Best Forex Brokers in UAE for 2026

Best Forex Brokers in UAE for 2026

Top DFSA and SCA regulated forex brokers. Updated for 2026 Client Asset rules and new tax guidelines.

James Wilson

Written by

James Wilson

Edith Balazs

Fact Checked by

Edith Balazs

Last reviewed:
By:James Wilson
Fact-checked by:Edith Balazs

Top 10 Forex Brokers for UAE Traders in 2026

The UAE's financial landscape in 2026 sees stricter oversight with the DFSA's new Client Assets regime effective January 1st. While the UAE remains a tax-friendly jurisdiction for investors, traders should be aware of the new 5% personal income tax framework. Our rankings prioritize brokers fully compliant with these 2026 regulations, offering secure locally-regulated accounts (DFSA/SCA) and swap-free Islamic options.

What is the best forex broker in UAE for 2026?

Saxo Bank is the best forex broker in UAE for 2026, offering DFSA regulation, 185 forex pairs, and premium services. For low deposit options, Exness and XM are excellent choices with AED deposits and Islamic accounts.

Key Features for UAE Traders

Compare essential features of DFSA-regulated forex brokers.

Broker
ExnessNone$10
XMNone$5
FXTMNone$10
HotForexNone$5
Saxo BankNone$2000
IG Middle EastNone$250
SwissquoteNone$1000
Pepperstone$3.50/lot$0
CMC MarketsNone$0
IC Markets$3.50/lot$200

Detailed Broker Analysis

Saxo Bank logo
Saxo Bank
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Recommended
Premium DFSA-regulated broker for UAE traders.
4.7/5App Score

Saxo Bank DIFC offers premium trading with 185 forex pairs and global market access. Ideal for high-net-worth individuals seeking institutional-grade services with Swiss banking standards.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit$2000
Inactivity fee$0
Currency pairs185
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard
Withdrawal fee$0
IG Middle East logo
IG Middle East
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Recommended
DFSA-regulated market leader.
4.7/5App Score

IG offers world-class platforms and research for UAE traders. With over 50 years of experience, they provide exceptional education and market insights.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit$250
Inactivity fee$12/mo
Currency pairs80+
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card
Withdrawal fee$0
Swissquote logo
Swissquote
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Recommended
Swiss banking security with DFSA regulation.
4.5/5App Score

Swissquote DIFC combines Swiss security with Dubai accessibility. They offer comprehensive banking services alongside forex trading with competitive spreads.

Forex spread classAverage
Minimum deposit$1000
Inactivity fee$0
Currency pairs130+
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard
Withdrawal fee$0
Recommended
Ultra-fast execution with instant withdrawals.
4.6/5App Score

Exness is known for instant withdrawals and ultra-fast execution. They offer some of the tightest spreads in the market with excellent customer service.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit$10
Inactivity fee$0
Currency pairs97
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal fee$0
Recommended
Award-winning education and trading tools.
4.4/5App Score

XM provides comprehensive education with 24/7 multilingual support. They offer webinars, seminars, and trading tools to help traders improve their skills.

Forex spread classAverage
Minimum deposit$5
Inactivity fee$5/mo
Currency pairs57
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal fee$0
Pepperstone logo
Pepperstone
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Recommended
Ultra-low spreads from 0.0 pips.
4.6/5App Score

Pepperstone delivers institutional-grade execution with some of the tightest spreads available. Perfect for scalpers and high-volume traders seeking raw pricing.

Forex spread classUltra-Low
Minimum deposit$0
Inactivity fee$0
Currency pairs97
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal fee$0
CMC Markets logo
CMC Markets
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Recommended
Global leader with 330+ currency pairs.
4.5/5App Score

CMC Markets offers the world's largest range of currency pairs through their proprietary Next Generation platform. With over 30 years of experience in global markets.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit$0
Inactivity fee$10/mo
Currency pairs330
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card
Withdrawal fee$0
IC Markets logo
IC Markets
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Recommended
True ECN pricing with deep liquidity.
4.5/5App Score

IC Markets is renowned for its True ECN pricing and deep liquidity pools. They offer spreads from 0.0 pips with excellent execution speeds for professional traders.

Forex spread classUltra-Low
Minimum deposit$200
Inactivity fee$0
Currency pairs61
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal fee$0
Recommended
Fast-growing broker with local support.
4.3/5App Score

FXTM has grown rapidly since 2011, offering competitive spreads and attractive bonuses. Popular among Middle Eastern traders for their local support and education.

Forex spread classAverage
Minimum deposit$10
Inactivity fee$5/mo
Currency pairs60
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal fee$0
HotForex logo
HotForex
Read Review
Recommended
Award-winning broker with Islamic accounts.
4.2/5App Score

HotForex offers Islamic swap-free accounts and has won multiple awards for customer service. They provide good educational resources and market analysis.

