Best forex brokers

To guide traders, we’ve researched the best forex brokers in the
UAE and wider GCC.

Best Brokers For Best forex brokers

Summary

Online Forex Trading Brokers in Dubai, UAE

This guide is for forex traders in the UAE and GCC who are looking for the best forex broker to trade with. Forex trading has grown massively in popularity in the UAE and globally, leading to hundreds of forex trading brokers now operating in the region. Having such a wide choice of online forex trading brokers can make it hard to differentiate and choose the right one.

To make things easier, we have researched and analyzed more than 125 forex brokers available for traders, narrowing it down to 4 of the top forex brokers, based on our evaluation.

Top Picks

Broker Snapshot

A global CFD broker with broad international regulation, including in the UAE from the SCA and DFSA.

A world-leading broker offering forex along with CFDs on stocks, indices, crypto and commodities at competitive prices.

Recommended for MT4/MT5 traders looking for low average spreads along with top educational and analysis material.

Recommended for professional UAE traders looking for a broker with strong local presence in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Risk Disclaimer: Trading involves a high risk to the investor's capital. Between 80% of retail investor accounts lose money with this broker.

Plus500 Summary

Plus500 was founded in 2008 and is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange, part of the FTSE 250 index. The platform gives traders access to over 2,800 instruments across forex, stocks, indices, commodities, crypto, options and ETFs. It offers a user-friendly platform designed internally by Plus500 with commission-free trading available. Plus500 is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, including the UAE under both the SCA and DFSA.

Why trade forex with Plus500?

Trading forex with Plus500 means access to a wide range of over 70 currency pairs, including majors, minors and exotics, giving traders plenty of opportunities to diversify and find the markets that suit their strategies. With competitive leverage of up to 1:300, you can amplify your positions while maintaining full control through built-in risk management tools such as stop orders and negative balance protection.

Beyond the breadth of pairs, Plus500 also stands out for its user-friendly, multi-device platform, real-time quotes, and transparent pricing with no hidden commissions.

Forex trading with Plus500: Pros and cons

High leverage. Access leverage up to 1:300

70+ pairs. Plus500 offers a wide range of over 70 currency pairs

Trading academy. Gain access to Plus500’s academy focused on forex learning.

Regulated in UAE. Plus500 is regulated by the SCA and DFSA.

 

Deposit and withdrawals. Plus500’s deposit and withdrawal options are limited.

No phone support. Plus500 cannot be reached via telephone support.

 

  • Minimum deposit

    $10

  • Average forex spreads

    1 pip (EURUSD)

  • Demo account

  • Mobile trading

  • Time to open account

    1 day

  • Forex trading options

    Forex, stocks, indices, commodities, crypto

  • Full review

Risk Disclaimer: Trading involves a high risk to the investor's capital. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money with this broker.

Exness Summary

Exness is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for having tight spreads, lightning-fast execution, and remarkably transparent trading conditions. Founded in 2008, Exness has earned the trust of millions of traders through its offering of robust platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and its own proprietary trading platform. Exness is also well-known for having almost-instant withdrawals, 24/7 customer support, and no hidden fees.

What sets Exness apart is its dynamic and unlimited leverage, low minimum deposit, and commission-free trading options, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced traders. They have multiple regulatory licenses—including CySEC and the FSCA, promising a secure and compliant trading environment.

Why trade forex with Exness?

We rate Exness as our top pick for forex trading. While many brokers claim tight spreads and fast execution, Exness consistently delivers all these across a wide range of currency pairs, platforms and market conditions.

One of the standout features is Exness’ market access to over 100 forex pairs, spanning major, minor and exotic currencies. This extensive selection offers forex traders flexibility to choose markets that suit their strategies, no matter whether they’re looking for high-volume major pairs or rarer exotics.

Spreads with Exness remain low and stable, even during high-impact news events like NFP, CPI or FOMC. As the forex market is known for volatility, this high level of consistency adds a layer of predictability that traders appreciate. Combine this with lightning-fast millisecond execution speeds, it ensures that traders can react quickly to market moves without a delay.

