Best Crypto Exchanges in Dubai & the UAE in 2026

eToro was founded in 2007 and expanded into the crypto market in 2013, and today runs one of the best crypto offerings available in the UAE. It is the leading social trading platform in the world, allowing investors to discuss crypto and copy other traders’ strategies, including professional traders. It has been listed on the Nasdaq since May 2025 under the ticker ETOR.

Several features led us to choose eToro as the best option for UAE crypto traders:

• Extensive crypto portfolio: eToro offers a diverse selection of over 70 crypto assets, featuring leading cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Binance Coin (BNB).
• Staking rewards: eToro’s staking program includes options for Cardano (ADA) and Tron (TRX), with rewards distributed monthly in the same cryptocurrency, depending on the collective earnings of all participants.
• User-friendly platforms: With intuitive web and mobile applications, eToro stands out for ease of use, enriched with educational resources, webinars, and social trading features.
• Asset management: The eToro Money crypto wallet enables fast withdrawal and management of your cryptocurrencies.

On the regulatory side, eToro has received In-Principle Approval from the Abu Dhabi Global Market to operate as a securities and crypto broker. It is worth being precise about what that means: an in-principle approval is a conditional pre-licence step rather than a full licence, so check the current status of eToro’s UAE entity and which entity your account is opened with before depositing.

Please note that when trading crypto you are not protected by any investment compensation scheme, so if the platform fails there is no guarantee you would recover your holdings. That said, eToro’s traditional financial products place it under supervision in several jurisdictions and it publishes audited accounts as a listed company, which is more transparency than most crypto-only platforms offer.

For a deeper dive into eToro’s offerings, check out our detailed eToro review.

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

Founded in 2017, Sarwa is a Dubai-based online platform that makes investing in global markets simple and affordable. It consolidates your investment needs into a single, user-friendly app. Whether you are interested in crypto or stocks, Sarwa provides a seamless experience through four main products:

• Sarwa Save: A savings account to earn interest on your cash;
• Sarwa Trade: A trading account that allows you to trade US-listed stocks and ETFs on your own;
• Sarwa Invest: A robo-advisory solution that builds and manages ETF portfolios automatically;
• Sarwa Crypto: An account that allows you to trade cryptocurrencies.

The platform is known for its low fees, accessibility, transparency, and the promo code bonus. It is a good option for beginners or anyone wanting a local solution regulated in the DIFC.

Unlike other platforms, Sarwa operates on a closed-loop system, so you do not need a crypto wallet. Users fund their accounts with fiat currency, which simplifies the process but also means you cannot withdraw your crypto to an external wallet. Sarwa charges no commission on local transfers, making deposits and withdrawals cost-free. It gives access to 10 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH), so it is the narrowest selection on this list.

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 a promo code.

• It allows users to trade with 0% commissions on over 375 cryptocurrencies with up to 8x leverage;
• It lets you deposit in crypto;
• It gives you access to the Crypto Autoinvest plan: choose from top cryptos like BTC, ETH and DOGE, or build your own plan.

Investors looking for a more hands-off approach can use amana invest, a passive investment feature that builds diversified portfolios through automated plans. Active traders benefit from 24/5 US stock trading hours, cashback on every trade (up to 20%), 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 and so on) or the professional tools offered by global brokers, and access is 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. It is 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.

Crypto.com is one of the largest crypto exchanges by transaction volume. Founded in 2016, it serves over 80 million users across 90 countries. It is a popular choice in the UAE thanks to a wide range of services that let investors earn passive income and access financial services within its ecosystem.

With Crypto.com, users gain access to a crypto savings account, a Visa card that converts cryptocurrencies for everyday purchases while rewarding users, and an NFT marketplace. Using the platform’s native token, Cronos (CRO), can reduce fees and increase rewards, particularly with the crypto debit card.

Its UAE entity, Foris DAX Middle East FZE, now holds a full VASP licence on VARA’s public register rather than the provisional approval it began with, which places it under Dubai’s anti-money laundering and consumer protection requirements. Investor protection for the assets themselves remains limited, as it does everywhere in crypto.

