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Best international online brokers in the United Arab Emirates in 2024

Written by
Adam N.
Fact checked by
Updated
Dec 2023
Dive into our toplist of regulated and trusted brokers that we tested with real money. Every broker is available in the United Arab Emirates.

Find below the strengths of the best brokers available in the United Arab Emirates, updated for 2024:

  1. Interactive Brokers is the best international online brokers in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. - Low trading fees and high interest on cash balances. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
  2. Saxo Bank - Great trading platform. Outstanding research. Broad product portfolio. Interest paid on uninvested cash.
  3. eToro - Free stock and ETF trading. Seamless account opening. Social trading.
  4. XTB - Commission-free stocks and ETFs (for trades up to €100k per month). Free and fast deposit and withdrawal. Easy and fast account opening. High interest paid on cash.
  5. Trading 212 - Real stocks and ETFs are commission-free. Quick and easy account opening. Great trading platforms. Pays interest on uninvested cash.
  6. Plus500 - Well-designed platform. Great account opening. Quick and helpful customer support.
  7. Oanda - Great trading platforms. Outstanding research tools. Fast and user-friendly account opening.
  8. Admirals (Admiral Markets) - Low forex CFD fees. Free and fast deposit and withdrawal. Straightforward account opening.
  9. IG - First-class web trading platform. Superb educational tools. Great deposit and withdrawal options.
  10. Forex.com - Low forex fees. Great variety of currency pairs. Diverse technical research tools.
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International online brokers' key info overview

While many international online trading brokers offer an excellent service, the ones in our toplist go the extra mile. These international online trading platforms offer a broad range of markets and asset classes and are suitable for beginners and experienced traders alike.

Broker
Minimum deposit
Time to open account
Interactive Brokers
$0
1-3 days
Saxo Bank
$0
1 day
eToro
$10
1 day
XTB
$0
1 day
Trading 212
$1
1 day
Plus500
$100
1 day
Oanda
$0
1-3 days
Admirals (Admiral Markets)
$100
1 day
IG
$0
1-3 days
Forex.com
$100
1-3 days


Popularity of the best online brokers in the United Arab Emirates

Interested in what others think? Here's how many people chose these brokers at BrokerChooser in the last 6 months.

Trading fees

In most cases the key broker selection criteria is how much you have to pay for a trade in spreads, commission and other trading costs, so we collected the most important fees for you in the table below.

Broker
US stock
UK stock
Interactive Brokers
$1.0
$3.8
Saxo Bank
$1.6
$3.8
eToro
$0.0
$0.0
XTB
$0.0
$0.0
Trading 212
$0.0
$0.0
Plus500
-
-
Oanda
$0.0
-
Admirals (Admiral Markets)
$0.0
$0.0
IG
$15.0
$10.0
Forex.com
-
-
Fees at the best international online brokers in December 2023
All commissions, spreads and financing rates (if applicable) for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.

Other fees at international online brokers

Non-trading fees are charges not directly related to a given trade and typically include the account maintenance fee, deposit/withdrawal fees, and the inactivity fee.

Broker
Account fee
Inactivity fee
Interactive Brokers
Saxo Bank
eToro
XTB
Trading 212
Plus500
Oanda
Admirals (Admiral Markets)
IG
Forex.com
Account, inactivity, and deposit/withdrawal fees at the best online brokers in December 2023

Our assessment of best online brokers for residents in the United Arab Emirates

At BrokerChooser, we do our best to make it easier for you to compare and select the best broker for your needs. Here is a summary of our scores in the most important aspects of these trading platforms' services.

Broker
Overall score
Fees score
Interactive Brokers
4.9
/5
4.3
/5
Saxo Bank
4.9
/5
3.0
/5
eToro
4.8
/5
4.0
/5
XTB
4.8
/5
4.5
/5
Trading 212
4.5
/5
3.8
/5
Plus500
4.5
/5
3.7
/5
Oanda
4.5
/5
4.1
/5
Admirals (Admiral Markets)
4.5
/5
3.7
/5
IG
4.5
/5
3.5
/5
Forex.com
4.5
/5
3.7
/5
Score summary of best international online brokers for residents in the United Arab Emirates

If you are unsure how brokerage fees are charged, check out this article on the various fees, charges and costs.