Another feature that’s worth highlighting is Stop Out Protection—a mechanism designed to protect forex traders from unnecessary stop outs during brief volatility in the currency markets. For those navigating leveraged forex trades, this protection can be the difference between maintaining or losing a position prematurely.

Traders also have access to swap-free forex trading options, making Exness a viable choice for forex traders who follow Islamic finance principles. Additionally, we found that funds are accessible without long hold-ups, allowing for smooth, delay-free forex withdrawals.

Forex trading with Exness: Pros and cons

✅ Ultra-tight, stable spreads. Competitive spreads even during volatile news events.

✅ Fast execution speeds. Orders are filled in milliseconds, crucial for scalpers.

✅ 100+ forex pairs. Forex trading available across major, minor, and exotic pairs.

✅ Swap-free account options. Ideal for traders seeking Sharia-compliant solutions.

✅ Unlimited leverage. Forex traders can access unlimited leverage on majors and minor pairs

 

❌ Limited educational resources. Not as strong as other brokers when it comes to beginner training or in-depth trading guides.

❌ Less markets than most. Exness does not offer as many markets as other brokers.

❌ High cost for social trading. Minimum of $500 to copy-trade, $2,000 to be a strategy provider.

  • Minimum deposit

    $5

  • Average forex spreads

    0.6 pips

  • Demo account

  • Mobile trading

  • Time to open account

    1 day

  • Forex trading options

    Forex, stocks, stock indices, thematic indices, commodities, crypto

  • Full review

Risk Disclaimer: Trading involves a high risk to the investor's capital. Around 75% of retail investor accounts lose money with this broker.

XM Summary

XM is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker. They combine user-friendly platforms, and multilingual support tailored to forex traders of all experience levels. This has made them a leading name in the industry. Regulated across several jurisdictions, XM has built a reputation for transparency, educational outreach, and extremely solid client protection policies. XM is also regulated locally by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)

Traders at XM can access over 1,000 instruments, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies, with the flexibility to trade on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 or the XM App. With account types targeted for both beginners and advanced traders, XM’s appeal lies in its reliable spreads and very low minimum deposits. Whether you’re starting out with a demo or diving straight into live markets, XM gives you a balanced mix of accessibility, regulation, and trading power—making it a reliable option for serious forex traders and the #3 option on our list for best forex brokers.

Why trade forex with XM?

XM shines as a solid choice for forex traders valuing high leverage, a broad selection of pairs, and strong educational support. While it doesn’t lead in pricing, its thoughtful mix of flexibility, platform reliability, and client protection still makes it a broker worth considering—particularly if you’re looking for multilingual learning tools and local UAE support in English and Arabic.

XM offers access to approx. 57 forex pairs, including a well-balanced mix of majors, minors, and exotics. All forex trading is done via CFDs. This is where traders speculate on the price of currency pairs without actually owning the underlying asset physically, like you would if you swapped money in an exchange. For those seeking higher exposure, with XM, you can get high leverage up to 1:1000 available through XM Global Ltd. Though availability may vary depending on your jurisdiction.

Where XM earns extra points is its dedicated focus on trader education. Their in-house team of analysts and over 70 instructors provide in-depth market analysis, webinars, and tutorials—creating a trading environment centered around learning. This commitment to forex education makes XM appealing to traders who want to improve their understanding of currency markets while trading in real time.

The XM Standard Account offers accessible conditions for forex trading, with floating spreads starting from 1 pip, no re-quotes, and fast execution. With a minimum deposit of just $5, traders can open up to 200 simultaneous positions, trade in micro-lot sizes, and benefit from currency diversity. Accounts can be funded in USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, SGD, and AUD, a solid range of options.

Forex trading with XM: Pros and cons

High leverage available. Forex traders can access leverage up to 1:1000

Broad selection of forex pairs. Around 57 currency pairs, including majors, minors, and exotics.

Trading competitions. XM regularly holds forex trading competitions.

✅ Local support for UAE traders. English and Arabic-speaking support available 24/5.

