Best online brokers in Dubai & the UAE (2026)

Interactive Brokers has proven to be one of the most reliable brokers in the market. The company was founded over 40 years ago and survived many financial crises, making it a well-established and trustworthy broker regulated by many top-tier regulators, including the SEC and FCA. Interactive Brokers is dedicated to enhancing its services for the Emirates market and has incorporated UAE dirhams (AED) as an accepted currency!

They offer several investment platforms: Trader Workstation (TWS), Client Portal, IBKR mobile, and IBKR Globaltrader. All these platforms allow you to trade stocks, ETFs, options, and other financial instruments with sophisticated and powerful tools and low transaction costs. Each trading platform is based on the users’ knowledge and experience. For example, the mobile app IBKR GlobalTrader is a user-friendly app suitable for beginners because it simplifies investments without losing the powerful tools for which the broker is famous, including solid trade execution (IB SmartRouting), and a set of technical and fundamental tools to help you in your investment decisions.

While IBKR does not explicitly have an Islamic account; however, if you trade using a cash account, you won’t be charged any interest.

On the downside, Interactive Brokers’ fee structure is quite complex, the registration process is lengthy (but fully online), and the broker doesn’t offer commission-free trading. However, when considering FX fees, narrower spreads, and the stock loan program, Interactive Brokers’ clients still get significant savings compared to most brokers.

Please check our Interactive Brokers review to find out more about the broker.

Sarwa is a Dubai-based investment company offering four main products:

• Sarwa Save: a cash account designed to generate a return on uninvested balances;
• Sarwa Trade: a self-directed account for trading US-listed stocks, ETFs, and options;
• Sarwa Invest: a robo-advisory service building and managing ETF portfolios automatically;
• Sarwa Crypto: an account for trading cryptocurrencies.

Sarwa is well regarded for its low fees, accessibility, transparency, and signup bonus. It is a strong option for beginners and for anyone who prefers a locally regulated provider.

Its flagship product, Sarwa Invest, builds tailored portfolios from low-cost ETFs, charging an annual management fee of 0.5% to 0.8% depending on portfolio size, plus roughly 0.1% in underlying fund costs. Investors can choose between Conventional, Halal, Socially Responsible Investing, or Crypto plans, each with six risk levels.

Sarwa Save targets investors seeking a lower-risk home for cash, with no minimum balance or management fee on the standard version. Rates are variable and linked to prevailing market conditions, so check the current figure on Sarwa’s site. A Halal version is available with a 0.5% management fee. Sarwa Crypto charges no commission but applies a 0.75% spread.

For stocks and ETFs, Sarwa Trade covers US-listed securities and options with fractional share support, though margin trading is unavailable.

Sarwa also offers consultations with licensed advisers. Transfers via local UAE banks carry no funding or withdrawal charges, and the platform applies fixed AED-USD conversion rates.

On the downside, the product range excludes bonds and any shares listed outside the US. Sarwa is also a relative newcomer compared with some of the longer-established names on this list.

eToro is a broker founded in 2007, famous for its social trading features. Today, the fintech is one of the most well-established in the world, with over 40 million registered users across 75 countries, offering thousands of assets including stocks, ETFs, more than 200 cryptocurrencies, and CFDs.

eToro’s investment platform, which can be web-based or mobile-based, is a social trading platform that allows investors to discuss investments and market news with other traders, copy strategies, and open a demo account.

Both have comprehensive and user-friendly interfaces where you can intuitively trade commission-free stocks from many countries, such as the US, UK, Germany, and many others. Besides, eToro offers an Islamic (swap- and interest-free) account to all who contact customer service and fund their accounts to at least 1,000 USD.

The broker provides reliability and safety to its customers: it is regulated by top-tier authorities such as the FCA and ASIC, and your funds will be segregated and also secured by up to 1 million Euros, or equivalent in USD, due to private insurance. If you are still not convinced or want to know more about this subject, please check out the article we prepared about the safety of eToro.

Considering all these factors, eToro is a solid option for beginners, intermediate, and experienced investors, and certainly one of the best online brokers in the UAE. Please check our eToro review if you would like to know more about their services.

Founded in 2002, XTB is a major player in the brokerage industry with extensive international experience, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and regulated across multiple jurisdictions. In the UAE it operates through XTB MENA Limited, authorised and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (Licence No. F006316). XTB caters specifically to UAE residents by offering an Islamic (swap-free) account.

You can invest through xStation 5 and xStation Mobile across stocks, ETFs, and CFDs on forex, indices, and commodities, with 0% commission on stocks and ETFs up to a monthly turnover threshold.

Between the commission-free share dealing, absence of a minimum deposit, Islamic account availability, and a free demo account, XTB is a solid choice for both newer and more experienced investors in the UAE.

If you want to find out more, read our XTB review.

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. A high percentage of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

amana is a UAE-based, regulated brokerage firm with over 15 years of experience in the financial markets. Headquartered in Dubai, it offers an easy and modern way for investors in the Middle East and beyond to access both local and global markets, all through a single intuitive app. New users get a $100 bonus with amana promo code “IITW“.

