The UAE has one of the most developed broker markets in the Gulf, with three regulators covering onshore business and the two financial free zones. The onshore regulator, the Securities and Commodities Authority, became the Capital Market Authority on 1 January 2026. Plenty of brokers accept UAE residents through offshore entities instead, which comes with far less protection. Our UAE pages show which brokers hold a local license and which entity would actually open your account.
Forex trading in the UAE
Legal position, local regulator, payment methods and the brokers that accept traders from the UAE.
Is forex trading legal in the UAE?
Forex trading is legal in the UAE. Brokers serving residents onshore need a license from the Capital Market Authority (CMA, formerly the SCA), or from the DFSA in the DIFC or the FSRA in ADGM. Many offshore brokers also accept UAE clients without a local license.
- Local regulator
- CMA (onshore, formerly SCA), DFSA (DIFC), FSRA (ADGM)
Brokers that accept traders from the UAE
| Broker | Rating | Regulators | EUR/USD cost | Withdrawal | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | 7.4 | ASIC, CMA (UAE), DFSA, FCA, SCB Bahamas | - | - | 6 Oct 2026 |
| AvaTrade | 6.7 | ASIC, FSC BVI, FSCA, FSRA (ADGM) | - | - | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Axi | 5.9 | ASIC, DFSA, FCA, FSA St Vincent | - | - | 7 Oct 2026 |
| HFM | 5.8 | DFSA, FCA, FSA Seychelles, FSA St Vincent | - | - | 6 Oct 2026 |