Financial market regulation in the United Arab Emirates

The regulatory environment for online brokerages is quite complex in the United Arab Emirates. Traders are served by hundreds of brokerages offering a wide range of financial instruments, such as stocks, forex, CFDs, commodities and others. The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) oversees all non-banking financial services in the country, including brokerages.

The brokerages that operate under a direct license from the SCA are called mainland brokers and they are subject to a number of restrictions with regards to their ownership structure, capital requirements and client money handling. They also follow Sharia law and have to offer interest-free products.

There are, however, two [free financial zones in the UAE, which have their own regulatory regimes, albeit they still impose stringent rules to protect clients. These are the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and, the better known Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).

Dubai-based brokers are regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), and international brokers, often regulated in the UK or in the EU, are able to operate in the financial zones. While it’s not a requirement in the free financial zones, many international brokers cater to Islamic customers by offering Sharia-compliant Islamic, or swap-free accounts.

If you want to trade forex, contracts for difference (CFDs) on several instruments, such as commodities, precious metals, indices or shares, the easiest way to start is to open an account with an onile broker.

However, to buy or trade stocks, you need to open an account with a brokerage registered with one of the three exchanges based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi – the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) or the NASDAQ Dubai. It’s possible to gain exposure to UAE and international stocks and indices via contracts for difference (CFDs) without having to own the asset itself.

And now, let's see the top international online brokers for 2024 for residents in the United Arab Emirates in detail one by one, starting with the winner, Interactive Brokers.

Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment

Visit broker

Interactive Brokers snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1-3 days
Inactivity fee No
Read review For a detailed analysis of Interactive Brokers services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research

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Saxo Bank snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Average
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee No
Read review For a detailed analysis of Saxo Bank services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for traders interested in social trading (i.e. copying other investors’ trades) and zero-commission stock trading

Visit broker
AFSL 491139. Capital at risk. See PDS and TMD.

eToro snapshot
Minimum deposit $10
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, eToro Money, Neteller, Skrill, Trustly, iDEAL, Przelewy 24, RapidTransfer, Klarna, Giropay
Withdrawal method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, eToro Money, Neteller, Skrill, Trustly, iDEAL, Przelewy 24, RapidTransfer, Klarna, Giropay
Withdrawal fee $5
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of eToro services, check out our review for 2024
XTB Logo

XTB

Recommended for forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service

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81% of retail CFD accounts lose money

XTB snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Paysafe, Skrill, ecommpay, PayU, PayPal
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of XTB services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for equity investors and CFD traders looking for easy-to-use trading platforms

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Trading 212 snapshot
Minimum deposit $1
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, OnlineBankingPL, Giropay, Carte Bleue, Blik, Direct eBanking, Apple / Google Pay, PayPal, iDEAL
Withdrawal method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, OnlineBankingPL, Giropay, Carte Bleue, Blik, Direct eBanking, Apple / Google Pay, PayPal, iDEAL
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee No
Read review For a detailed analysis of Trading 212 services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for experienced traders looking for an innovative platform and a great user experience

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82% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Plus500 snapshot
Minimum deposit $100
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Google Pay, Apple Pay, iDeal, POLi, PayNow, Blik, BPay, Klarna, GiroPay
Withdrawal method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Google Pay, Apple Pay, iDeal, POLi, PayNow, Blik, BPay, Klarna, GiroPay
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of Plus500 services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for forex traders who value a user-friendly platform and great research tools

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78.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Oanda snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1-3 days
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of Oanda services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for forex traders who are familiar with the MetaTrader trading platforms

Visit broker
80% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Admirals (Admiral Markets) snapshot
Minimum deposit $100
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, PayPal, Klarna, Neteller, SafetyPay, AstroPay, Trustly, Rapid Transfer, NganLuong
Withdrawal method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, PayPal, Klarna, Neteller, SafetyPay, AstroPay, Trustly, Rapid Transfer, NganLuong
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of Admirals (Admiral Markets) services, check out our review for 2024
IG Logo

IG

Recommended for traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform

Visit broker
69% of retail CFD accounts lose money

IG snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Average
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal
Withdrawal method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1-3 days
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of IG services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for forex traders looking for low fees and great research tools

Visit broker
68% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Forex.com snapshot
Minimum deposit $100
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1-3 days
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of Forex.com services, check out our review for 2024

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How did we select the best international online brokers in the United Arab Emirates in 2024?