It allows users to trade with 0% commissions on U.S. and international stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies (over 375 digital assets), and MENA region shares*, as well as other leveraged products such as forex and commodities.

Investors looking for a more hands-off approach can use amana invest, a passive investment feature that helps you build diversified portfolios through automated plans. Meanwhile, active traders benefit from 24/5 U.S. stock trading hours, cashback on every trade (up to 20% on every trade), and a transparent fee structure with no hidden charges.

Fractional investing is available, allowing you to buy a portion of high-priced shares like Apple, Tesla, or Amazon with a small starting amount.

amana also stands out for its crypto offering, supporting hundreds of coins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, with competitive spreads and simple onboarding.

On the downside, amana’s product range, while broad, may not include every product (bonds, options,…) or professional tools offered by global brokers, and access is still region-focused.

While amana promotes its UAE presence through Amana Financial Services (Dubai) Ltd, clients opening accounts through the amana app are legally contracting with AFS Global Limited, which is licensed by the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA).

Client funds are held in segregated accounts with reputable banks in accordance with LFSA rules. However, it’s important to note that the amana app is not a DFSA-regulated product, and DFSA protections do not apply to amana app users, even if they are based in the UAE.

Founded in 2016, Capital.com is a global CFD trading platform that has quickly grown thanks to its commission-free model and user-friendly technology. The platform reported $3.42 trillion in client trading volume in 2025 (up 92% year-on-year) across 224.8 million trades, with the Middle East accounting for approximately 50% of total activity. It offers access to a wide range of markets, including 4,500+ CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

For UAE investors, one of the standout advantages is the ability to deposit and withdraw in AED without fees (other fees may apply). They offer their in-house web and mobile app (packed with smart tools such as AI-driven insights and risk management features), and you can also invest through the TradingView and MT4 platforms, where you can create automated investment strategies.

A free demo account is available to practice before investing real money. It also offers Islamic accounts. The customer support is Dubai-based, available 24/7 in English, and available in Arabic from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Mon-Fri.

Capital.com doesn’t charge any commission on your trades. However, they charge a fee through the spread (the difference between the buy and sell price). Spreads are dynamic and change depending on the underlying market conditions. Still, you will get part of your spread back as a rebate each month.

On the downside, Capital.com is not a suitable platform for investors seeking traditional investment products, such as bonds, ETFs, or retirement accounts.

In terms of regulation, its UAE arm, Capital Com MENA Securities Trading LLC, holds a Category 1 license (No. 20200000176) from the Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA). Additionally, the company has a local office in Dubai, and customer support is available 24/7.

Plus500 is a broker founded in 2008, listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: PLUS) as a FTSE 250 constituent. In the UAE it operates through Plus500AE Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (Licence No. F005651), alongside oversight from the FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and others across its group. The broker offers a mobile app and the WebTrader web platform, both straightforward to use, with a demo account available for testing.

Note an important limitation: trading from the UAE, you can only access Plus500 CFD, meaning CFDs on a range of instruments but no real shares. CFDs are leveraged products that carry a materially higher risk of loss than owning the underlying asset, and are unsuitable for long-term buy-and-hold investing.

Overall, Plus500 offers a reliable CFD trading platform for UAE clients, with competitive costs, solid usability, and features suited to both newer and experienced traders. Islamic (swap-free) accounts are available, aligning with Sharia principles. Spreads are competitive and accounts are supported in 16 currencies including AED, USD, EUR, and GBP, so UAE residents can hold in dirhams. Plus500 charges a 0.70% currency conversion fee and a $10 monthly inactivity fee after three months without account activity. Negative balance protection now applies globally.

If you want to learn more, read our full Plus500 review.

Saxo is a Danish bank founded in 1992, acquired by J. Safra Sarasin in March 2025 and holding an investment-grade A-/A2 credit rating from S&P. It suits both advanced traders and long-term investors, combining institutional-grade safety with competitive pricing and strong tooling. Saxo operates in the UAE through its representative office, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, and gives access to over 71,000 instruments through two platforms.

SaxoInvestor is Saxo’s straightforward, all-in-one investing platform for web and mobile, focused on long-term investing in stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. It offers a clean interface, portfolio tracking, curated investment themes, and accessible research tools, making it well suited to beginners and passive investors.

SaxoTrader is the advanced platform, available on web, mobile, and desktop, covering the full product range including margin and leveraged instruments, with detailed analytics and advanced charting. The desktop version adds multi-screen workspaces (up to six screens), Depth Trader with Level 2 order book data, and time and sales data. A single Saxo account gives access to both platforms.

Saxo’s combination of strong educational resources, competitive pricing, and an exceptional range of tradable assets earns it a place on this list. Note that a custody fee of up to 0.15% per year applies to stock, ETF, and bond positions, which can be waived by opting into securities lending – worth doing if you intend to hold long term. UAE clients should also verify the current minimum funding requirement with Saxo directly, as tier thresholds and regional requirements have changed in recent years.