In this guide, we go over the best trading platforms in UAE for scalping. Each of the brokers on our list offers slightly different scalping features, but all of them offer algorithmic trading, fast order execution, competitive fees, and scalping trading tools (VPS, EA compatibility, and free to use APIs)
It is important to understand your requirements and trading strategy before knowledge before signing up with any of the listed brokers!
For this guide, we have analysed and compared the 5 top trading platforms in UAE for scalping in 8 major categories to help you make an informed decision.
Top 5 Scalping Trading Platforms in UAE
- Interactive Brokers – Best Overall, Stocks and ETFs trading platform for scalping
- ICMarkets – Best scalping trading platform for high-frequency trading
- TradeStation – Best scalping trading platform for options and futures
- Capital.com – Best algorithmic trading platform for scalping
- AvaTrade – Best trading platform for scalping forex and CFDs
| RANK | BROKER | GENERAL | PLATFORM SCORE | BEST FOR | WEBSITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Interactive Brokers | Great choice of different trading instruments | 4,9/5 | Best Overall, Stocks and ETFs trading platform for scalping | Official website |
| #2 | ICMarkets | Competitive trading fees | 4,7/5 | Best scalping trading platform for high-frequency trading | Official website |
| #3 | TradeStation | Commission-less stock | 4,9/5 | Best scalping trading platform for options and futures | Official website |
| #4 | Capital.com | Compatible with MetaTrader 4 and TradingView | 4.7/5 | Best algorithmic trading platform for scalping | Official website |
| #5 | AVAtrade | Offers advanced Strategy Tester | 4,9/5 | Best for Forex and CFD Swing Trading | Official website |
Best Brokers in UAE For Scalping Reviewed
Below we break down the best brokers in UAE for scalping including their pros, cons, and key features
01. Interactive Brokers – Best Broker For Scalping With Stocks & ETFs
With margin loans between 5,33% and 6,33%, 30-second candlestick charting, and real-time news, Interactive Brokers shows great support for short-term trading decisions. Additionally, users have access to powerful APIs through their Trader Workstation platform and fast order execution through B SmartRouting which makes them an overall great fit for scalpers.
Other useful features for scalpers include interactive and customizable charts, multi-asset support, watchlists, customizable market scanners, the ability to draw trend lines, bars, and gradients, and the option to save charting layouts.
Interactive Brokers offers commission-free US stock and ETF trading and competitive FX trading rates between 0,08 and 0,20 basis points.
Scalpers are required to have a $25,000 minimum balance as per FINRA regulations. Users looking to scalp options and futures do not face any minimum balance requirements.
Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation and IBKR GlobalTrader Key Features for Scalpers:
- Wide Range of Scalpable Assets – IBKR allows traders to scalp stocks, ETFs, futures, options, forex, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies.
- Broad Selection of Research Tools – Access to Interactive Analytics, Portfolio Analytics, TWS Arbitrage Meter, IB Bigcharts, and IB Marketwatch News to stay up-to-date.
- Lightning-fast Order Execution – IB SmartRouting offers optimal execution conditions by searching for the best available stock and options prices across exchanges and dark pools.
- Supported Scalping Strategies – Manual trading, scalping, day trading, swing trading, and algorithmic trading.
Pros:
- Great choice of different trading instruments for scalping
- Competitive trading fees and commission-free stock and ETF trading
- Fast order execution and over 100 different order types available
Cons:
- Only has a proprietary trading platform available (minimum algo trading and FHT support)
- Market data for paper trading of all products is delayed by 10-15 minutes except for OTC products (which makes testing scalping techniques virtually impossible)
- Very complex fee structure
02. IC Markets – Best Trading Platform for High-Frequency Scalping in UAE
IC Markets offer access to the full MetaTrader suite, cTrader Automate, and a Virtual Private Server that guarantees high frequency scalping. With their additionally offered low variable spreads (from at 0,0 pips on its cTrader Raw Spread platform) and fast order executions, they are a top choice to consider by scalpers looking for high frequency trade execution.
Their cTrader platform allows users to deploy C# automated trading systems by using APIs and to backtest algorithmic strategies. Their platform also offers users access to an Equinix NY4 Virtual Private Server that allows them to run their EAs hassle-free, without needing expensive computer hardware, backup internet connection, or power supply. The average order execution speed is below 40ms which is faster than most other scalping brokers.
