Anyone who has traded for even a single day knows that the trading platform you use is crucial. 

Two traders with the same strategy can have different results due to differences in execution speed, fees, and liquidity strength. 

While you focus on developing or improving your trading strategy, do not forget to choose the best online trading platform in the UAE. 

Some of the features to look out for include: 

• Fast execution, supported by high liquidity
• Access to trading tools for fundamental, technical, and sentiment analysis
• Low commissions and bid-ask spreads
• Access to multiple asset classes
• Educational resources and excellent customer support
• User-friendly and intuitive platforms, among others

In what follows, we consider 8 of the best trading platforms in the UAE that provide access to these features and more. 

We’ll consider each product’s unique selling propositions and the types of traders they are appropriate for.

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1. Sarwa 

Overview

Sarwa is a UAE-based trading platform that offers access to stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded commodities (ETCs), cryptocurrencies, and stock options through its Sarwa Trade platform. 

It is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM). 

Best known for

Sarwa is best known for its all-in-one platform, where users can trade multiple assets and also access savings and investment products. 

Pros

• Access to multiple asset classes: You can trade stocks, stock ETFs, bond ETFs, Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) ETFs, gold ETFs, silver ETFs, gold ETCs, silver ETFs, stock options, and cryptocurrencies, among others. 

• Zero deposit and withdrawal fees: Transfers between local UAE bank accounts and Sarwa brokerage accounts are free. 

International wire transfers and card transactions come with fees charged by the parties processing them. However, Sarwa does not charge any additional fee for these.  

• Fractional trading: You can trade a fraction of a share of the assets available on Sarwa Trade. This makes the platform accessible to beginner traders. 

• Instant execution: Sarwa ensures that transactions are immediately executed so you can quickly lock in your entry prices. 

• Personalised customer support: Sarwa’s human customer support team is available 24/7 to answer questions and help with any challenges.  

• Educational resources: Sarwa’s blog contains numerous resources that will help you understand the financial markets and become a better trader. 

• User-friendly platforms: Sarwa’s all-in-one platform is user-friendly, which makes it appropriate for beginners.   

Cons

• Does not support forex trading: Forex is a major part of online trading, and its absence on Sarwa Trade could be a drawback for some traders. 

• No crypto pairs: You can only buy cryptocurrencies of your choice with fiat currency. This is a limitation if your trading strategy requires crypto pairs.  

Ideal for

Sarwa is ideal for traders who want simplified access to multiple asset classes, as well as those who want to integrate their trading and investing. 

2. IG

Overview

IG is a UK-based broker that operates in the local UAE market. It is regulated in the UAE by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). 

IG offers contracts for difference (CFDs) on stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and forex across 17,000 markets. 

Best known for

IG is best known as a top CFD trading platform. It provides access to multiple asset classes through CFDs.

Pros

• Advanced charting tools: IG’s trading platforms are integrated with MetaTrader 4 and 5, TradingView, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer. All of these give traders advanced tools for sophisticated technical analysis. 

• Low spreads and fast execution: Their trading platforms are also well known for fast execution and low spreads due to strong liquidity.   

• Access to multiple asset classes: Traders can explore CFDs of stocks, ETFs, commodities, forex, indices, and cryptocurrencies. 

• Quick onboarding: Users can complete the onboarding process in a few minutes. 

• Multiple reward programs: IG offers cashback for new traders, referral bonuses, and volume-based rebates on spreads and commissions.

• Educational resources: IG also provides educational resources that can help traders become more competent. 

Cons

• High risk with CFDs: CFDs, like other derivatives, are complex financial instruments. The presence of leverage also makes them risky, especially for inexperienced traders. 

• Higher learning curve for beginner traders: Beginners might struggle to get a hang of CFDs and IG’s sophisticated trading platforms.  

• Multiple fees: Fees include spread cost, overnight financing costs (for holding leveraged positions overnight), inactivity fees (for accounts dormant for a long period), and premium for guaranteed stop-loss orders. 