✅ Regulated in multiple jurisdictions. Licensed by top-tier regulators including the DFSA, FCA, ASIC, IFSC, and CySEC.

 

❌ Leverage varies by region. 1:1000 maximum leverage not available to forex traders in all jurisdictions.

❌ Inactivity fee: $15 fee imposed after 1 year of inactivity, then a $5 monthly fee if the account stays inactive.

No proprietary desktop platform. XM does not have a proprietary trading platform for desktop.

No crypto deposits. You can not deposit via cryptocurrency with XM

  • 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

Risk Disclaimer: Trading involves a high risk to the investor's capital. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money with this broker.

Equiti Summary

Equiti is a UAE-regulated forex broker that’s rapidly gaining ground in the Middle East and beyond, offering traders access to global markets through a locally trusted platform. Licensed by the UAE’s SCA and other big names like the UK’s FCA and Jordan’s JSC, Equiti blends regional reliability with international standards. This makes Equiti a compelling choice for traders who want a local experience with global reach.

Equiti provides access to a range of instruments including 60+ forex pairs, plus commodities, indices, global stocks, local UAE stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies, all tradable through MetaTrader 4, 5, and Equiti’s own web and mobile platforms. The broker supports both retail and pro accounts. A standout strength for Equiti is its localized support, especially for forex traders in the UAE and GCC. With dedicated Arabic and English-speaking service teams, plus offices in Dubai and Amman, Equiti stands out for its regional accessibility in the Arab world.

Why trade forex with Equiti?

Equiti stands as a reliable and locally regulated forex broker in the UAE, offering a secure and transparent way to access the global currency markets. Here at chooseabroker.ae, we recommend Equiti to traders looking for a broker that blends regional trust with A-grade tools and infrastructure. With Equiti, you get access to over 60 forex pairs, including majors, minors, and exotics.Equiti offers traders ample opportunity to diversify across different currencies and market conditions. 

Forex traders can benefit from leverage up to 1:400 with Equiti, depending on account type and jurisdiction. This gives forex traders the flexibility to amplify their exposure responsibly. Equiti also provides rolling forex futures that are swap-free, come with fixed spreads, and no expiry dates. Such options could be attractive to traders looking for an alternative to traditional spot FX with clearer cost structures.

Costs are kept competitive with tight spreads starting from 0.0 pips on selected accounts and no sign-up fees or unnecessary commissions. Plus, Equiti uses direct market access (DMA) and straight-through processing (STP), with no dealing desk interference. In short, this means Equiti does not trade against their clients, so there is no conflict of interest between you and the broker.

Another strong point is Equiti’s educational ecosystem, which includes a good size library of guides, videos, and tutorials designed to help traders at all levels build confidence and knowledge. This is reinforced by partnerships with the likes of Acuity Trading, giving clients access to daily trading ideas, sentiment analysis, market overviews, and real-time news.

Forex trading with Equiti: Pros and cons

✅ Regulated in the UAE. Equiti is licensed by the SCA.

✅ Leverage up to 1:400. Competitive leverage options available.

✅ Swap-free rolling forex futures. Fixed spreads, no expiry dates, and an alternative to traditional FX.

✅ DMA and STP execution. No dealing desk interference.

✅ Strong educational tools. Tutorials, webinars, and daily market insights from Acuity.

 

❌ Trading conditions vary. Features and leverage will vary depending on location.

❌ Inactivity fee. Accounts are charged a monthly fee after 180 days of no trading activity.

❌ 1% e-wallet fee. Deposits and withdrawals via e-wallets incur a 1% fee.

Your Guide to Find the Best Forex Brokers in the UAE and GCC

Looking for the best forex brokers in Dubai? Check out our in-depth broker reviews and choose the right one today.

Choosing the best forex broker requires careful consideration of regulation, trading conditions, fees, and customer support. A well-regulated and reputable broker will provide a secure trading environment, competitive spreads, and access to global markets. For traders in Dubai and wider region, the top forex brokers offer:

  • Strong regulatory compliance
  • Low spreads & fast execution
  • Advanced trading platforms
  • Islamic forex trading options
  • Reliable customer support

If you’re ready to start forex trading, explore our expert reviews and compare the best forex trading brokers in Dubai, UAE to find the perfect platform for your needs.

