Pepperstone in the UAE: legal status, licensed entities and deposits

Is Pepperstone legal in the UAE?

Yes. Pepperstone holds a DFSA license in the DIFC and an onshore Capital Market Authority license in the UAE, but retail trades on its UAE site are issued by its Bahamas company.

Pepperstone Financial Services LLC is licensed by the UAE Capital Market Authority (formerly the SCA) under license 20200000358, for introduction and financial consultation only. Pepperstone Financial Services (DIFC) Ltd is licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority under license F004356. The product issuer named on the UAE site is Pepperstone Markets Limited, licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217).

Pepperstone for traders in the UAE

Entity that serves the UAE	Pepperstone Markets Limited, SCB Bahamas, SIA-F217 (product issuer); introduced by Pepperstone Financial Services LLC, UAE CMA 20200000358
Local payment methods	Local bank transfer, Visa/Mastercard
Local language support	English and Arabic site; support 24 hours on weekdays and 18 hours at weekends by email, phone, WhatsApp and live chat
Withdrawals	Deposits by Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Mashreq Bank and Barclays transfers; crypto for clients of the UAE LLC only. No firm withdrawal time; Pepperstone says banks may take up to 15 days to settle

Pepperstone is one of the few large international brokers with a licensed presence in the UAE, through a DIFC company regulated by the DFSA and an onshore company licensed by the Capital Market Authority. The detail that matters is which company your trades sit with: on Pepperstone’s UAE site, the product issuer for retail clients is Pepperstone Markets Limited in The Bahamas.

What that means for you

The onshore UAE company is licensed for introduction and financial consultation only, so it isn’t the company holding your positions. If something goes wrong, the Bahamas entity’s rules and the Securities Commission of The Bahamas are what apply. Pepperstone’s DFSA-licensed company in the DIFC is a separate route, so check which company is named on your client agreement before you fund.

For our full assessment, including costs, platforms and score, see the Pepperstone review.

Questions traders in the UAE ask

Is Pepperstone regulated in the UAE?

Yes. It holds a DFSA license in the DIFC and an onshore UAE Capital Market Authority license for introduction and consultation.

Who issues my trades as a UAE retail client?

Pepperstone Markets Limited in The Bahamas, according to Pepperstone's UAE website.

Can I fund a Pepperstone account in AED?

Yes. Standard and Razor accounts can be held in AED, and Pepperstone takes deposits through Mashreq Bank.

Does Pepperstone charge deposit fees in the UAE?

Pepperstone says it charges no deposit fees, though your bank or payment provider may.