Ideal for

IG is ideal for experienced traders who prefer to access financial markets through CFDs. 

3. Interactive Brokers

Overview

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a global broker licensed to operate in the UAE by the DFSA. 

It offers access to stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, forecast contracts, currencies, mutual funds, and US spot gold across more than 170 global markets. 

Best known for

IBKR is best known for offering advanced tools for fundamental and technical analysis of multiple asset classes. 

Pros

• Low cost: IBKR charges 0% commission on stocks and ETFs, and low commissions on other products. There are no added bid-ask spreads, ticket charges or account minimums.

• Low margin rates: Margin rates on IBKR is 55% lower than the industry average. 

• Access to local UAE stocks: IBKR provides access to UAE stocks available on the two most popular stock exchanges in the United Arab Emirates: the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)

• Advanced tools: IBKR has platforms like Trader Workstation, Client Portal, and IBKR GlobalTrader that provide advanced tools for expert traders and institutional investors. 

• Access to free and premium market research: Users of IBKR can also access market research platforms like Zacks, MorningStar, Argus Research, among others. 

• Supports multiple currencies: Users can fund their accounts in more than 28 currencies (including AED). 

Cons

• Steep learning curve for beginners: There are so many features that the beginner trader might take time to understand and master. Many of its educational resources are also not beginner-friendly. 

• Commission-free trade comes at a cost:  Traders who choose the commission-free trading plan (for stocks and ETFs) have to give up control of order routing.

• Withdrawal fees: Users can only make one free withdrawal per month. Subsequent ones will come with additional fees.  

Ideal for

IBKR is ideal for advanced traders and professionals. 

4. Pepperstone

Overview

Pepperstone is a CFD trading platform that lists CFDs on forex, commodities, indices, cryptos, and US stocks. 

Though it is an Australian broker, it is licensed to operate in the UAE by the DFSA, with an office at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Best known for

Pepperstone is best known for offering access to various financial instruments through CFDs. 

Pros

• Strong liquidity, fast execution and tight spreads: Backed by strong liquidity, they offer fast execution and low spreads. 

• Multiple account options: The Standard Account charges zero commission on most assets, but with all fees (except overnight fees) included in the spread. Those who want more control over cost can choose the Razor Account, which uses a commission-based model with spreads as low as 0.0 pips/points. 

• Multiple trading platforms: Peppestone has its proprietary trading platform and also supports integration with MetaTrader 4 and 5, cTrader, and TradingView. These platforms have tools that make it easier to predict price movements. 

• Multiple assets: There are CFDs on forex, commodities, indices, crypto, and US stocks. 

Cons

• Overnight fees apply: Overnight fees might apply to leveraged positions held overnight. 

• They support only CFDs: Access to financial instruments is limited to CFDs (which are complex and risky). 

Ideal for

Pepperstone is ideal for traders who have experience with CFDs and are comfortable using them. 

5. Saxo Bank

Overview

Saxo Bank is a Danish company licensed to operate in the UAE by the DFSA. It operates in the Middle East through its office at the DIFC.

Saxo Bank offers more than 70,000 instruments across forex, stocks, bonds, and CFDs. 

Best known for

Saxo Bank is best known for providing an all-in-one platform where users can easily switch between trading and investing. 

Pros

• Supports AED bank transfers: Users can fund their USD accounts through transfers from local UAE bank accounts.  

• Global market access: Saxo Bank offers access to multiple instruments across global markets. 

• Fast execution: The average execution speed on market orders is as low as 0.009 seconds. 

• Tiered pricing: They use a pricing model where commissions and fees reduce as trading volume increases.   

• Low fees: Saxo Bank charges low commissions on trades. It also recently removed inactivity and platform fees. 

• No minimum initial deposit: Users can get started with any amount they have.   

