Which broker is better for Saudi Arabia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Saudi Arabia traders seeking a reliable forex broker often compare EasyMarkets and Exness. EasyMarkets, established in 2001, holds a lower overall rating of 3.4/5, while Exness (founded 2008) scores an impressive 4.8/5. Both brokers accept Saudi Riyal (SAR) deposits and offer Islamic accounts for Muslim traders. However, key differences emerge in local payment methods, trading costs, and regulatory oversight. Exness supports STC Pay, a widely used mobile wallet in the Kingdom, whereas EasyMarkets does not. For high-net-worth individuals and active traders, Exness provides tighter spreads and faster execution. This comparison focuses on what matters most to Saudi traders: spreads, deposit methods, regulation (CMA compliance is absent for both), and Sharia-compliant accounts.
| Instrument | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Exness |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Exness |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Exness |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Exness |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $25 | $100 | Exness |
For Saudi traders, trading costs are crucial. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads, starting from 1.2 pips on EUR/USD. Exness offers variable spreads from 0.0 pips on its Raw Spread accounts, plus a commission per lot. On a monthly trading volume of 100 lots, Exness can save a trader several hundred SAR compared to EasyMarkets. EasyMarkets charges no commissions, but its wider spreads quickly add up. Saudi traders who trade frequently or in larger sizes will benefit more from Exness's pricing model. EasyMarkets' fixed spreads provide predictability, which may appeal to beginners or those with smaller accounts.
| Account Type | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $25 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:2000 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | EasyMarkets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | EasyMarkets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | EasyMarkets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Exness |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets and Exness both offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are widely used by Saudi traders for their advanced charting and automated trading. Exness additionally provides its own WebTrader and mobile app, as well as copy trading options. EasyMarkets offers a proprietary web platform with its “deal cancellation” feature, unique in the market. For Saudi traders on mobile, both brokers have good apps, but Exness's app is faster and more feature-rich. Both support Arabic language and local time zones, essential for Riyadh and Jeddah based traders.
| Factor | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Exness |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | EasyMarkets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
Exness offers ultra-low latency execution with no requotes, leveraging advanced infrastructure in London and New York. EasyMarkets uses an ECN model but occasionally suffers from requotes during volatile markets. For Saudi traders trading news events or scalping, Exness is superior. Exness also allows scalping and hedging, which EasyMarkets also permits, but Exness's execution speed is consistently faster, as confirmed by independent tests.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Neither EasyMarkets nor Exness is regulated by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) of Saudi Arabia. EasyMarkets is regulated by the FSA (St. Vincent & Grenadines) and CySEC (Cyprus), while Exness is regulated by the FCA (UK), CySEC, and FSA (Seychelles). For Saudi traders, this means no deposit protection from the CMA. Exness's FCA regulation offers up to £85,000 protection for UK clients, but not for Saudi residents. EasyMarkets has no major compensation scheme. Traders should consider the jurisdictional risks and choose based on trust and financial stability. Exness has a stronger track record with audits and transparent reporting.
| Payment Method | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) | crypto takes 30–60 minutes, and bank cards or wires take 1 to 5 business days |
Saudi traders can deposit and withdraw using Bank Transfer, Credit Card, and STC Pay (Exness only). EasyMarkets does not support STC Pay; its only local options are Bank Transfer and Credit Card. Exness also supports local bank transfers via the Saudi Payment Network (MADA) in some cases, though this is not guaranteed. Minimum deposits: EasyMarkets is 100 USD (approx 375 SAR); Exness is 10 USD (approx 37.5 SAR) for standard accounts. Withdrawals at both are processed within 24 hours. For SAR withdrawals, Exness offers faster processing and local bank support. An STC Pay deposit is instant with Exness, a major advantage for Saudi traders seeking convenience.
| Islamic Account Feature | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both EasyMarkets and Exness offer Islamic swap-free accounts in compliance with Sharia law. EasyMarkets provides Islamic accounts on all its account types without any time limit or extra fees. Exness offers Islamic accounts only on Standard, Standard Cent, and Raw Spread accounts; Zero accounts are not eligible. Exness charges a small administrative fee if the account is held for a long period without trading, but this is waived for active traders. Saudi traders seeking strict adherence to Islamic finance principles will find both brokers suitable, but EasyMarkets has a more straightforward offering for long-term hold positions.
| Support Feature | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✓ | Exness |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | EasyMarkets |
Exness provides 24/7 multilingual support via live chat and email, with Arabic phone support available during Riyadh trading hours. EasyMarkets offers 24/5 support with live chat and phone in Arabic. For Saudi traders, Exness's round-the-clock support is beneficial for weekend trading and late sessions. Both have decent response times, but Exness is more responsive during peak hours. Knowledge bases are available in Arabic for both.
| Mobile Feature | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
Choose Exness if you...
For Saudi Arabia traders, Exness is the clear winner with a 4.8/5 rating, offering lower trading costs, better local payment options (including STC Pay), and faster execution. While EasyMarkets is a solid choice for beginners who value fixed spreads and the deal cancellation feature, its lack of STC Pay support and wider spreads make it less competitive. Both brokers lack CMA regulation, but Exness's transparency and global reputation offer more assurance. High-net-worth Saudi traders and Islamic account seekers will find Exness more aligned with their needs. Use our comparison to choose the broker that fits your trading style and local requirements.