Best Brokers With AED Accounts 2025
Dig into our top brokers offering United Arab Emirates dirham (AED) accounts, based on thorough testing, designed to reduce conversion fees and optimize the experience for traders in the UAE.
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1Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a top brokerage firm offering access to 150 markets in 33 countries and a range of investment services. With 40 years in the field, this company listed on Nasdaq strictly follows the rules set by authorities such as the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC. It's recognized as one of the most reliable brokers for global trading.
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Trust Platform Assets Fees Accounts Research Education Mobile Support 3.6 Founded in 2004, Dukascopy Bank SA is a Swiss online bank and brokerage offering trading on over 1,200 instruments, including binary options. It provides various accounts (JForex, MT4/5, Binary Options) and advanced platforms (JForex, MT4/MT5) with strong tools and market data for active traders. -
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Trust Platform Assets Fees Accounts Research Education Mobile Support 4.6 Established in 2008, Exness is a respected broker known for offering over 40 account currencies, a wide choice of CFD instruments, and an intuitive web platform with features like currency converters and trading calculators. -
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Trust Platform Assets Fees Accounts Research Education Mobile Support 4.1 OKX is a reputable cryptocurrency company founded in 2017. It provides a wide array of services, including mining pools and NFTs. Traders can buy and sell over 400 crypto tokens through OTC trading and derivatives. OKX also offers a high-quality online platform, developer tools, and comprehensive charts, making it a preferred option for technical traders. -
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Trust Platform Assets Fees Accounts Research Education Mobile Support 4.0 Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a Swiss bank and broker offering online trading with three million products, including forex, CFDs, futures, options, and bonds. Known for its reliability, Swissquote has built a strong reputation with innovative trading solutions, such as being the first bank to offer crypto trading in 2017 and recently introducing fractional shares and the Invest Easy service.
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Broker Popularity
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Broker | Popularity |
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OKX |
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Interactive Brokers |
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Exness |
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Dukascopy |
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Why Trade With Interactive Brokers?
Interactive Brokers is ideal for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, updated data, and adaptability, especially with the IBKR Desktop application. Its exceptional pricing and advanced order features appeal to traders, and its variety of stocks remains unmatched in the market.
Pros
- IBKR, primarily designed for skilled traders, has expanded its appeal recently by eliminating its initial $10,000 deposit requirement.
- IBKR provides a cost-effective platform for traders by offering low fees, narrow spreads, and clear pricing.
- There's a large selection of free or paid research subscriptions available to all traders. If you subscribe to Toggle AI, you will also receive commission refunds from IBKR.
Cons
- IBKR offers many research tools. However, the tools are not uniformly distributed across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page, causing confusion for the users.
- Only one active session per account is allowed, which means you can't run the desktop version and mobile app at the same time. This can sometimes lead to a frustrating trading experience.
- Customer service may take time to respond, and there may be delays in fixing problems based on tests. It could be difficult to reach the customer service promptly.
Why Trade With Dukascopy?
If you're an experienced trader, Dukascopy offers the tools you need: JForex for algorithmic strategies, competitive spreads from 0.1 pips, leverage up to 1:200, and the assurance of a Swiss-regulated bank and broker.
Pros
- Dukascopy offers top-notch research, including a professional TV studio in Geneva for financial news, market analysis, and daily expert insights.
- Dukascopy is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) as a broker and a bank, providing high-level financial security and compliance with strict standards.
- The proprietary JForex platform is advanced, offering tools for algorithmic trading, detailed charting, and access to deep liquidity for traders.
Cons
- JForex offers many features, but its complexity makes it less ideal for beginner traders who might prefer simpler platforms.
- Dukascopy's withdrawal fees are higher than most competitors we've tested, especially for bank wire transfers, which may discourage traders who need frequent fund access.
- Certain account types, like MT4/MT5 accounts, need a higher minimum deposit of $1,000. This might not be suitable for traders with limited budgets.