• Advanced tools: Saxo Bank’s proprietary trading platform includes advanced features for technical trading and risk management. Users can also integrate with TradingView and MultiCharts.

Cons

• High deposit requirements on premium accounts: Its Platinum and VIP accounts have minimum deposits of up to $200,000 and $1,000,000, respectively, which makes them impractical for many traders.

• Overnight funding fees: These apply to users holding leveraged positions overnight.

Ideal for

Saxo Bank is ideal for big-account traders who can enjoy the benefits of its premium accounts. 

6. eToro

Overview

eToro is a global trading platform licensed to operate in the UAE by the FSRA. It offers access to stocks, ETFs, cryptos, and commodities. 

Best known for

eToro is best known for popularising social or copy trading. 

Pros

• Low cost: ETF trading is commission-free. Also, there is a flat 1% fee on US, UK, and EU stocks, irrespective of the order size. 

• Beginner-friendly platform: The eToro platform is easy to use for new traders. 

• Social trading: New traders can copy the trades of experienced traders. They can also evaluate experienced traders based on user reviews and performance metrics. 

• Educational resources: eToro has a library of written and video content designed mainly for beginners. 

Cons

• No advanced trading tools: Since it is designed to be beginner-friendly, many advanced features that experienced traders use are not available. 

• Platform fees apply: Withdrawal and account inactivity fees apply.

• Support can be difficult to reach: Reaching the support team can be arduous at times.  

• High spreads: Spreads are not competitive.

Ideal for

eToro is ideal for beginner traders who want a user-friendly platform. 

7. XTB

Overview

XTB is a Polish broker that is licensed to operate in the UAE by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). 

It offers more than 11,000 instruments, including stocks, ETFs, forex, and CFDs. 

Best known for

XTB is best known as an all-in-one platform that combines trading, saving, and investing. 

Pros

• Educational resources: XTB publishes educational articles and market analysis. 

• Low commissions and competitive spreads: XTB charges 0% commissions on stocks and ETFs for trading volume lower than or equal to €100,000 and 0.2% on higher trading volumes. 

They also offer competitive spreads on other products. 

• Multiple platforms: There is a Standard account appropriate for beginners and a Pro account for those with more experience in the market. 

• Advanced trading tools: Its proprietary xStation platform has many features appropriate for advanced technical analysis. 

• Real-time market data: Users can get real-time market data to aid their trading decisions. 

• Quick account opening: Users can complete the account opening process in 15 minutes. 

Cons 

• Platform fees: Currency conversion and overnight funding fees apply. 

• No integration with external trading platforms: XTB only provides access to its own proprietary platform.  

Ideal for

XTB is appropriate for beginner traders. 

8. Plus500

Overview

Plus500 is an Israeli-founded broker licensed to operate in the UAE by the SCA. It provides access to CFDs on forex, stocks, crypto, commodities, and indices. 

Best known for

Plus500 is best known as a top CFD provider. 

Pros

• Proprietary trading platform: Its proprietary trading platform has many technical analysis tools that users need. 

• Free unlimited demo account: New traders or experienced traders testing new strategies can practise with unlimited virtual funds. 

• Multiple assets: Users can get access to CFDs of multiple assets under diverse asset classes. 

• User-friendly interface: The Plus500 trading platform is user-friendly and appropriate for beginners. 

• Educational resources: Users will also find educational resources that will make them better at trading. 

• Human customer support team: Plus500 has human customer support agents who can help users with any problem. 

Cons

• CFDs only: CFDs are complex and risky, and many traders may prefer other alternatives. 

• Platform fees: Inactivity and overnight funding fees apply. 

Ideal for

Plus500 is ideal for beginner traders with an interest in CFDs. 

How to choose the best online trading platform in the UAE

Now that we have considered the top online trading platforms in the UAE, it is time to help you select the one(s) most appropriate for you as a trader. 

Based on what we have seen so far, the main factors to consider when making this choice include: 

Trading style

Your trading style will have a big impact on what you will consider the best platform for trading in the UAE. 

