Is E*TRADE available in Dubai & the UAE? Alternatives in 2026!

You may already know E*TRADE, a well-known American discount broker, now part of Morgan Stanley, that offers stocks, ETFs, options, retirement accounts, automated portfolios and an award-winning mobile app.

As the UAE keeps growing as a financial hub and more expats and investors settle in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a natural question is whether E*TRADE is available there.

E*TRADE is modern, easy to use and popular with US investors who value commission-free trading of US stocks, ETFs and options. Its main US rivals include Robinhood, TD Ameritrade (now part of Charles Schwab) and Webull.

Want to know if E*TRADE is available in Dubai, whether it plans to expand, and which alternatives UAE residents can use? We’ve got you covered!

No, E*TRADE is not available in the UAE. E*TRADE accounts are designed for US residents.

E*TRADE, now part of Morgan Stanley, has not announced any plan to expand to the UAE or elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa. The good news is that UAE residents have several well-regulated alternatives, including brokers licensed locally in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

To answer this question, we focused on low-cost brokers available to UAE residents:

Founded in 1978 and listed on the NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR), Interactive Brokers is a global online broker that has come through several financial crises, showing resilience and a strong risk management framework.

Interactive Brokers offers an advanced investment platform with a wide range of products from over 150 markets, solid trade execution (IB SmartRouting) and a full set of technical and fundamental tools. It also accepts UAE dirhams (AED), which helps UAE residents avoid conversion costs when funding their account.

Beginners and intermediate investors have educational tools to explore, but the learning curve is steep. That’s why we mainly recommend it to more experienced investors. Customer service gives clear answers to almost all questions.

On the downside, Interactive Brokers’ fee structure is complex, account opening takes longer than at simpler apps (although it is fully online), and commission-free trading is only available to US clients. However, once you factor in its low FX fees, narrow spreads and stock lending programme, clients can still save significantly compared with most brokers.

Interactive Brokers also offers IBKR GlobalTrader, a mobile app for stocks, options and ETFs, ideal for beginner investors. Its features include automatic currency conversion, fractional shares and a demo account.

Want to know more about Interactive Brokers? Read our Interactive Brokers review.

Sarwa is a digital investment platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi, designed to simplify investing for residents of the UAE and the wider region. It combines several services in a single app, so you can choose between hands-on trading and fully automated investing.

With Sarwa Trade, you can buy and sell over 4,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs, as well as US options and cryptocurrencies. It supports limit and stop orders and fractional shares. Stock and ETF trades cost $1 or 0.25% of the order amount, according to Sarwa’s pricing page, and options cost $4 per contract. Sarwa Trade is only available through the mobile app, and no investment advice is given for self-directed trading.

For a hands-off approach, Sarwa Invest is a robo-advisor that builds globally diversified ETF portfolios based on your risk tolerance, reinvests dividends and rebalances them automatically. It offers Conventional, Halal and Socially Responsible portfolios, making it one of the few regional platforms with dedicated Sharia-compliant and ESG options, as well as joint accounts. It costs $7 a month or an annual fee of 0.4% to 0.85%, depending on the amount invested. The minimum investment is $500 for Conventional and Halal portfolios.

Sarwa also offers Sarwa Save, a cash account with an estimated return of up to 3.7% in September 2026, no lock-ups and a halal option. It charges a 0.5% annual fee. The estimated return is variable, follows interest rates and is not guaranteed.

There are no account opening, custody, withdrawal, inactivity or account-closing fees, and transfers from a local UAE bank account are free.

Sarwa is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in the Abu Dhabi Global Market and by the DFSA in the Dubai International Financial Centre. Client assets are held in segregated accounts with third-party custodians.

Want to learn more? Check out our full Sarwa review.

Founded in 2007, eToro is a well-known global investing platform and the leader in social trading, with over 40 million registered users. It has been listed on the NASDAQ (ticker: ETOR) since May 2025. Its intuitive platform lets you invest in stocks, ETFs and crypto, and trade CFDs, which makes it a good place to learn how investing works.

ETFs are commission-free (other fees apply), and eToro serves UAE residents through its Abu Dhabi entity, regulated by the FSRA. Opening an account and depositing are easy, and you can practise with a free demo account. On the downside, spreads can be high on some products, and since your account is held in USD, you pay a conversion fee when you deposit or withdraw in dirhams.

eToro also offers an Islamic (swap-free) account for clients who need it.

Founded in 2008, Plus500 is an online broker offering CFDs on forex, indices, shares, commodities, options, ETFs and cryptocurrencies, as well as real shares in some countries. It is available in over 50 countries and listed on the London Stock Exchange. There are two account types:

• Plus500 CFD: CFD products only;
• Plus500 Invest: real shares, where available.

Its proprietary WebTrader platform is stable and also available as a mobile app, and you can test it with a free demo account. Spreads are competitive, and accounts are available in 16 currencies, including USD, EUR and GBP. It charges a currency conversion fee of up to 0.7% and a $10 monthly inactivity fee after three months without logging in. Plus500 also offers Islamic (swap-free) accounts to UAE residents.

Plus500 is one of the few brokers with a subsidiary dedicated to the UAE: Plus500AE Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA, F005651).

Want to know more about Plus500? Read our Plus500 review.

Founded in 2002 and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, XTB is a global broker regulated by authorities including the UK’s FCA. For UAE clients, it focuses on CFDs and forex, with competitive costs and no commission on stock CFDs.

Costs are low on forex but higher on crypto CFDs. XTB charges a €10 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months without trading and no deposits in the last 90 days. Opening an account and depositing money is quick, and a demo account is available.

Like Plus500, XTB has a dedicated UAE entity, XTB MENA Limited, licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). XTB also offers Islamic (swap-free) accounts to UAE residents.

Which platform is best for the UAE?

As a UAE resident, these are the key factors to consider when choosing an online broker:

• Is it regulated by a top-tier authority, such as the FCA, CySEC or SEC?
• Is it licensed locally by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) or the Abu Dhabi FSRA?
• Does it offer an Islamic account, if you need one?
• Can you fund your account in dirhams, or will you pay conversion fees?
• Does it offer the products you want (real shares, ETFs, options or CFDs)?
• Does it have an intuitive, modern mobile app and good investor education?
• Are its fees competitive?

The best online broker for you depends on your profile, preferences and goals. Explore the platforms above and decide for yourself.