This guide is for online traders looking to trade with brokers regulated by the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). With hundreds of online trading brokers available, it can be difficult to identify which ones are truly reliable and regionally compliant. SCA-regulated brokers stand out for their strong regulatory oversight, local presence, and adherence to strict investor protection standards.
To make your decision easier, we’ve researched and analyzed over 30 brokers and narrowed it down to 4 of the best SCA-regulated brokers, based on regulation, platform features, trading fees and overall trading experience.
A global CFD broker with broad international regulation, including in the UAE from the SCA and DFSA.
Recommended for professional UAE traders looking for a broker with strong local presence in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Rated highly for its intuitive platform, offering CFDs and real stock/ETF investing options. A great UAE broker all round.
For more experienced traders looking for a UAE broker that offers a 40% deposit bonus and free deposits & withdrawals.
Traders looking for solid educational support, UAE share trading, and detailed trading tools.
Minimum deposit
$100
Average forex spreads
1.4 pips
Demo account
Mobile trading
Time to open account
1 day
Forex trading options
70+ currency pairs
Full review
Recommended for professional UAE traders looking for a broker with strong local presence in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Minimum deposit
$500
Average forex spreads
1.4 pips
Demo account
Mobile trading
Time to open account
1 day
Forex trading options
Forex, local stocks, global stocks, indices, commodities, crypto, ETFs
Full review
Recommended for traders looking for a broad range of US, EU, UK and Asia stocks- over 4,500 of them, commission-free.
Minimum deposit
$0
Average forex spreads
From 0.09 pips
Demo account
Mobile trading
Time to open account
1 day
Forex trading options
Forex, stocks, indices, ETFs and commodities, physical stock/ETF investing
Full review
Recommended for traders looking for a strongly regulated broker with low spreads on gold.
Minimum deposit
$50
Average forex spreads
1.5 pips
Demo account
Mobile trading
Time to open account
1 day
Forex trading options
Forex, stocks, indices, energies, metals, crypto
Full review
Looking for the best online trading brokers regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority? Check out our in-depth broker reviews and choose the right one today.
Choosing the best SCA-regulated broker first requires taking a detailed look at brokers’ local regulatory status, trading conditions, fees and customer support. Reputable and competitive SCA-licensed brokers will provide a secure trading environment, competitive spreads, and access to global markets. For traders in the region, the top SCA-licensed forex brokers have:
If you’re ready to start trading with an SCA-regulated broker, explore our expert reviews and compare the best trading brokers licensed under SCA to find the perfect platform for your needs.
Not all forex and CFD brokers available in Dubai offer the same trading conditions and investor protections. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting SCA-regulated brokers:
By focusing on these factors, you can confidently select the best SCA-licensed trading broker that matches your trading style and needs.
The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) is a main financial regulatory body of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and it is responsible for overseeing and regulating the UAE’s financial markets. It sets the legal framework for securities, commodities, forex, and CFD trading, ensuring that licensed brokers operate transparently and protect investor interests. The SCA enforces strict rules on capital requirements, risk disclosures, and compliance, making it one of the most trusted regulators in the MENA region.
Yes, many SCA-regulated brokers accept clients from outside the UAE, especially from the GCC and wider MENA region.
Online brokers will display their SCA license number and regulatory status at the bottom of their website.You can also verify this yourself by visiting the official SCA website and look for their list of SCA-licensed brokers.
Based on our research, our list of the best SCA-regulated brokers includes Plus500, Equiti, MultiBank Group and XTB.
SCA-regulated brokers are generally considered safer for traders in the UAE and the region. That’s because they must meet strict regulatory standards set by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) including rules around capital requirements, client fund protection, transparency and dispute resolution.
In contrast, many offshore brokers are licensed in jurisdictions with looser regulations, which may offer less investor protection. If something goes wrong, it can also be harder to get support or legal recourse with an offshore broker.
Trading involves risk to your capital. As a general rule, you should only trade in financial products that you are familiar with and understand the risk associated with them. The risk warning described in each financial product below is not exhaustive, you should carefully consider your investment experience, financial situation, investment objective, risk tolerance level and consult your independent financial adviser as to the suitability of your situation prior making any investment.