Scalpers are allowed to trade on forex and CFD products with up to 500:1 leverage. The minimum deposit at IC Markets is $200 and can be funded by credit/debit card, PayPal, or by transferring funds from another broker. AED deposits will be converted to either EUR or USD.
ICMarkets Key Features:
- Low, Variable Spreads – ICMarkets streams prices from over 25 different sources which ensures traders pay the lowest spread possible. These spreads can go as low as 0,0 pips.
- Execution – The average order execution speed at ICMarkets is under 40ms. This makes the broker one of the most ideal brokers for scalpers.
- Broad Range of FX Pairs – Scalpers can trade over 60 forex pairs and 4 metals automatically with ICMarkets's APIs and by using Expert Advisors.
- Competitive Swap Rates – ICMarkets offers competitive long and short swap rates for all FX pairs and metals which results in low overnight fees.
- Good for all Sorts of Traders – Suitable for beginners, average, and experienced traders.
- Supported Scalping Strategies – Manual trading, algorithmic trading, scalping, day trading, social/copy trading
Pros:
- Good choice of different trading platforms
- Competitive trading fees
- Supports algorithmic trading, Expert Advisors, and trading scripts
Cons:
- Only offers forex and CFDs
- No investor compensation or negative balance protection
- Trading platforms may be overwhelming for beginners
03. TradeStation – Best Trading Platform in UAE for Scalping Options and Futures
With a great selection of trading instruments and a specialized futures and options trading platform (FuturesPlus), TradeStation is among the top platforms in UAE for scalping with Options and Futures. Users additionally have access to fast order execution (0,38 ms), competitive trading fees of $1,50 per contract per side, and automated trading via its available APIs.
The FuturesPlus platform allows users to visualize options prices, create scalping strategies, and analyze implied volatility, theoretical prices and Greeks. Users are also allowed to use detailed risk metrics and to assess performance across user-defined scenarios.
In addition, TradeStation charges no commissions on futures and options trades up to $10,000/trade, which makes it very cheap and suitable for different scalping strategies.
As a CFTC-licensed futures commission merchant (FCM) and member of CME, NFA, SIPC, and FINRA, they are allowed to offer index options and futures contracts to scalpers from a single brokerage account.
Account opening for UAE users at TradeStation starts at $5,000 for a futures trading account and $2,000 for a live margin trading account. They don’t offer Islamic accounts.
TradeStation FuturesPlus Key Scalping Features:
- Autofit Vol Curve – allows users to generate theoretical values and to apply their own vol curves using the built-in Vol Curve Manager. This is great for testing scalping techniques on paper trading accounts.
- Tradestation’s Trade Monitor – allows traders to view all market activity for options and futures on a per-product basis and gives scalpers detailed insights regarding market movements.
- Send RFQs Directly from Strategy Creation, Market Grid, Watchlist, RFQ Viewer, or Options Chain to execute scalp strategies faster.
- TradeStation’s Watchlist – allows traders to monitor and customize their futures scalping strategies by using first and second-order Greeks before sending RFQs.
- Access to Micro E-mini futures – allow users to purchase 1/10th the size of ‘’normal’’ futures ( fractional option contracts with leverage), which is great for scalpers with smaller amounts of capital.
- Supported Scalping Strategies – Manual trading, day trading, swing trading, and algorithmic trading.
Pros:
- Overall best futures and options scalping trading platform for UAE residents
- Dedicated futures and options trading platform available on all kinds of devices
- Fast order execution and lots of scalping tools available
Cons:
- Not compatible with MetaTrader 4/5, cTrader, or any other external trading platform or software
- High Minimum deposit required
- No Islamic accounts available
04. Capital.com – Best Trading Platform for Algorithmic Scalping in UAE
Capital.com offers users extensive research tools and excellent backtesting options via TradingView and MetaTrader, which is great for traders using algorithmic trading softwares and/or Expert Advisors. They also allow scalpers access to over 6,400 markets commission-free, and provide them with over 70 indicators, price alerts, and the ability to use up to 100:1 leverage. This makes them a top scalping platform for algorithmic traders.
Capital.com users have access to market sentiment analytics via their AI trade bias detection system and multi-chart toggling up to six tabs. They protect users with negative balance protection, meaning users cannot lose more than they deposit.
