Best Forex Brokers for Middle East and Africa 2025 (MENA)
Retail participation has grown rapidly across the Middle East and North Africa in recent years. Financial centres such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai now host a large number of global firms, while markets in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt continue to expand. To help traders navigate this landscape, we have evaluated and ranked the Best Forex Brokers in MENA for 2025, highlighting those that combine strong regulation, reliable platforms and localised support.
Our review is built on independent research using the FX Trust Score Index. Each broker was examined for platform quality, pricing, fund protection and client service, with additional weight given to regional suitability. Localisation was a key test. We looked for office presence, Arabic language support, local payment rails and the availability of swap free (Islamic) accounts designed for traders in the region. Only reputable, regulated firms made the final list, with preference given to licences from the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).
Best MENA Brokers Leaderboard
CFI
Rating: 4.65 / 5
15,000+ Instruments 12+ Global Licences Proprietary Trading Platform Six Offices Located in MENA Strong Education Section User-Friendly Trading Tools
*Trading carries a risk of loss
Pepperstone
Rating: 4.6 / 5
1,350+ Instruments Multiple Tier-1 Licences Proprietary Trading Platform Swap-Free Account Option Deposits in Local Currencies
Equiti
Rating: 4.5 / 5
2,000+ Instruments SCA Regulated Abu Dhabi and Dubai Offices 48+ Tradable MENA Stocks
*Trading carries a risk of loss
XTB
Rating: 4.45 / 5
4.400+ Instruments Multiple Tier-1 Licences Offers Investment Plans Detailed Educational Articles
*Trading carries a risk of loss
IG
Rating: 4.35 / 5
500+ Instruments Wide Choice of Platforms CFD and Options Trading 24/7 Customer Support
Score Breakdown
See the review ratings breakdown for the Best Forex Brokers in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) for 2025 and how each performed across six important criteria featured in our FX Trust Score Index.
| Regulatory Compliance | Security & Fund Protection | ||
| CFI | 5/5 | Equiti | 5/5 |
| Equiti | 5/5 | IG | 5/5 |
| IG | 5/5 | Pepperstone | 5/5 |
| Pepperstone | 5/5 | XTB | 5/5 |
| XTB | 5/5 | CFI | 4/5 |
| Customer Support | Localisation | ||
| CFI | 5/5 | CFI | 5/5 |
| Pepperstone | 4/5 | Equti | 5/5 |
| XTB | 4/5 | IG | 5/5 |
| Equiti | 3/5 | Pepperstone | 5/5 |
| IG | 3/5 | XTB | 5/5 |
| Local Payment Methods | Online Reputation | ||
| CFI | 4/5 | CFI | 5/5 |
| Equiti | 4/5 | Pepperstone | 5/5 |
| IG | 3/5 | Equiti | 4/5 |
| Pepperstone | 3/5 | IG | 4/5 |
| XTB | 3/5 | XTB | 4/5 |
*Where scores are tied, brokers are listed in alphabetical order.
Broker Review Rating Comparison
Marks out of 5 stars
CFI rating 4.65 / 5
Pepperstone rating 4.6 / 5
Equiti rating 4.5 / 5
XTB rating 4.45 / 5
IG rating 4.35 / 5
The FXTS Verdict
CFI takes first place as the Best Forex Broker in MENA for 2025. It achieved consistently high marks across the criteria and offers a broad range of markets, tools and education. The firm holds multiple licences, including the FCA in the UK, the FSCA in South Africa, the FSA in Seychelles, the SCA in the UAE and the FRA in Egypt. Its regional footprint is a major strength, with six offices across the Middle East and North Africa located in the UAE, Egypt, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine.
Pepperstone finishes second, supported by a wide set of top tier licences, a proprietary trading option alongside third party platforms, a swap free account and convenient local payment methods. Equiti, regulated by the SCA, takes third place, offering access to a selection of MENA equities and maintaining offices in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. XTB is a strong inclusion thanks to its multi jurisdictional oversight via the KNF, FCA, CySEC and DFSA, as well as a deep library of educational content. Rounding out the list, IG holds a DFSA licence in the region and provides more than 17,000 instruments, several platform choices and a well regarded IG Academy.
How did we choose the Best Forex Brokers in MENA for 2025?
We began by excluding unregulated entities and shortlisting only fully licensed brokers with a demonstrable presence in the region. This ensures the firms on our leaderboard operate under clear rules on client money, fee transparency and disclosure. We then verified each broker’s regional operations, looking for on the ground evidence such as offices, language coverage, support hours aligned to Gulf time zones and the availability of Islamic trading conditions.
After the preliminary screening, each broker was assessed using the FX Trust Score Index. We scored them across six core pillars: regulatory compliance, security and fund protection, customer support quality, localisation, local payment methods and online reputation. The aggregated scores produced the final rankings and the commentary above, giving traders in MENA a clear view of the most reliable options for 2025.
FAQs
The Middle East and North Africa, commonly known as MENA, is a geographic region featuring a diverse array of countries. While there is no officially defined list of MENA nations, it is generally accepted that it includes the following 20 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The best brokers in MENA are fully authorised and licensed with reputable local regulatory bodies. Leading MENA-based financial regulators include the UAE’s SCA and DFSA, along with the CMA in Saudi Arabia and Egypt’s FRA. Individuals opting to trade with an unlicensed broker potentially place their funds at significant risk as these companies are not bound by strict regulatory rules and procedures. Discover the best forex brokers in MENA by checking out the final FX Trust Score leaderboard above.
Search for a fully licensed broker that is registered to offer trading services in MENA. It is important to check that the company is authorised with a local, MENA-based regulatory body. Leading regulators in the region include the CMA in Saudi Arabia, the FRA in Egypt and the SCA and DFSA in the UAE. Once this is established, the next step is to properly compare each of the brokers’ product offerings. Review all the key features, such as trading conditions, pricing, payment methods, trading platforms and swap-free account availability.
Forex trading is halal, or allowed, if it follows Islamic principles. While the matter has been debated by religious scholars, it is generally accepted that forex trading is permissible under Sharia law, provided it meets certain conditions. To be classed as halal, there must be no riba, or interest, meaning trading accounts should be swap-free and not feature any overnight charges. Also, each transaction should be exchanged immediately (Taqabudh) as spot trading. Traders should also ensure there is no speculation (Gharar) or gambling (Maisir) involved.
Yes, Muslims can trade forex, provided they meet certain conditions. To ensure halal trading practices, traders must avoid riba (interest), speculation (Gharar), and gambling (Maisir). They should only trade with brokers that offer swap-free (Islamic) account options, as these do not charge overnight fees. Lastly, traders should exchange currencies immediately and have actual control over the assets, rather than theoretical ownership.
There are several licensing authorities that oversee and regulate MENA forex brokers. In the UAE, the main regulators are the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). Meanwhile, the Egypt Financial Supervisory Authority (FRA) and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) of Saudi Arabia are both prominent financial watchdogs in the region.
Publication date:
14/04/2025
Author: FX Trust Score
Last updated on October 20, 2025