FAQ

Not all forex brokers in Dubai offer the same trading conditions. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting the best forex broker in UAE:

  • Regulation & Security – Look for brokers licensed by authorities such as the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) or Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) to ensure safety and fund protection.
  • Trading Platforms & Tools – The best forex brokers in Dubai offer advanced MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), or proprietary trading platforms with fast execution and advanced charting tools.
  • Competitive Spreads & Low Fees – Trading costs impact profitability. The top forex brokers in UAE offer low spreads, minimal commissions, and transparent fees.
  • Account Types & Leverage – Whether you’re a beginner or professional trader, choose a broker that offers flexible leverage, demo accounts, and different trading options.
  • Islamic Forex Accounts – Many brokers in Dubai offer swap-free Islamic trading accounts that comply with Shariah principles.
  • Fast Deposits & Withdrawals – The best forex brokers online UAE provide seamless deposit and withdrawal options through local banks, e-wallets, and credit cards.
  • Customer Support – Trading support should be available 24/5 or 24/7, preferably in multiple languages, including Arabic and English.
  • By focusing on these factors, you can confidently select the best forex trading broker Dubai that matches your trading style and needs.

Yes, forex trading is fully legal in Dubai and the UAE. However, while it’s legal for individuals to trade forex, offering forex brokerage services or managing funds on behalf of others without a proper license is illegal. Always ensure you trade with a fully regulated forex broker in Dubai to protect your funds.

Forex brokers operating in Dubai and the UAE must comply with strict regulations set by financial authorities such as:

  • Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) – Regulates brokers operating in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
  • Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) – Regulates brokers serving UAE residents outside the DIFC.
  • ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority – The financial regulator and an international financial center in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Choosing a regulated forex broker licensed by any of the above ensures your funds are protected, and you are trading in a secure and legally compliant environment.

Getting started with forex trading in Dubai is straightforward if you follow these key steps:

  • Learn the Basics – Forex trading is complex, so education is essential. Learn about currency pairs, market analysis, risk management, and trading strategies.
  • Choose a Trusted Broker – Use this page to compare top forex brokers in Dubai and select a regulated, low-cost, and feature-rich platform.
  • Open an Account – Sign up with your chosen broker and verify your identity by submitting the required KYC documents.
  • Start with a Demo Account – Before trading live, practice with a demo account to test strategies and get comfortable with the platform.
  • Fund Your Account – Deposit funds through bank transfers, credit cards, or e-wallets and select the right trading account type.
  • Develop a Trading Strategy – Set realistic goals, risk management plans, and trade execution rules to maximize your chances of success.
  • Analyze Market Trends & Trade – Stay updated on economic events, news, and technical indicators to make informed trading decisions.
  • Monitor & Improve – Forex trading is a long-term game. Continuously analyze your performance and refine your strategies over time.

Following these steps will help you trade profitably and safely with the best forex brokers online Dubai.

Under SCA regulations, the maximum leverage permitted for forex trading is 1:500.

No, forex trading is not taxable in the UAE. While many other countries will require traders to report capital gains or trading income, Dubai and the wider UAE have no personal income tax, making it a tax-efficient location to trade forex freely.

Yes, UAE residents can trade with international brokers, but it’s crucial to make sure the broker you choose is regulated in respected jurisdictions (like the UK’s FCA or Australia’s ASIC). Keep in mind, choosing a locally regulated broker under SCA, DFSA or ADGM’s FSRA provides more protection for local traders and will align better with UAE financial regulations.

To comply with UAE ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) regulations, you’ll need to provide the following to your online trading broker.

  • Proof of identity (e.g., passport, Emirates ID, or driver’s license)
  • Proof of residence (e.g., utility bill, bank statement, or tenancy contract with your name and address)

If applying as a professional client, you may also need to show proof of funds or declare the source of your trading capital.

Risk Disclaimer:

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.