Despite its comprehensive services and competitive fees, newcomers might find the platform complex to navigate. Its service range and asset selection still earn Crypto.com a place among the best crypto exchanges for UAE investors.

Founded in 2011, Kraken ranks among the world’s largest and oldest cryptocurrency exchanges. With a diverse selection of cryptocurrencies at competitive fees, it serves traders globally, including in the UAE. It provides 24/7 customer support through live chat and maintains high security standards.

Kraken goes beyond trading by providing extensive educational materials, including crypto guides, videos and a podcast, designed to help both beginners and experienced investors make informed decisions. Its staking services offer the potential for meaningful returns on selected cryptocurrencies, though rates vary widely by asset and change frequently, so treat any advertised figure as a starting point for your own checking rather than a promise.

The company uses a combination of cold storage and multi-signature wallets to protect user funds. It operates in the UAE with a Financial Services Permission from the ADGM FSRA, rather than a VARA licence, so it is supervised out of Abu Dhabi rather than Dubai. As with every platform here, your crypto holdings are not protected if the exchange fails.

Binance is a global leader in the cryptocurrency space, providing a comprehensive platform for crypto users worldwide. Founded in 2017, it is one of the largest and most widely used exchanges by volume.

In the UAE it is properly licensed: Binance FZE has held a full VASP licence from VARA since April 2024, covering exchange, broker-dealer, management and investment, and lending and borrowing services. That is a broader set of permissions than most providers on Dubai’s register hold.

Binance is known for its extensive offerings, including futures trading, staking, savings accounts, and the Binance Visa Card. Its utility token, Binance Coin (BNB), gives reduced fees and access to exclusive token sales.

Binance does not charge deposit fees for cryptocurrency deposits, while fiat deposit fees vary by currency and method. Spot trading carries a standard fee of 0.1% per trade for regular users, reduced to 0.075% when using BNB to pay fees. VIP users get personalised fee structures.

On the downside, the trading interface can overwhelm beginners given the range of advanced tools available. The company also has a difficult regulatory history: in 2023 its founder and then-CEO Changpeng Zhao stepped down and pleaded guilty to violating US anti-money laundering laws, with the company paying a substantial settlement. Binance has since restructured its compliance function and obtained licences in multiple jurisdictions including Dubai, but the history is worth knowing.

Founded in 2015, Coinsfera is an over-the-counter (OTC) desk giving customers access to buy and sell over 500 cryptocurrencies with cash and credit cards. It claims competitive pricing with fast execution, and reports a customer base of over 12,000.

Two things to weigh before using it. It does not publish its fees, so you cannot compare its pricing against the exchanges above before turning up, and it does not appear on VARA’s public register of licensed providers. Both are reasons for caution, particularly for larger amounts. We include it because a physical OTC desk genuinely suits some use cases, especially cash transactions, but it sits in a different risk category from the licensed exchanges on this list.

The process to buy and sell cryptocurrency with Coinsfera is straightforward:

1. Calculate: Check the amount you want to exchange using the calculator on the Coinsfera website.
2. Appointment: Contact the Coinsfera team via WhatsApp, Telegram, or phone to schedule an appointment.
3. Buy and sell: Visit the Coinsfera office in Dubai to complete the transaction.

OKX, formerly OKEx, was founded in 2017 and is a significant player in the cryptocurrency exchange industry. It offers spot, margin, futures, and options trading, catering to a range of investor types. Beyond traditional trading, OKX offers Web3 services including flexible and fixed staking, lending, liquidity mining on decentralised finance protocols, and an NFT marketplace.

OKX prides itself on competitive trading fees, with a maker/taker structure starting at 0.06%/0.06% for regular users, falling as low as -0.005%/0.015% for VIP users. Fee tiers for regular users are based on OKB token holdings, while VIP tiers depend on 30-day trading volumes and daily asset balances.

It offers peer-to-peer trading with zero fees, and supports over 900 local payment methods and more than 100 currencies including AED.

On regulation, OKX Middle East Fintech FZE holds a full VASP licence on VARA’s public register, having progressed beyond the provisional stage it began with. It also publishes Proof of Reserves regularly and operates under Malta’s Virtual Financial Assets Act in the EU.