Which broker is better for United Arab Emirates traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For experienced traders in the United Arab Emirates, choosing between EasyMarkets and Exness is a critical decision, especially given the local regulatory environment and the presence of many expats with significant capital. EasyMarkets, regulated by the DFSA in the DIFC, offers a user-friendly platform with fixed spreads and a strong focus on risk management tools like dealCancellation. Exness, also DFSA-regulated, is a global powerhouse known for ultra-tight spreads, high leverage, and deep liquidity. While EasyMarkets scores 3.4/5 on our benchmarks, Exness leads with 4.8/5, appealing to high-volume traders who demand low costs and fast execution. Both brokers accept Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Skrill, and Neteller in AED, but their trading conditions differ significantly. This comparison will help UAE traders decide which broker aligns best with their experience level, capital size, and trading style.
| 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 UAE traders depositing in AED, trading costs are a major factor. Exness offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on its Zero account (with a $3.5 commission per lot) and standard spreads averaging 0.3 pips on EUR/USD. In contrast, EasyMarkets provides fixed spreads from 0.7 pips on the same pair, which remain stable regardless of market volatility. For experienced traders executing large volumes (e.g., 10+ lots per trade), Exness’s lower variable spreads save thousands of AED monthly. However, EasyMarkets’ fixed spreads offer predictability for smaller accounts. Swap rates at Exness are competitive, while EasyMarkets charges higher overnight fees unless using an Islamic account. Overall, Exness is more cost-effective for active UAE traders.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates (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 offers its proprietary web-based platform and mobile app, which are intuitive and include unique features like Deal Cancellation (allowing traders to revert losing trades for a fee) and free guaranteed stop-losses. Exness provides MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and its own WebTerminal, all industry-standard with advanced charting and automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs). For experienced UAE traders using algorithmic strategies or requiring custom indicators, Exness’s platforms are superior. EasyMarkets’ platform is better for beginners or those who value simplicity and built-in risk management. Both support AED accounts and local payment methods.
| 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 uses a combination of STP and ECN execution, offering instant execution with no requotes for most orders, and depth of market for large volumes. EasyMarkets uses market execution with dealing desk intervention, which may result in slippage during volatile news events. For experienced UAE traders executing large orders (e.g., 50+ lots), Exness’s execution speed (under 0.1 seconds) and deep liquidity from tier-one banks provide a clear advantage. EasyMarkets is adequate for retail-sized trades but lags in scalability.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers are regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) within the DIFC, offering UAE traders strong consumer protection. EasyMarkets is also regulated by ASIC, CySEC, and FSCA, while Exness holds licenses from the FCA, CySEC, FSA (Seychelles), and FSCA. The DFSA oversight ensures compliance with local anti-money laundering rules and segregation of client funds. For UAE traders, dealing with a DFSA-regulated entity means disputes can be handled locally. Exness’s stronger global regulatory track record adds confidence for high-net-worth individuals. However, both are reliable choices for legal trading in the UAE.
| 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 |
UAE traders can fund both EasyMarkets and Exness using Bank Transfer, Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard), Skrill, and Neteller. Deposits are typically processed instantly for Credit Card and e-wallets, while Bank Transfers take 1-2 business days. Exness supports AED deposits directly, whereas EasyMarkets requires conversion from USD (deposit in USD and convert to AED on withdrawal). Minimum deposits: EasyMarkets $100 (≈367 AED), Exness $10 (≈37 AED). Withdrawals: Exness processes most methods within 24 hours, with no fees; EasyMarkets takes 1-3 days via Bank Transfer and charges a small fee for e-wallet withdrawals. For frequent deposit/withdrawal cycles, Exness is faster and more cost-effective.
| 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 brokers offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for UAE Muslim traders, aligning with Sharia law. EasyMarkets provides an automatic swap-free account upon request, applicable to all account types, with no extra charges. Exness offers Islamic accounts on request for Standard, Zero, and Raw Spread accounts, but not for Pro or VIP accounts. Exness does not impose a time limit on holding positions swap-free, while EasyMarkets may charge a small administrative fee if positions are held for extended periods. For long-term traders in the UAE, Exness’s policy is more favorable. Both require proof of Muslim faith or a declaration of religious belief.
| 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 |
EasyMarkets offers 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with Arabic language support available. Exness provides 24/7 support in multiple languages, including Arabic, through live chat and email, with faster response times overall. For UAE traders requiring support during local market hours (Sunday to Thursday), both are responsive, but Exness’s 24/7 availability is beneficial for expats trading global markets at odd hours. Neither broker has a physical office in the UAE, but both are reachable via DIFC-registered entities.
| 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 United Arab Emirates traders, Exness is the clear winner on most metrics relevant to experienced, high-capital traders. Its DFSA regulation, ultra-tight spreads, fast execution, and support for Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Skrill, and Neteller make it ideal for the local expat community. EasyMarkets remains a solid choice for beginners or those who value fixed costs and risk management features, but its higher spreads and execution limitations hinder performance for active traders. Given Exness’s 4.8/5 rating versus EasyMarkets’ 3.4/5, UAE traders with significant capital should prioritize Exness for long-term cost efficiency and trading flexibility. Both brokers are legally sound under DFSA, but Exness offers superior conditions for serious traders in the UAE.