HF Markets Review for UAE Traders in 2025

HFM Trading Instruments

HFM offers UAE traders and investors an impressive line up of trading instruments, with more variety than the average broker. Here are the markets you can trade with HFM.

• Forex – 50+ currency pairs, including major, minor, and exotic.
• Stock CFDs – 90+ stock CFDs across US, UK and European markets.
• Index CFDs – 10+ indices to trade across US, UK, Europe, and Asia-based markets, either through spot or futures.
• Commodity CFDs – 4 soft commodities available including Coffee, Cotton, Sugar and Cocoa.
• Energy CFDs – UK Brent oil and US Crude oil available to trade.
• Metal CFDs – Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium and Copper available to trade with leverage up to 1:20.
• ETFs – 34 ETFs available to trade across 22 different industries.
• Bonds – 3 bond derivatives available, including the Euro Bund, UK Gilt, and US 10-Year Treasury Note.

HFM Commissions, Spreads and Fees

Trading fees (including spreads and commissions) offered by HF Markets vary depending on the type of account you choose and the instruments you prefer to trade. Generally, most account types, such as Premium and Premium Pro start with an average spread of 1.4 pips. However, the VIP account and VIP Pro account have a starting spread of 0.0 pips, accompanied by a commission of $6 per lot.

Here is HF Markets’ minimum spread for 3 commonly traded instruments. Please note that these numbers may change based on your location and market conditions:

• EUR/USD: minimum spread of 0.1 pips.
• Gold: minimum spread of 0.19 pips.
• S&P500: minimum spread of 0.400 pips.

Looking at HFM’s non-trading fees, there are no charges imposed for deposits and withdrawals. However traders in the UAE will be subject to a $5 monthly inactivity fee if their account remains dormant for more than 6 months.

HFM Deposits & Withdrawals

HFM clients in the UAE can deposit and withdraw through the following payment options.

1. Bank transfer
2. Debit card (Visa/Mastercard)
3. Neteller
4. Skrill

There is no minimum deposit amount with HF Markets. Looking at processing times, Neteller and Skrill and will are usually processed within 10 minutes of depositing. Bank transfer deposits are usually processed in 1-2 days.

For withdrawals, Debit cards, Neteller and Skrill carry a $5 minimum withdrawal amount. Debit card withdrawals are processed within 2-7 business days, while Neteller and Skrill withdrawals are processed instantly. UAE traders should also note that deposits and withdrawals with HFM are completely free of charge, although some third-party providers may invoke their own fees.

HFM Trading Platforms

HF Markets offers UAE traders an upgraded suite of the MT4 & MT5 platforms, available through desktop, webtrader, and mobile. These award-winning platforms are highly popular amongst traders, and are even upgraded by HFM with the addition of the trading tool, Autochartist. This tool scans the markets and presents traders with new trading opportunities as they unfold.

HFM also offers its new mobile application called the HFM Trading App, available for both Android and iOS users. The proprietary app offers over 30 technical indicators and 24 analytical objects, offering great trading capabilities on mobile. When testing the app, we found it to be highly user-friendly with simple deposit, withdrawal, and trading functionalities, but can currently only support Premium Account type holders.

Here is a simple platform comparison breakdown between each of HFM’s offered platforms.

HFM Account Types

UAE Account Types

Traders based in the United Arab Emirates and registering through the DFSA-regulated entity will find 4 main account types to choose from with HF Markets. While the names may seem confusing, here is a simple breakdown of each.

Premium Account: Despite what the name suggests, this is HFM’s standard account and the most popular choice for beginner retail traders in the UAE. This account type features no minimum deposit, variable spreads from 1.4 pips and leverage up to 1:30.

Premium Pro Account: The Premium Pro Account is the first tier of HFM’s professional accounts. With the Premium Pro Account, there is a minimum deposit amount of $5000 and traders can access spreads from 1 pip and leverage up to 1:30.

VIP Account: While this account type does not feature on HF Markets account comparison page, the website states that the VIP Account has a minimum deposit amount of $20,000, clearly suiting it for more advanced, high-volume traders. But other than the minimum deposit amount, it is unclear how this account type differs from the next and final account type offered by HF Markets – the VIP Pro account.

VIP Pro Account: The VIP Pro Account is a step up from both the Premium Pro and VIP Accounts, with a minimum deposit amount of $30,000. With this, traders in the UAE can access spreads from 0.0 pips along with leverage up to 1:400.

Global Account Types

However, if you are registering through HFM’s international entity, not their DFSA-regulated one, you will be able to choose from the following account types:

Cent Account: HFM’s cent account is a type of trading account that allows for swap-free trading with cent lots, making it an accessible option for beginners. A cent lot represents 1,000 units or 0.01 of a standard lot, enabling traders to open positions with minimal capital. With margin requirements as low as 10 cents, cent accounts provide a practical transition from demo trading to real market conditions.