  • We checked whether the broker is regulated by a trusted regulator,
  • Compared fees (including spreads, withdrawal fees, commissions),
  • We checked and compared every aspect of their services,
  • Opened an account and tested the platform (charting, features, usability) with real money.
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Our expert team has done all the work for you, and reviewed brokers based on BrokerChooser's unique methodology.


Change history
This page was originally published on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.
  • November 14, 2022. : we gave higher weights for fees and safety. Lower scoring weights were used for trading platform, research, customer service, and education.
  • December 5, 2021. : the fees and safety weights increased significantly. Research, customer service, and education scoring weightes decreased.
  • November 21, 2019. : the weights for fees, account opening, and deposit/withdrawal increased. We gave lower weights to safety, customer service, and education.

FAQ

Do I need to pay tax as a trader in the United Arab Emirates?

There is no income tax or capital gains tax levied on profit from trading securities, forex or CFDs in the UAE. There is also no stamp duty on transferring ownership of securities (i.e.: when buying stocks).

What is an Islamic account?

An Islamic account is compliant with Islamic, or Sharia, law, which prohibits the use of interest for lending. The population in the United Arab Emirates is multinational and multicultural, however, Islam is the predominant religion, therefore, most international brokers offer swap-free, or Islamic, accounts.

Islamic accounts incur a fixed fee rather than a swap, and traders are not charged interest when their positions are left open overnight. Brokers outside the free financial zones around Dubai and Abu Dhabi that are regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) must comply with Sharia law. Brokers in the free zones don't have to, but they typically offer Islamic products.

Which broker should I choose as a beginner?

First of all, a beginner trader should look for a well-regulated broker they can trust and then look at the trading conditions offered by the broker. Low fees (or tight spreads) are key as beginners will certainly make some mistakes in their trading journey as they learn.

An easy-to-use trading platform, and the option of a mobile platform, to trade on the go, will also help in the learning process. Look for a broker that offers a demo account, to practice trading with virtual money without risking your own capital, and one that has great educational materials, including tutorials for beginners.

In addition, check out our broad range of learning materials on the BrokerChooser education page. To find the best online broker for your level of expertise and risk-tolerance, use our find my broker tool.

How can I invest in UAE-listed stocks?

To buy UAE-listed stocks and to trade them you need to open an account with a broker registered with one of the three stock exchanges in the country – the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) or the NASDAQ Dubai.

Local residents, expats, and even tourists can buy stocks listed on one of these bourses. All they need to do is to request an investor number (NIN) online or through a broker. Residents can trade international stocks with online brokers that offer them.

What is the difference between a stock and a stock CFD?

Apart from owning shares outright, another way of getting exposure to UAE and international stocks and indices via contracts for difference (CFDs) without having to own the asset itself. You don’t need an NIN to trade CFDs on shares, indexes or ETFs (exchange-traded funds).

With CFDs you can speculate on the price movements of stocks and other related instruments whether they are rising or falling. What you do is exchange the difference in price with your broker between the time you enter the position and the time when you close it.

Online brokers also offer leverage (funds you can borrow to open a larger trading position than your capital would allow). Bear in mind that leverage would amplify your gains as well as your losses.

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Author of this article

Adam Nasli

Financial Wizard | Trading • Safety • Market Analysis

I bring extensive financial expertise as one of BrokerChooser's earliest team members. Personally, I tested nearly all 100+ brokers on our site, opening real-money accounts, executing trades, assessing customer services, and providing firsthand assessment. My professional background includes roles in the banking sector and a degree from Central European University, where I teach finance. My passions lies in in-depth research of the financial industry, building trading algorithms, and managing long-term investments.

Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology.

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