Capital.com offers free access to REST and WebSocket APIs that provide real-time prices and price history of all assets tradable via the broker. This is great for algorithmic traders and traders that use Expert Advisors to automate their trading.
The minimum deposit at Capital.com for UAE users is $20. Capital.com doesn’t offer Islamic accounts for those who want to trade according to Sharia Law.
Capital.com – Key Scalping Features
- Automated Trading Features – available through MetaTrader 4, TradingView, and APIs.
- Over 6,400 available Assets – including forex pairs, shares, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and indices.
- Dynamic Charting Features – extensive drawing toolkit provided by TradingView
- Suitable for All Types of Traders – Capital.com’s Web-based, desktop, and mobile trading platforms are suited for beginners, average, and experienced traders.
- Supported Scalping Strategies – Manual trading, day trading, swing trading, and algorithmic trading.
Pros:
- Compatible with MetaTrader 4 and TradingView
- Good scalping strategy backtesting options via TradingView
- Freely available APIs for algorithmic and high-frequency traders and Expert Advisor users
Cons:
- Only forex and CFDs available
- Spreads are wider compared to most other brokers
- No Islamic accounts available
05. AvaTrade – Best Trading Platform in UAE for Scalping Forex and CFDs
AvaTrade allows scalpers access to multiple trading platforms including MetaTrader 4,5, DupliTrade and Capitalise.ai and over 1,250 financial instruments with up to 400:1 leverage. Users can deploy automated trading systems like Expert Advisors and use custom indicators scripted with MetaEditor.
AvaTrade also allows arbitrage trading and backtesting their EAs and other automated trading software with their multi-threaded Strategy Tester, which makes them a top choice to consider by forex and CFD scalpers.
Scalpers can trade 44 different forex pairs, options on these currency pairs and cryptocurrencies.
Avatrade users can open a live AvaTrade account with a minimum deposit of $100. Muslim traders can contact the AvaTrade support to convert their account to an Islamic account, which fully complies to Sharia Law.
AvaTrade – Key Scalping Features
- Ultra-low Spreads and Swap Rates – Starting from 0,9 pips on EUR/USD and -0,0058%.
- Deep Liquidity on All Asset Classes – Allowing instant order execution.
- Additional Risk Management – Via AvaProtect allowing to reimburse users looses at the end of the protected period.
- Copy Other Trader’s Scalping Techniques – via AvaSocial’s Copy Trading feature
- Usage of Own Trading Scripts, Robots & EAs – Via MetaEditor and available APIs
- Available Markets – Forex, CFDs
- Suitable for All Types of Traders – Beginners, average, and experienced traders
- Supported Scalping Strategies – Manual trading, algorithmic trading, day trading
Pros:
- Multiple trading platforms available, including the full MetaTrader suite
- Offers advanced Strategy Tester and demo account to test scalping strategies
- Over 1,250 tradable assets with up to 400:1 leverage and deep liquidity
Cons:
- Only forex and CFDs available
- Only offers Forex, CFDs, and Vanilla Options
- Charges inactivity fees of $50 per quarter after 3 months of inactivity and $100 administration fee after 12 months of non-use
How To Choose The Right Broker For Scalping?
To get our list of the best trading platforms in UAE for scalping we have analysed and compared 112 online brokers across 8 different categories. All of the criteria are listed below to help you make an informed decision:
- Scalping availability (the broker has to allow scalping)
- Tradable asset types (the trading platform must contain financial instruments that are convenient for scalping like Forex, CFDs, futures, and options)
- Broker has to support algorithmic trading via its trading platform
- The trading platform has to have features that support algorithmic trading like VPS, EA compatibility, and free-to-use APIs
- Speed of trade execution
- Other trading platform features that impact scalping
- Quality of the customer support
- Available deposit and withdrawal methods
- UAE Availability (whether UAE residents can open an account and make use of all offered futures trading services)
What is Scalping (Meaning)?
Scalping is a popular day trading strategy where the trader, or scalper, opens a position and sells it back within a few minutes with the aim of making small profits. The time a scalper holds a position varies from a second to several minutes. If the trader holds the position longer, this is no longer called scalping. The idea behind scalping is that the short-term price is easier to predict. By trading with large amounts, you can earn a lot of money with scalping.
