Best DFSA Regulated Forex Brokers for 2025
Traders based in Dubai, the wider Middle East, and the Persian Gulf have access to a growing number of reputable international forex brokers. Yet, when it comes to opening a live trading account and investing real capital, choosing a DFSA regulated forex broker should always be the priority.
Brokers licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) operate under one of the region’s most respected regulatory frameworks. The DFSA enforces strict standards for client fund protection, transparency and operational conduct, giving traders greater confidence and a secure environment in which to trade.
Established in 2004, the DFSA serves as the independent financial regulator for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a special economic zone within the United Arab Emirates. The organisation is widely recognised for its proactive oversight, robust governance, and commitment to maintaining integrity in the financial sector across the Middle East.
Following a detailed review of the region’s leading brokers, our FX Trust Score team identified the Best DFSA Regulated Forex Brokers for 2025, based on performance across multiple key areas. The brokers that feature in our rankings have proven to combine strong compliance standards with competitive trading conditions and reliable client support.
Overview of DFSA Regulated Forex Brokers
Interactive Brokers
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Broker Name: Interactive Brokers
Established: 1974
UAE Office: Dubai
Minimum Deposit: $None
Copy Trading: No
Negative Balance Protection: Yes
Pros & Cons
✅ Various proprietary platforms
✅ Strong education section
❌ Website is hard to navigate
XTB
Rating: 4.37 / 5
Broker Name: XTB
Established: 2004
UAE Office: Dubai
Minimum Deposit: $None
Copy Trading: No
Negative Balance Protection: Yes
Pros & Cons
✅ Automated payments
✅ Secure login process
❌ No MT4 or MT5
Plus500
Rating: 4.25 / 5
Broker Name: Plus500
Established: 2008
UAE Office: Dubai
Minimum Deposit: $100
Copy Trading: No
Negative Balance Protection: Yes
Pros & Cons
✅ User-friendly platform
✅ 24/7 customer support
❌ No MT4 or MT5
Swissquote
Rating: 4.2 / 5
Broker Name: Swissquote
Established: 1996
UAE Office: Dubai
Minimum Deposit: $1,000
Copy Trading: Yes
Negative Balance Protection: Yes
Pros & Cons
✅ Ultra-fast execution speeds
✅ Many educational videos
❌ High deposit requirement
HYCM
Rating: 4.12 / 5
Broker Name: HYCM
Established: 1977
UAE Office: Dubai
Minimum Deposit: $5
Copy Trading: Yes
Negative Balance Protection: Yes
Pros & Cons
✅ Spreads from 0.1 pips
✅ Good range of platforms
❌ Inactivity fees after 90 days
FX Trust Score Comparison of DFSA Regulated Brokers
| Broker | DFSA Licence | Dubai Office | Trading Platforms | Average EUR/USD Spread | Customer Support | FX Trust Score |
| Interactive Brokers | Reference number: F008423 | Unit 507, Level 5, Index Tower, DIFC, Dubai, UAE | IBKR Desktop, IBKR Trader Workstation, IBKR GlobalTrader, IBKR ForecastTrader, IBKR APIs | 0.6 pips | 24/5 | |
| Score | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9/10 |
| XTB | Reference number: F006316 | Unit 1204, Level 12, Index Tower, DIFC, PO Box 482081, Dubai, UAE | AvaOptions, AvaSocial, DupliTrade, MT4, MT5 | 1.3 pips | 24/6 | |
| Score | 10 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 8.75/10 |
| Plus500 | Reference number: F005651 | Unit 109-110, Level 1, Gate Village Building 04, DIFC, Dubai, UAE | Plus500 Platform | 1.2 pips | 24/7 | |
| Score | 10 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 8.5/10 |
| Swissquote | Reference number: F001438 | Office No 3, Level 9, Currency House Building, Tower 2, DIFC, PO Box 121364, Dubai, UAE | MT4, MT5, CFXD | 0.9 pips | 24/5 | |
| Score | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8.4/10 |
| HYCM | Reference number: F000048 | Tenancy 903, Level 9, Liberty House, DIFC, PO Box 506540, Dubai, UAE | MT4, MT5 | 1.2 pips | 24/5 | |
| Score | 10 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8.25/10 |
The FXTS Verdict – Which are the Best DFSA Regulated Forex Brokers?