Why Trade With Exness?
Exness is an excellent choice for active forex traders aiming to reduce costs after lowering spreads, enhancing execution speeds, and offering trading on over 100 currency pairs with more than 40 account currencies.
Pros
- Fast and reliable 24/7 multilingual customer support through phone, email, and live chat, validated by practical tests.
- Competitive spreads for USOIL and BTCUSD in 2024 start from 0 pips, with low commissions from $2 per side.
- Exness Terminal provides an easy experience for beginners with interactive charts, and creating watchlists is simple.
Cons
- Retail trading services are not available in some areas, including the US, UK, and EU, making them less accessible compared to leading brokers like Interactive Brokers.
- Exness has increased its variety of CFDs and introduced a copy trading feature, but it still lacks real assets like ETFs, cryptocurrencies, or bonds.
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 are supported, but TradingView and cTrader are not available yet, despite increasing demand from traders and their integration with other platforms like Pepperstone.
Why Trade With OKX?
OKX is a preferred choice for traders seeking new cryptocurrencies and projects for investment. Traders can benefit from its copy trading feature and automated bots.
Pros
- In 2025, OKX obtained a MiFID II license, allowing it to offer regulated derivatives products in Europe, ensuring confidence.
- Competitive mining fees starting at 2% are available for crypto staking and pools.
- Active traders will experience competitive maker and taker fees, at 0.02% and 0.05% respectively.
Cons
- Customer support quality varied during testing.
- The company provides minimal regulatory supervision, a typical feature among crypto trading platforms.
- The broker's platform and features might be hard to understand for new traders.
Why Trade With Swissquote?
Swissquote is a great option for active traders seeking a customizable platform, like its CXFD that includes Autochartist for automated chart analysis to assist trading decisions. However, its average fees and high $1,000 minimum deposit may be less accessible for beginners.
Pros
- Swissquote offers robust platforms for trading, including MetaTrader 4/5 and its proprietary CFXD (formerly Advanced Trader). These platforms provide customizable layouts, advanced charting tools, and technical indicators, all of which performed well in testing.
- Swissquote caters to fast trading strategies like scalping and high-frequency trading, offering 9ms average execution speeds, a 98% fill rate, and FIX API.
- Swissquote offers advanced research tools such as Autochartist for technical analysis and real-time news integration from Dow Jones. Their proprietary Market Talk videos and Morning News reports provide daily expert analysis, which is attractive to active traders.
Cons
- Swissquote mainly serves professional and wealthy clients, requiring high minimum deposits like $1,000 for Standard accounts. This makes it less suitable for smaller traders, who might prefer brokers offering higher leverage and no minimum deposit.
- Analysis indicates Swissquote has relatively high fees, with forex spreads starting at 1.3 pips on Standard accounts, whereas Pepperstone and IC Markets offer 0.0 pips. Transaction fees for non-Swiss stocks and ETFs can increase costs for frequent traders.
- Unlike brokers like eToro, which offer social trading features, Swissquote lacks tools for community interaction or copying successful traders. This limits its appeal for those who value peer learning.
Filters
How BrokerListings.com Chose The Best Brokers For AED Accounts
To identify the best brokers offering United Arab Emirates dirham (AED) accounts, we drew on our constantly updated broker database, which tracks and compares hundreds of brokers and their trading platforms worldwide.
We focused on brokers that let traders deposit, withdraw, and operate their accounts in AED, paying special attention to how well these options suit those based in the United Arab Emirates or holding AED-denominated balances.
Rankings were based on performance across more than 200 criteria, covering everything from trading costs and funding flexibility to platform stability, product range, and the strength of regulatory oversight.
Our assessment also included direct, hands-on testing by our team of experienced traders to ensure the results reflect genuine performance.
What is an AED Account?
An AED account is a trading account where your base currency is set to United Arab Emirates dirham (AED). This means all deposits, withdrawals, and balance calculations are in dirham, which can be a significant advantage for traders who live in the UAE or regularly deal in this currency.