Common Scalping Strategies for UAE Traders
The most common scalping strategies used by UAE traders are:
- Market-Making – is a scalping strategy where traders try to profit from the spread by placing a bid for a specific asset. This strategy only works on assets with big volumes and low volatility.
- Opening big trades for small profits – is a strategy where traders open a large position only to wait for a small price move. This strategy requires highly liquid assets and very large purchases.
- Traditional scalping – is a strategy where traders open a position according to signals from their system and close the position as soon as the first exist signal is generated at a near 1:1 risk/reward ratio.
What Is The Difference Between Scalping and Day Trading?
The main difference between scalping and day trading is the timeline of entered positions. While a day trader buys and sells assets within the same trading day, a scalper does the same within minutes. This means that scalpers trade more frequently than day traders and they focus on small but repeated profits. The average scalper opens tens to hundreds of trades per day, whilst day traders only open a few positions daily.
Another key difference between scalpers and day traders is that scalpers tend not to use fundamental analysis, whilst day traders do. Keep in mind that both scalpers and day traders try to find and trade breakouts and reversals.
While both scalpers and day traders don’t keep open positions overnight, they do trade the same asset classes: stocks, currencies, bonds, and ETFs. They both use position sizing and leverage and apply risk management strategies to their trades.
Disadvantages of Scalping
Although scalping can be a profitable trading strategy, it also has downsides:
- Transaction Costs Can Decrease Profits – The transaction costs and trading fees your broker charges can quickly add up and lower your profits.
- Scalping Requires Constant Market Monitoring – scalpers need to constantly focus on the markets and minimize their losses. It requires a strong mindset, experience and therefore isn’t for everybody.
- Scalpers Only Make Small Profits – Scalpers only make small profits which requires emotionless trading.
Tips to Get Started With Scalping
When you are new to scalping, keep it mind that it requires discipline, quick decision making and monitoring the markets. Below are tips that will help you to get started:
- Efficient Order Execution – scalpers need to practice efficient order execution because the profit margin per trade is minimal – access to level 2 data allows the required accuracy.
- Double-Check the Trading Fees – as a scalper you will earn smaller profits, but enter more trades and therefore you should choose a broker that has low trading fees.
- Trading Correctly – Scalpers need to spot trends and momentum and trade according to market pulses.
- Trade the Right Assets – Scalpers only need small price movements in order to make a profit, which makes Forex, Futures and CFDs the most suitable asset classes to use for scalping.
FAQ
Is scalping Illegal in UAE?
Scalping is not prohibited in UAE and both retail and institutional traders can make use of this trading strategy.
Can I Make Good Money With Scalping?
Scalping can be a profitable trading strategy, but it is also connected with a great risk of loosing money.
How to Choose a Stock for Scalping in UAE?
Scalpers most commonly look at three things: a target profit amount per trade, level 2 data to follow breakouts of stocks to new intraday highs or lows, and trends that show whether or not an asset has become volatile.
What are the Best Scalping Indicators?
The best scalping indicators are the SMA, EMA, MACD, Parabolic SAR, and Stochastic Oscillator indicators because they are known momentum indicators that follow and capture trends.
What are the Best MT4 Scalping Indicators in the UAE?
The most common MT4 scalping indicators used in the UAE are the RSX Indicator, the TMM Scalper Indicator, the Scalper Dream Indicator and the Support and Resistance Indicator.
Contents
- 1 Top 5 Scalping Trading Platforms in UAE
- 1.1 Best Brokers in UAE For Scalping Reviewed
- 1.1.1 01. Interactive Brokers – Best Broker For Scalping With Stocks & ETFs
- 1.1.2 02. IC Markets – Best Trading Platform for High-Frequency Scalping in UAE
- 1.1.3 03. TradeStation – Best Trading Platform in UAE for Scalping Options and Futures
- 1.1.4 04. Capital.com – Best Trading Platform for Algorithmic Scalping in UAE
- 1.1.5 05. AvaTrade – Best Trading Platform in UAE for Scalping Forex and CFDs
- 1.2 How To Choose The Right Broker For Scalping?
- 1.3 What is Scalping (Meaning)?
- 1.4 Common Scalping Strategies for UAE Traders
- 1.5 What Is The Difference Between Scalping and Day Trading?
- 1.6 Disadvantages of Scalping
- 1.7 Tips to Get Started With Scalping
- 1.8 FAQ
- 1.1 Best Brokers in UAE For Scalping Reviewed