Forex spread classAverage
Minimum deposit$5
Inactivity fee$5/mo
Currency pairs50
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal fee$0

Frequently Asked Questions

Saxo Bank is the best forex broker in UAE for 2026, offering DFSA regulation, 185 forex pairs, and premium services. For low deposit options, Exness and XM are excellent choices with AED deposits and Islamic accounts.

Yes, forex trading is completely legal in UAE. The DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority) regulates brokers in DIFC, while the SCA (Securities and Commodities Authority) covers the rest of the UAE. Both provide strong regulatory oversight.

DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority) is the regulatory body for financial services in DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre). DFSA-licensed brokers like Saxo Bank, IG, and Swissquote offer the highest level of protection for UAE traders.

DFSA-regulated forex brokers include: Saxo Bank DIFC, IG Middle East, Swissquote DIFC, and CMC Markets. XM also holds a DFSA license. These brokers meet strict capital requirements and client protection standards.

Yes! Most brokers accept AED deposits via local UAE bank transfers (Emirates NBD, ADCB, FAB, Dubai Islamic Bank), Visa/Mastercard, and e-wallets. Exness and XM offer seamless AED deposit processing.

Most major brokers accept bank transfers from Emirates NBD and other UAE banks. Saxo Bank, IG, Exness, XM, and Pepperstone all support UAE bank deposits with zero fees.

To withdraw in UAE: 1) Login to your broker, 2) Go to Withdrawal, 3) Select Bank Transfer, 4) Enter UAE bank details (IBAN), 5) Confirm. Exness offers instant withdrawals. Most brokers process within 1-3 business days.

Yes! All major brokers offer swap-free Islamic accounts for UAE traders including Exness, XM, HFM, FXTM, and Pepperstone. These accounts comply with Sharia law by eliminating overnight interest charges.

Forex trading can be halal if done through Islamic/swap-free accounts that don't charge overnight interest. Most brokers serving UAE offer Shariah-compliant accounts. Consult a religious scholar for specific guidance.

Minimum deposits vary: XM and HFM accept $5, Exness and FXTM accept $10, Pepperstone has no minimum, IG requires $250, and Saxo Bank requires $2,000. We recommend starting with at least $100-500.

XM and HFM have the lowest minimum at just $5. Pepperstone has no minimum deposit. Exness and FXTM follow with $10 minimum. These all offer AED deposits.

Yes! With $100, you can open accounts with XM, HFM, Exness, Pepperstone, or FXTM. For proper risk management, we recommend starting with at least $500-1,000.

Saxo Bank, IG, Swissquote, and XM have physical offices in DIFC Dubai. Exness has a regional presence. Having a local office means easier in-person support and account opening.

To start forex trading in UAE: 1) Learn basics through free courses, 2) Choose a DFSA-regulated broker like IG or Saxo, or trusted international broker like Exness, 3) Open a demo account, 4) Deposit $100-500, 5) Start with EUR/USD. XM offers excellent education.

The best forex apps for UAE traders are MT4 and MT5 (from all major brokers), the Saxo Bank app, IG Trading app, and Exness Trader app. These support AED deposits and offer Arabic language support.

IC Markets and Pepperstone offer the best MT4 experience in UAE with ultra-fast execution and full EA support. Exness and XM also provide reliable MT4 with instant deposits.

Yes! All major brokers offer MT5 in UAE including Exness, Pepperstone, XM, HFM, IC Markets, and FXTM. MT5 has more timeframes, order types, and a built-in economic calendar.

IC Markets and Pepperstone have the lowest spreads in UAE with EUR/USD from 0.0 pips on Raw/Razor accounts. Exness also offers ultra-low spreads. These accounts charge a small commission per lot.

No! The UAE has no personal income tax on trading profits. This makes it one of the most tax-friendly jurisdictions for forex traders globally. However, be aware of new corporate tax rules if trading through a company.

UAE regulations allow higher leverage than Western countries. Many brokers offer up to 500:1 or 1000:1 for UAE traders. However, high leverage increases risk - use it responsibly.

HFM's HFCopy, Exness Social Trading, and FXTM Invest are the best copy trading platforms for UAE traders. You can automatically copy successful traders with as little as $100.

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Not Financial Advice:

Information on this website is for educational and comparison purposes only. This does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. How we rank brokers →

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Regional Availability Notice

Broker availability depends on your country of residence. Some brokers may not accept clients from certain jurisdictions including the USA, Canada, Japan, and others. The comparison table on this page shows country acceptance status. Please verify availability with the broker directly before proceeding.

Independent Analysis

Rankings based on verified data and hands-on testing. See our methodology →

Data Verified

January 2026