For novice traders, a cent account offers a low-risk way to gain hands-on experience in real market conditions without committing significant funds. It allows them to test strategies, understand market movements, and build confidence while managing risk effectively. Experienced traders can also use cent accounts to experiment with new trading instruments, refine strategies, and test automated trading systems with lower financial exposure.

Crypto CFD Account: This is HFM’s newest account type. The Crypto Account provides traders with 24/7 access to cryptocurrency markets, enabling seamless trading of crypto CFDs on the MT5 platform and mobile app. The Crypto Account offers leverage up to 1:1000, while all other account offer up to 1:2000.

Designed for those who want to focus exclusively on digital assets, this account offers high-performance execution, competitive trading conditions, and the flexibility to trade anytime. With HFM’s Crypto Account, traders can take advantage of market volatility and opportunities around the clock.

Zero Account: HFM’s Zero Account is a low-cost, swap-free trading solution with no minimum deposit requirement and leverage up to 1:2000, making it accessible to all traders. It offers raw, ultra-tight spreads sourced from leading liquidity providers, with no hidden markups. Traders can benefit from competitive pricing, with commissions starting as low as $0.03 per 1k lot, ensuring a cost-effective and transparent trading experience.

Pro Account: HFM’s Pro Account is designed for experienced traders looking to elevate their trading with ultra-low spreads, leverage up to 1:2000, and no commissions. This swap-free account provides a cost-effective trading environment, making it ideal for those who require tight spreads and enhanced trading conditions without additional fees.

Premium Account: Premium account is for retail traders who are looking for swap free trading with no minimum deposit and no commission. Open a Premium account today and access the markets via MT4, MT5, Webtrader or the HFM App.

HFM Research & Education

Overall, HFM has a strong in-house team of analysts offering a range of material to assist traders, along with some great trading tools and platform plugins for those looking for trading ideas and inspiration.

Research

In terms of research, HF Markets, offers daily market news and market analysis, including fundamental & technical analysis, market outlooks, and stocks of the week. These materials are well-written and easy to understand, making HFM a great choice if you’re a new trader that’s just starting out.

HF Markets also provides a variety of trading tools for active HFM clients via third-party plugins, including:

1. Autochartist: Autochartist is an acclaimed automated technical analysis tool, offered by HFM to all its clients at no cost. This tool seamlessly integrates with MT4 and MT5 platforms and thoroughly scans the markets in search of lucrative trading prospects. Renowned for its exceptional quality, Autochartist is widely regarded as one of the top-notch technical analysis tools available.

2. VPS: Clients of HF Markets who deposit a minimum of $5000 can benefit from a complimentary VPS hosting service offered by external third-party providers. This service guarantees uninterrupted trading by preventing any technological or connectivity problems like power outages or internet failures. Please note that the VPS service is exclusively accessible to traders utilizing the MT4 platform.

3. Premium Trader Tools: HF Markets clients with a minimum deposit of $200 will gain access to Premium Trader Tools and institutional quality technology, including advanced trading tools, user-configurable news and information, and trading analysis. The Premium Trader Tools also include alarm notifications, messaging systems, and live sentiment & correlation tracking.

Education

HF Markets provides a diverse selection of educational materials designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of traders. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, there are valuable resources available, including complimentary live webinars, market analysis, instructional videos, online courses, and much more.

HFM also features an extensive FAQ section on the HF Markets Dubai website, answering several trading questions and topics such as account opening, platforms, terms, and more. This is a quick and simple tool for getting your questions answered without having to reach out to HFM’s support team.

HFM Regulation

HF Markets Group is made up of several global entities, each of which are heavily regulated and comply with strict regulatory measures aimed to protect trading clients.

Entities with HF Markets Group are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Financial Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa (FSCA), the Financial Services Authority of Seychelles, and finally for local clients in the UAE, HFM’s Dubai-based entity is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

For more information about HFM’s licenses and regulations, click here.

HFM Customer Support

A key benefit of HFM is its local support for clients in Dubai and the rest of the UAE. HF Markets provides 24/5 customer support via live chat, phone and email. While this does not match the 24/7 support offered by other brokers, HFM’s support still meets the industry standard. When testing their support, HFM’s team were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. A live chat ticket was created instantly and we received a reply in under 20 seconds.

There are also 10 local customer support numbers available, including the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia, South Africa, and the UAE, with multilingual support. For UAE clients, you can reach HFM’s local customer support by phone (+971 4 3184711) or by email (support@hfmarkets.ae).

HFM: The Bottom Line

Overall, HF Markets is a good choice for both beginner or advanced traders in the UAE looking for a variety of trading options, including forex, commodities, and ETFs, along with rarer trading options such as bond derivatives. Some highlights include HFM’s free deposits and withdrawals, supporting eWallets like Neteller and Skrill, great educational resources and local DFSA regulation in Dubai.

On the negative side, HFM’s 1:400 leverage is only available for professional clients. Retail clients in the UAE can only access leverage up to 1:30, lower than some other brokers that offer leverage as high as 1:500 for retail clients. Also, since HF Markets in Dubai does not offer crypto CFDs or crypto investing, this broker is not for those looking to trade these assets.