Our expert analysis aims to help traders across the Gulf and Middle East identify the top DFSA regulated forex brokers for 2025. Each shortlisted broker was reviewed using a balanced set of criteria, including platform performance, average EUR/USD spreads, customer support availability and general trust metrics. Every broker’s licence was also independently verified using the DFSA’s official public register.
Interactive Brokers ranked first overall, largely due to its advanced suite of IBKR trading platforms available across desktop and mobile devices. It offers highly competitive pricing, tight spreads and low-cost commissions, making it a strong choice for both institutional and retail clients.
In second place, XTB stood out for its diverse range of trading tools and intuitive platform experience, while Plus500 secured third position with its user-friendly interface and 24/7 client support. Meanwhile, both Swissquote and HYCM continue to maintain strong reputations within the UAE, each supported by an established presence in the DIFC and a record of trusted international service.
DFSA’s Role in Forex Broker Oversight
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) operates as the independent regulator within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). With more than two decades of experience, it plays a central role in maintaining the stability, transparency and integrity of Dubai’s financial markets.
Working separately from the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the DFSA’s jurisdiction is specific to the DIFC zone. It adopts a risk-based supervisory approach, focusing its resources on areas of greatest regulatory concern. Unlike regulators that follow a zero-tolerance model, the DFSA’s framework is designed to encourage compliance without creating unnecessary barriers for financial institutions.
The DFSA regularly publishes public registers, compliance updates, and enforcement actions to ensure accountability among DFSA-licensed brokers. Its approach strikes a balance between strong consumer protection and market efficiency, helping to position Dubai as one of the Middle East’s most trusted hubs for regulated financial trading.
FAQs
The Dubai Financial Services Authority, or DFSA, is a leading financial regulator in the UAE. Headquartered within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), it operates independently from the UAE government within a predefined legal framework. Founded in 2004, its main mission is to ensure fairness, transparency and efficiency across the UAE financial services industry.
Forex trading is indeed legal and highly-regulated in Dubai by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The DFSA ensures that investment firms adhere to a strict financial framework, covering compliance, anti-fraud and anti-money laundering measures and client fund protection. Local residents should opt for a broker with a DFSA license to ensure maximum protection.
There are two main regulators of UAE forex brokers – the DFSA and the SCA. While the DFSA governs financial services and activities within the DIFC in Dubai’s main economic zone, the SCA oversees the broader UAE financial services market. Both are considered to be reputable, internationally-recognised regulatory bodies.
The DFSA is responsible for overseeing the financial services industry within the DIFC. It can authorise and register forex brokers, publishing the full list of licensed firms online via the DFSA public register. One of its main roles involves supervising financial firms to ensure they fully comply with the relevant national laws, rules and regulations of the UAE. If necessary, the DFSA has a range of enforcement powers to help it tackle serious misconduct quickly and efficiently. This includes imposing sanctions and issuing penalties against persistent offenders.
There are numerous regulated forex brokers with valid DFSA licences. It is important that traders based in the Middle East conduct proper research into each broker before making a final decision on who to open an account with. To get an informed guide into the best DFSA regulated brokers, check out who our experts have ranked as the top options by checking out our leaderboard above.
The best brokers in the UAE are fully licensed and authorised with a leading regulator. The two main regulatory bodies are the DFSA and the SCA, both recognised as leading authorities within the Middle East financial services sector. To view the best DFSA regulated brokers, scroll up to see the final leaderboard.
All of the DFSA regulated forex brokers are based in or have offices in the DIFC in Dubai, UAE. Established in 2004, the DIFC, or Dubai International Financial Centre, is a financial free zone. The idea behind its creation was to promote the city as a regional financial hub by attracting leading global institutions to set up operations there. The DFSA is the independent regulator of financial services in the DIFC and is responsible for regulating all financial services within the zone.
Publication date:
29/04/2025
Author: FX Trust Score
Last updated on October 6, 2025