Using an AED account helps avoid unnecessary currency conversion costs, which can quickly add up if you’re funding your account from a UAE bank or receiving profits in dirham. It also makes it easier to track your performance without having to constantly convert figures into your local currency.
These accounts are offered by certain brokers who either operate in the UAE or cater to clients trading in the Gulf region. They’re especially popular with forex traders, but you can also use them for commodities, indices, and even cryptocurrency trading, depending on the broker’s range of instruments.
Should I Use an AED Trading Account?
For traders based in the United Arab Emirates or dealing regularly in United Arab Emirates dirham, an AED trading account can offer some significant advantages. Here are the main reasons it makes sense for certain traders:
- Avoid Extra Conversion Costs: With AED as your base currency, you won’t be charged for converting deposits and withdrawals from another currency. Over time, those savings can have a real impact on your overall returns.
- Simplified Account Management: When everything is shown in AED, it’s much easier to track profits, losses, and balances without having to constantly calculate exchange rates.
- Faster Transfers from Local Banks: Depositing and withdrawing via a UAE bank is usually quicker when the transaction stays in AED, often clearing the same day.
- Better Alignment with Local Economic Conditions: If your trading decisions are influenced by Gulf-region interest rates, oil prices, or UAE market data, keeping your account in AED ensures your base currency is aligned with your market environment.
- Reduced Exchange Rate Risk: Holding your funds in AED means you’re less exposed to unpredictable moves in other currencies when funding or cashing out your account.
- Access to Region-Specific Broker Services: Some brokers with AED accounts that we’ve used also provide Arabic-language support, regional payment methods, and offers tailored specifically for traders in the Middle East
What Are the Limitations of an AED Trading Account?
While an AED trading account can be an excellent fit for some traders, it’s not without its downsides. Here are a few potential drawbacks to keep in mind:
- Fewer Broker Choices: Compared to accounts in US dollars or euros, much fewer brokers offer AED as a base currency, which can limit your options for platforms, fees, and features.
- Possible Wider Spreads: Some brokers may apply slightly wider spreads on AED-denominated accounts, particularly if they don’t have deep local liquidity for specific markets.
- Limited Currency Pair Options: You may find fewer AED-based trading pairs compared to more widely traded currencies, which can restrict some forex strategies.
- Regional Regulatory Restrictions: If a broker is not licensed in the UAE, you may face limits on funding options, leverage, or available products when using an AED account.
- Potentially Higher Conversion Costs for Global Trades: If you’re trading in instruments priced in US dollars, euros, or other major currencies, your trades may involve conversions behind the scenes, which could increase costs.
- Slower Access When Trading Abroad: Funding or withdrawing in AED from outside the UAE can take longer, as transactions may require extra processing through international payment networks.
Five Steps to Opening an AED Account
- Compare Trusted Brokers: Start by looking at our list of regulated brokers that offer United Arab Emirates dirham as a base currency. Check their fees, platform features, funding methods, and our expert reviews to find one that matches your trading style.
- Complete the Registration Form: Once you’ve chosen a brokerage, open their online application. You’ll need to provide personal details, contact information, and sometimes your trading experience to meet regulatory requirements.
- Verify Your Identity: Brokers are required to confirm your identity under Know Your Customer rules. You’ll typically upload a valid passport or Emirates ID plus a recent proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement.
- Select AED as Your Base Currency: During the account setup, make sure to choose AED as your base currency. This ensures all deposits, withdrawals, and account balances are in dirham from day one.
- Fund Your Account and Start Trading: Transfer funds via your preferred payment method – often a UAE bank transfer, card payment, or regional e-wallet. Once cleared, you’re ready to place your first trade with an AED-denominated balance.
To show how simple it is, below you can see where I set up an AED trading account at OKX. It took me less than 10 minutes to provide the required information.

OKX AED account setup