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HomeRegulationJurisdictionsUnited Arab Emirates

Forex regulation in United Arab Emirates

This page explains the authorities and public records connected with retail forex and CFD activity in United Arab Emirates. Rules can depend on the product, legal entity, client type and location.

Regulatory overview

Three regimes: the DFSA in the DIFC, the FSRA in the ADGM, and the SCA onshore. Check which one the licence is from.

Authorities

Dubai Financial Services AuthorityAADFSA (DIFC) · Tier one · Very strongThe regulator of the Dubai International Financial Centre free zone, applying rules modelled on the UK's.Financial Services Regulatory AuthorityAAFSRA (ADGM) · Tier one · Very strongThe regulator of the Abu Dhabi Global Market free zone.Securities and Commodities AuthorityASCA (UAE) · Tier two · EstablishedThe onshore UAE securities regulator, outside the DIFC and ADGM free zones.Capital Market Authority (as recorded on broker material)BCMA (UAE) · Tier two · LimitedAppears on some brokers' regulatory statements for the UAE. Onshore securities licensing in the UAE is issued by the SCA; check any licence quoted under this name on the SCA register.Central Bank of the United Arab EmiratesACBUAE · Tier two · EstablishedThe UAE's central bank, which licenses some money-changing and brokerage activity onshore.Virtual Assets Regulatory AuthorityBVARA (Dubai) · Tier two · LimitedDubai's regulator for virtual-asset service providers; relevant to crypto products rather than forex.

Broker records

BrokerAuthorityLicenceStatus
XM logoXM 9.2/10DFSA (DIFC)F003484Review pendingView licence record
Plus500 logoPlus500 9.0/10DFSA (DIFC)F005651Review pendingView licence record
HF Markets logoHF Markets 8.7/10DFSA (DIFC)F004885Review pendingView licence record
CMC Markets logoCMC Markets 8.5/10DFSA (DIFC)F006316Review pendingView licence record
IG logoIG 8.5/10DFSA (DIFC)Not confirmedReview pendingView licence record
Saxo Bank logoSaxo Bank 8.4/10DFSA (DIFC)Not confirmedReview pendingView licence record
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets 8.4/10DFSA (DIFC)Not confirmedReview pendingView licence record
Axi logoAxi 8.3/10DFSA (DIFC)Not confirmedReview pendingView licence record
Tickmill logoTickmill 8.3/10DFSA (DIFC)F007663, Representative OfficeReview pendingView licence record
XTB logoXTB 8.3/10DFSA (DIFC)F006316Review pendingView licence record
Swissquote logoSwissquote 8.2/10DFSA (DIFC)F001438Review pendingView licence record
HYCM logoHYCM 8.0/10DFSA (DIFC)F000048Review pendingView licence record
Pepperstone logoPepperstone 8.0/10DFSA (DIFC)F004356Review pendingView licence record
Fortrade logoFortrade 7.7/10DFSA (DIFC)Not confirmedReview pendingView licence record
AvaTrade logoAvaTrade 9.2/10FSRA (ADGM)190018Review pendingView licence record
eToro logoeToro 9.0/10FSRA (ADGM)220073Review pendingView licence record
Plus500 logoPlus500 9.0/10SCA (UAE)Not confirmedReview pendingView licence record
MultiBank Group logoMultiBank Group 8.7/10SCA (UAE)20200000031Review pendingView licence record
Equiti logoEquiti 7.6/10SCA (UAE)Not confirmedReview pendingView licence record
Capital.com logoCapital.com 8.4/10CMA (UAE)20200000176Review pendingView licence record
Exness logoExness 8.3/10CMA (UAE)Not confirmedReview pendingView licence record
Moneta Markets logoMoneta Markets 8.3/10CMA (UAE)20200000459Review pendingView licence record
STARTRADER logoSTARTRADER 8.1/10CMA (UAE)20200000241, Category 5 introduction/promotion onlyReview pendingView licence record
ATFX logoATFX 7.9/10CMA (UAE)20200000078Review pendingView licence record
VT Markets logoVT Markets 7.9/10CMA (UAE)20200000299, Category 5 introduction/promotion onlyReview pendingView licence record
Mitrade logoMitrade 7.8/10CMA (UAE)20200000397Review pendingView licence record
PU Prime logoPU Prime 7.8/10CMA (UAE)20200000388Review pendingView licence record
ADS Securities logoADS Securities 7.6/10CMA (UAE)Not confirmedReview pendingView licence record

Client protections

Under DFSA (DIFC)

Client-money rules
Applies in limited circumstances
Capital requirements
Varies by licence
Negative balance protection
Not confirmed
Leverage restrictions
Not confirmed
Compensation scheme
Not confirmed
External dispute resolution
Not confirmed
Risk disclosures
Required for relevant firms
Reporting or audit
Required for relevant firms

Under FSRA (ADGM)

Client-money rules
Applies in limited circumstances
Capital requirements
Varies by licence
Negative balance protection
Not confirmed
Leverage restrictions
Not confirmed
Compensation scheme
Not confirmed
External dispute resolution
Not confirmed
Risk disclosures
Required for relevant firms
Reporting or audit
Required for relevant firms

Under SCA (UAE)

Client-money rules
Not confirmed
Capital requirements
Not confirmed
Negative balance protection
Not confirmed
Leverage restrictions
Not confirmed
Compensation scheme
Not confirmed
External dispute resolution
Not confirmed
Risk disclosures
Not confirmed
Reporting or audit
Not confirmed

Under CMA (UAE)

Client-money rules
Not confirmed
Capital requirements
Not confirmed
Negative balance protection
Not confirmed
Leverage restrictions
Not confirmed
Compensation scheme
Not confirmed
External dispute resolution
Not confirmed
Risk disclosures
Not confirmed
Reporting or audit
Not confirmed

Under CBUAE

Client-money rules
Not confirmed
Capital requirements
Not confirmed
Negative balance protection
Not confirmed
Leverage restrictions
Not confirmed
Compensation scheme
Not confirmed
External dispute resolution
Not confirmed
Risk disclosures
Not confirmed
Reporting or audit
Not confirmed

Under VARA (Dubai)

Client-money rules
Not confirmed
Capital requirements
Not confirmed
Negative balance protection
Not confirmed
Leverage restrictions
Not confirmed
Compensation scheme
Not confirmed
External dispute resolution
Not confirmed
Risk disclosures
Not confirmed
Reporting or audit
Not confirmed

Complaint routes

We have not confirmed a public complaint-submission route for an authority in United Arab Emirates. Check the official website and the broker's governing documents.

Official warnings

No official warnings connected with United Arab Emirates are recorded.

Browse the warnings directory.

Frequently asked questions

Is forex trading regulated in United Arab Emirates?

DFSA (DIFC), FSRA (ADGM), SCA (UAE), CMA (UAE), CBUAE, VARA (Dubai) are the authorities on record for United Arab Emirates. Three regimes: the DFSA in the DIFC, the FSRA in the ADGM, and the SCA onshore. Check which one the licence is from.

Does a foreign licence protect a trader in United Arab Emirates?

Only when the account is legally contracted with the licensed entity and the licence permits the relevant service. A broker brand may operate several entities, and the protections follow the entity that signs the account agreement, not the brand.

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