data
- Commission-free stock trading and no transaction fees for depositing AED from UAE bank accounts
How To Find The Ideal Trading Platform in UAE For Beginners?
The most important criteria for finding an online broker with the ideal platform for beginners are listed below.
- Low Minimum Deposit – brokers with low minimum deposits should be preferred as they allow beginners to start with smaller investments and trade with less risk of loosing money.
- Copy Trading Features – allow beginners to start investing by copying trades from seasoned investors. This increases chances of profitable trading.
- Demo Account Availability – allows beginners to test their trading strategy with virutal money before investing real money.
- Extensive Educational Materials – beginners should look out for brokers that offer a broad range of educational materials in the form of tutorial videos, educational articles, and webinars.
- Trading Signals and Ideas – help beginners to open the right trades and to increase their overall chances for profitability.
- Professional Customer Support – makes it easy for beginners to get their questiones answered by experienced traders
What Should Beginners Look out for When Choosing a Broker in UAE?
New investors need to start by defining their goals and looking for a broker that works for their investing needs. For example, an investor that wants to hold stocks for the long term would need a different kind of broker compared to a new trader that wants to learn how to day trade.
In addition, beginners should look for educational resources and copy trading platforms. There is a lot to learn about investing, and if it is possible to get that education for free, all the better.
It is very important to understand fees because the amount an investor pays to buy, sell, and hold positions has an impact on profits. It is possible to gain exposure to US stocks with CFDs, but the cost to hold that position will be more than if an investor buys the same exposure via a broker that offers US stocks to investors in the UAE.
Conclusion
The various online brokers in UAE offering different platforms and features, make it tough to find the ideal choice for individual needs. Evaluating and comparing the services of different providers requires time and expertise.
This guide does the tough grind by assessing top platforms for different types of traders and investment goals. The results of our analysis and comparison of the best trading platforms in UAE for beginners are wrapped up in the table below.
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
| RANK | BROKER | PLATFORM SCORE | BEST FOR | WEBSITE |
| #1 | eToro | 4,9/5 | Overall | Official website |
| #2 | AVAtrade | 4,9/5 | Forex Traders | Official website |
| #3 | ActivTrades | 4.9/5 | Best Choice of trading platforms | Official website |
| #4 | Pepperstone | 4,9/5 | CFD Platform | Official website |
| #5 | Interactive Brokers | 4,2/5 | Stock and ETFs | Official website |
| #6 | Sarwa | 4,2/5 | Full Service Stock Broker | Official website |
After analysing and comparing 105 online brokers available to users from the Middle east across 9 major categories, we consider eToro as the best trading platform for beginners in UAE. They offer a high “ease of use” level, seamless and simple on-boarding, great customer support in Arabic and industry leading social trading features. This broker scored high in each of those areas, making it a great fit for novice traders who want to step into the markets confidently.
FAQ
How much money do I need to start investing as a beginner?
Online brokers in UAE have different minimum deposit requirements ranging from $0 to $2000. It is recommended for beginners to start out small and increase the investment with increased experience.
What are the most important trading tools for beginners?
The most important trading tools for beginners include social/copy trading, simple order types, risk management tools, demo account, intuitive design and responsive customer support.
What are the most recommendable assets for beginner traders and investours?
The most recommendable assets for beginner traders and investors include stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds and index funds.
What are the most recommended trading strategies for beginners?
The most recommended trading strategies used by beginners include copy trading, PAMM and MAMM accounts, trading signals, buy and hold.
What are the most common beginner mistakes in UAE to avoid?
The most common beginner mistakes to avoid as a UAE trader include: choosing a brokers that does not allow direct AED deposits, ignoring risk management tools, not having a plan, not using a demo account and not diversifying investments.
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.