For example, if you are a scalper or day trader, you will need a trading platform with fast execution and low commissions/spreads. The former is important because you need to lock in your trades at specific prices, and the latter because you will take multiple trades every day. 

On the other hand, if you are a position trader, fast execution might not be as important as finding a platform with no inactivity fees.  

Trading experience

If you are new to trading, you should be looking for the best online trading platform for beginners. As we have seen, some platforms have user-friendly interfaces while others have a steep learning curve that makes them difficult for beginners to use. 

On the flip side, if you are an experienced trader, you want to select brokers with proprietary trading platforms that offer advanced technical analysis tools or integration with platforms like MetaTrader ⅘ and TradingView, among others. 

Account size

We have also seen that some platforms are best enjoyed with premium accounts, since they can drastically reduce commissions and fees. 

However, such premium accounts often require a high minimum balance. You have to consider whether you can meet such requirements. 

Favourite instruments

The major consideration here is CFDs. Many of the best trading apps in the UAE only offer CFDs. If you don’t like CFDs, for whatever reason, you need to exclude CFD-only platforms from your consideration. 

Also, many traders tend to focus on only a specific asset. Thus, instead of the best online trading platform, you might be more interested in the best bitcoin trading platform or the best equity trading platform. For many people, it is a list of the best forex brokers that matter. 

In this case, you will need to do a deeper dive into the trading platforms that offer crypto or stock trading and what advantages they offer. 

Account management needs

If you are in the UAE, you may want to use a trading platform that makes it easy for you to deposit funds straight from your local bank. 

This might make you prefer local trading platforms to the international ones. However, we have seen that some of the best international trading platforms are already supporting this.

Customer support is another consideration. If you prefer to speak to humans who can help you solve any issues 24/7, then you should prioritise trading apps that provide such.    

Value for money

One mistake to avoid is thinking that the best trading app in the UAE is the one with the lowest commissions or fees. It doesn’t always work like that. 

Instead of fixating solely on fees, you should think more in terms of value for money. 

For example, if platform A is cheaper than B but B has better educational resources, technical and fundamental analysis tools, and execution speed, then B might have higher value for money, ceteris paribus. 

This is why fees should only be considered when other differentiating factors have been analysed. 

Also, you should have a comprehensive view of fees. A platform might have low spreads and commissions but charge high platform fees (deposit, withdrawal, inactivity, overnight funding, etc.). When you consider these other fees, the same platform will look expensive compared to competitors. 

One way to do this evaluation is to choose the best online trading platforms in the UAE across each of these factors and select the one that appears consistently throughout. This makes it easy to identify the one that is best for you. 

It is also possible that more than one trading platform stands out with no good reason to select just one among them. In that case, consider opening an account with them and then sticking with the one that stands out after you have used them for a while.    

At Sarwa, we combine fast execution with zero platform fees (no inactivity fees or additional deposit and withdrawal fees), which makes us appropriate for all types of traders. Our platforms are also beginner-friendly, with a user interface that makes trading enjoyable. 

You can trade stocks, ETFs, stock options, cryptocurrencies, and ETCs on the Sarwa mobile app. We are duly regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM), and we secure your data and money with 256-bit bank-level security. 

As a UAE-based platform, we offer personalised human support and provide solutions to problems that are common to UAE traders. 

Are you ready to start your trading journey with one of the best online trading platforms in the UAE? Sign up today for a Sarwa account for cost-effective, secure, and beginner-friendly trading. 

Takeaways

• Even the best trading strategies can underperform on platforms with slow execution, weak liquidity, or high hidden fees. 
• Choosing the best trading app in the UAE is an integral part of trading success. 
• The best trading apps will have strong liquidity, fast execution, educational resources, and trading tools that support fundamental and technical analysis, among others.  
• The best trading platform in the UAE depends on your experience level, trading style, account management preferences, account size, and preferred instruments.