The majority of the above brokers are required to possess a financial license from ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) or DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority). This grants UAE traders a great layer of protection in the event of any dispute as complaints can be dealt with locally.
Each one of these brokers was analysed using our proprietary methodology prior to being ranked using our comparison tool.
Pepperstone is an Australian broker founded in 2010 with the aim of providing a professional trading experience with low fees and tight spreads. Currently Pepperstone counts with 7 financial licenses and operates in almost every country around the world.
Key data
EUR/USD Spread
Dynamic - From 0 to 0.77 Pips
Commissions
For Standard account : All fees included in the spread
For Razor account: From $7 per Lot round turn
Minimum Deposit
$200
Financial Regulators
BaFin, FCA, ASIC, DFSA, CySec, SCB, CMA.
MT4
Yes
MT5
Yes
cTrader
Yes
TradingView
Yes
Proprietary Platform
No
Pepperstone holds 7 financial licenses from which 4 belong to high value financial regulators (including DFSA). Their biggest selling points are providing an execution speed under 30ms, a multi-platform environment and a great account offering.
The Good
The Bad
Well regulated on several jurisdictions
Low latency, fast execution under 30ms
Competitive spreads and low commissions from 0.0 pips on their Razor account
Avaliable asset offering is not that comprehensive
No ability to purchase real stocks or cryptocurrencies, only CFDs
Pepperstone offers the option to trade with no commissions and competitive spreads or to trade with low commissions and RAW spreads from 0 pips. The above offering paired with MetaTradr 5 and an execution speed below 30ms, make Pepperstone one of the best choices for intermediate to experienced traders.
2. IC Markets - Best in most competitive commissions
IC Markets is an Australian broker with a global presence specialising in Forex trading. One of their greatest advantages is providing RAW spread accounts with interbank pricing.
Key data
EUR/USD Spread
Dynamic - From 0 to 0.6 Pips
Commissions
No commissions in standard accounts but rather a 1 Pip spread markup on interbank prices received. For Raw spreads accounts, $7 per lot round turn.
Minimum Deposit
$200
Financial Regulators
ASIC, CySec, FSA.
MT4
Yes
MT5
Yes
cTrader
Yes
TradingView
No
Proprietary Platform
No
IC Markets holds 3 financial licenses from which only 1 belongs to a high value regulator (ASIC). Despite them not being regulated in the United Arab Emirates, they are quite a popular choice in the country due to their competitive spreads and account types.
The Good
The Bad
Customisable leverage per asset before opening trades
Interbank rates and low commissions
Great platform variety
Avaliable assets are limited (Also No ETFs)
No ability to purchase real stocks or cryptocurrencies, only CFDs
IC Markets offer is quite similar to Pepperstone’s. The main difference is that IC Markets counts on less financial licenses and they provide more stocks and no ETFs whereas Pepperstone provides a smaller number of stocks accompanied by ETFs and has a stronger regulatory framework. The choice ultimately boils down to each trader’s preferences.
XM is an international broker headquartered in Cyprus which offers MetaTrader 4 & 5 and over 1500 + tradable assets.
Key data
EUR/USD Spread
Dynamic - From 1.7 Pips
Commissions
Yes on Zero accounts ($7 per lot round turn).
Minimum Deposit
$5
Financial Regulators
ASIC, CySec, ADGM.
MT4
Yes
MT5
Yes
cTrader
No
TradingView
No
Proprietary Platform
No
XM holds 3 financial licenses from which 2 belong to high value regulators (including ADGM). Their specialty is providing a low-cost entry option for currency traders looking for a MetaTrader option.
The Good
The Bad
Competitive commissions on their Zero account
Modest asset offering of 1500+ tradable instruments (similar to competitors in the same range)
No proprietary platforms or technology
Expensive spreads and trading fees
Lack of asset variety when compared to other brokers in the same range
XM has an account called “Micro account” which has a lot size of $1,000 and a minimum deposit of $5. This option can be extremely attractive for new traders getting started on MetaTrader 5 while on a budget.
4. Swissquote - Best in most trusted regulatory framework
Swissquote is a global broker and investment bank headquartered in Switzerland that offers traditional securities and CFD trading along with advanced research tools.
Key data
EUR/USD Spread
Dynamic - From 0 to 1.3 Pips
Commissions
For CFDs there are no commissions as the spreads are the cost. For other assets from $9 up to $210 based on transaction volume and depending on the exchange.
Minimum Deposit
0
Financial Regulators
FCA, ADGM, FINMA, MFSA, HKMA.
MT4
Yes
MT5
Yes
cTrader
No
TradingView
Yes
Proprietary Platform
Yes
Swissquote holds 5 financial licenses from which 4 belong to high value regulators (including ADGM). They have been around since 1996 and are one of the most powerful brands in the trading arena.
The Good
The Bad
Outstanding asset offering with more than 60 exchanges across the world
Amazing research and analysis tools for all trader levels
Thematic investments with preconfigured product baskets
Offers banking services along with debit card
Their proprietary platform lacks many features and is not user friendly
Their commissions are extremely high
Overall everything feels complicated to use
Swissquote offers more than 30,000+ tradable assets and from all United Arab Emirates brokers, they have one of the strongest regulatory frameworks. On the other hand, their commission structure is quite costly and if you’re not a high net worth trader, you may find them quite expensive.
AvaTrade is a top-tier multinational broker with more than 7 financial regulators specialising in FX and options trading with their own proprietary platforms.
Key data
EUR/USD Spread
Dynamic - From 0.9 Pips
Commissions
None
Minimum Deposit
$100
Financial Regulators
ASIC, FFAJ, CBI, IIROC, CySec, FSCA, ADGM, ISA.
MT4
Yes
MT5
Yes
cTrader
No
TradingView
No
Proprietary Platform
Yes
AvaTrade holds 8 financial licenses from which 6 belong to high value regulators (including ADGM). Their specialty is definitely currencies trading via their proprietary platforms and via MetaTrader 4 & 5.
The Good
The Bad
AvaProtect feature for negative trades payback
Great variety of platforms (proprietary ones, MT4 & MT5)
Smooth platform experiences and easy account management
Custom Options trading platform
Lack of variety in stocks, ETFs and bonds
Expensive inactivity fees
No multi-chart tools
High trade minimums in all assets except forex
If you’re an experienced trader and you’re looking to access a wide variety of currencies and options on currencies via MetaTrader 5, AvaTrade's offer may be a great fit for you.