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This comparison covers three brokers that UAE residents often ask about: FxPro, Pepperstone and IC Markets. Read it knowing our interest: we are an FxPro introducing broker and may earn a commission if you open an FxPro account through our links. We do not link to the other two, and we have tried to state their strengths fairly.
How we compared
For a UAE resident the first question is not spreads but who regulates the company that would hold your account, because that decides which rules, complaint routes and protections apply. We then looked at the platforms, the account models, swap-free availability and how money moves in and out. Fees change often, so check each broker’s current price list before you decide.
Quick comparison
| FxPro | Pepperstone | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE licence | None (DFSA licence withdrawn in 2020) | DFSA, via Pepperstone Financial Services (DIFC) Limited, F004356 | None found on its regulation page |
| Main international regulator | FCA, CySEC, SCB (Bahamas), FSA (Seychelles) | DFSA for its Dubai entity; others elsewhere | FSA (Seychelles), Raw Trading Ltd, SD018 |
| Platforms | FxPro app, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | Own platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| Swap-free accounts | On request | Offered; eligibility depends on country | Offered as a swap-free account type |
FxPro
FxPro’s strengths are its platform range (its own app, MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView from one profile), the FxPro Wallet that keeps unused money away from market risk, and published pricing: Standard accounts from 1.2 pips on FX majors, Raw+ from zero plus $3.50 per side. Its weakness for UAE residents is regulation: FxPro has no UAE licence, so your account sits with an overseas FxPro company. Details in our regulation guide.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone is the only one of the three with a UAE licence: its DIFC company is authorised by the DFSA under reference F004356, and its terms of business describe an endorsement to serve retail clients. If being regulated inside the UAE matters most to you, that is a real advantage. Check which Pepperstone company your agreement names, because not every client of the group is served by the Dubai entity.
IC Markets
IC Markets is known for raw-spread pricing. Its global website names Raw Trading Ltd, regulated by the Financial Services Authority of the Seychelles (licence SD018), and does not mention any UAE regulator. Like FxPro, it would serve a UAE resident from overseas.
Islamic accounts in the UAE
All three say they offer swap-free accounts. The useful question is not whether swaps are removed but what replaces them: brokers commonly charge an administration fee after a position has been open for a number of days, and the details differ by instrument. FxPro’s version is explained in our Islamic account guide. Whether a particular account meets your religious requirements is a question for a scholar you trust, not for a broker.
Our verdict
- If a UAE licence is your priority: Pepperstone’s DFSA-licensed entity is the only one of the three.
- If you want the widest platform choice from one account: FxPro, with its own app, MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView.
- If you only care about raw-spread pricing: compare FxPro Raw+ and IC Markets on the instruments you actually trade.
If you choose FxPro, our account opening guide walks through every step.
Sources
Checked in October 2026. If something here no longer matches the source, tell us and we will correct it.
- FxPro: Licences, regulation and memberships
- DFSA public register: FxPro Global Markets MENA Limited (F003333)
- DFSA public register: Pepperstone Financial Services (DIFC) Limited (F004356)
- Pepperstone UAE: Trading platforms
- Pepperstone UAE: Swap-free account
- IC Markets: Regulation
- IC Markets: Trading platforms
- FxPro: Platform and account comparison
- FxPro FAQ: Do you offer swap-free accounts?
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