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 5 Beginners Trading Platforms in UAE
- eToro – Best Overall Trading Platform in UAE for Beginners
- Sarwa – Best Full Service Stock Broker in UAE
- Pepperstone – Ideal CFD Platform
- AVAtrade – Top For Forex Traders
- IG Trading – Great for Stock and ETFs
Best Trading Platforms in UAE for Beginners Reviewed
5 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: $50
Fees: 4.8
Assets available: 4.8
Total Fees:
77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. eToro AUS Capital Limited AFSL 491139. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. OTC Derivatives are speculative and leveraged. Not suitable for all investors. See PDS and TMD. Cryptoassets are highly volatile and unregulated in the UK. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
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 Funds and 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 ($50), 1:5 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
77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. eToro AUS Capital Limited AFSL 491139. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. OTC Derivatives are speculative and leveraged. Not suitable for all investors. See PDS and TMD. Cryptoassets are highly volatile and unregulated in the UK. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
2. 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
3. Pepperstone – Best CFD Platform
Min Deposit: $0
Fees: 4.9
Assets available: 4.8
Total Fees:
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. Peppesrtone 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
4. 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
5. IG Trading – Best Trading Platform for Beginner Stock and ETF Traders
Min Deposit: $5500
Fees: 3.7
Assets available: 4.5
Total Fees:
With access to over 17,000 stocks and ETFs across 25 different global markets, IG is one of the largest stock and ETF brokers in the industry. They also offer access to CFDs, options, forex, indices, crypto, and commodities.
IG users can choose between multiple trading platforms available for both beginner and advanced traders:
- IG WebTrader
- IG Android and iOS Apps
- ProRealTime
- L2 Dealer Desktop
All of the platforms have a beginner friendly interface and are compatible with MetaTrader 4 and other external trading platforms and Expert Advisors through APIs. Users can easily place orders and manage their risk using stop-loss and take-profit orders. It is also possible to set up price alerts so you get notified whenever an asset reaches a certain price.
You can open an IG live trading account from $250 or practice with the freely available $20,000-funded demo account first. The broker accepts bank wire transfers, credit/debit card, and e-wallet deposits and doesn’t charge any transaction fees.
IG provides all of its users with a wide range of educational material such as daily market update videos, trading tutorial guides, and technical and fundamental analysis case studies. Personalized support and broker-assisted trades are available to premium users.
IG’s share dealing services are commission-free.
The English and Arabic-speaking IG customer service is available from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday in Dubai time by email (sales.ae@ig.com), live chat, and phone (+971-455-921-08).
Pros
- Great research tools, in-depth market analysis, and trade ideas for beginner traders
- Intuitive and easy to use desktop trading platform and mobile trading apps
- Broad range of educational material freely available to all users
Cons
- Live chat is not always available
- No Islamic swap-free account available
- High fees on stock CFDs compared to other brokers
Key features
- Over 17,000 available stocks, ETFs, and other financial instruments
- Well-established, globally operating broker since 1974
- Regulated by multiple tier 1 regulatory bodies, including the DFSA
- Unlimited free demo paper trading account
- Trading signals and price alerts to find favorable trading opportunities
75% of retail CFD accounts lose money
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
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 | Investment Options | Educational Materials | Minimum Deposit | Availability of Copy Trading | Customer Support Options | Regulators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | Stocks, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, Currencies, Crypto | eToro Academy, Webinars, Videos, Guides | $150 | CopyTrader | Ticket System, Live Chat | CySEC, FCA, ASIC |
| Sarwa | Stocks and ETFs, Cryptocurrencies | Blog Posts, Guides | $1 | No | Email, Phone, Live Chat | DFSA (Dubai), FSRA (Abu Dhabi) |
| Pepperstone | Forex, CFDs (Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Shares) | Webinars, Guides, Market Analysis | $100 | MetaTrader 4/5 and cTrader | Phone, Email, Live Chat | ASIC, FCA |
| AVAtrade | Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies | Webinars, Videos, eBooks, Market Analysis | $100 | Avasocial, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade | Phone, Email, Live Chat | Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, FSA, FSCA, ADGM |
| IG Trading | Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Options, Bonds | IG Trading academy, Webinars, Seminars, Guides, Videos | $250 | MetaTrader 4 | Phone, Email, Live Chat | FCA, ASIC, MAS, CFTC, NFA |
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.
| RANK | BROKER | PLATFORM SCORE | BEST FOR | WEBSITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | eToro | 4,9/5 | Overall | Official website |
| #2 | Sarwa | 4,2/5 | Full Service Stock Broker | Official website |
| #3 | Pepperstone | 4,9/5 | CFD Platform | Official website |
| #4 | AVAtrade | 4,9/5 | Forex Traders | Official website |
| #5 | IG Trading | 4,2/5 | Stock and ETFs | 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. 74% 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 does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
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 (Dipl.-Jur) 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. Stefan began trading in 2010 as a college student. Money was tight,…