What is the best broker for trading the FTSE 100?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our pick for trading the FTSE 100 from the UAE: its UK100 CFD averages 1.5 points on Razor and 1.9 points on Standard, with no commission on index CFDs.
- You can hold a GBP base-currency account in the UAE, which keeps profit and loss on a pound-priced index in pounds until you choose to convert.
- Spread betting on the FTSE is a UK product for UK residents; from the UAE you trade the index as a CFD.
- Capital.com, with its CMA-licensed Dubai company and swap-free option, is the second choice; our data holds no FTSE spread for it or for XS.
The FTSE 100 is priced in pounds and trades on London hours, which shapes two decisions for a UAE trader: the account currency and the cost of the spread. Pepperstone publishes both its UK100 spreads and a GBP account option for UAE clients, which is why it leads here. Here is the detail, a cost example in sterling, and what the alternatives offer.
Why Pepperstone leads for the FTSE 100
Pepperstone's index-fees page (August 2026 data) lists UK100 at a 1-point minimum and 1.5-point average on Razor, and 1.4/1.9 on Standard. No commission is charged on index CFDs, so the half-point average gap between the accounts is the full difference in trading cost. UAE clients can choose GBP, USD, EUR, AUD or AED as the base currency, and fund by Mashreq Bank or Barclays transfer, card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. If you want individual London stocks as well, Pepperstone lists 100+ LSE share CFDs at a 0.10% commission per side.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Why the account currency matters on a sterling index
Every point the FTSE moves is worth a fixed number of pounds to your position. In a USD or AED account, each profit and loss is converted, so the pound's moves against the dollar shift your result even when the index doesn't move. A GBP account removes that layer until you withdraw. If you earn in dirhams and trade several markets, an AED or USD account is simpler; if the FTSE is your main market, a GBP account keeps the arithmetic clean.
A sterling cost example
Suppose you trade UK100 at £2 a point. At Pepperstone's published averages, a round trip costs £3 on Razor (1.5 points) and £3.80 on Standard (1.9 points). Forty trades a month comes to £120 on Razor and £152 on Standard. The UK100-F forward has a published minimum spread of 3 points, so it suits a different, longer holding style; check how its holding cost compares with the cash CFD's overnight financing before you choose it.
| Contract | Minimum | Average |
|---|---|---|
| UK100 cash, Razor | 1 | 1.5 |
| UK100 cash, Standard | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| UK100-F forward | 3 | Not published in our data |
Other brokers that accept UAE residents
- Capital.com: Dubai company licensed by the UAE CMA (20200000176); index leverage up to 300:1; $20 minimum deposit; web platform and app plus MT4, MT5 and TradingView. It offers UAE residents a swap-free account, which Pepperstone does not. No FTSE spread is published in our data.
- XS: accepts UAE residents and applies swap-free automatically for them on MT4 and MT5. Its verified pricing is EUR/USD only (from 0.1 pips on Elite, $6 round turn, $500 minimum); check whether UK100 is on its symbol list.
What to check before you trade the FTSE from Dubai
- Which company issues your CFDs: for Pepperstone UAE retail clients it is Pepperstone Markets Limited, regulated by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217). The group's DIFC company is regulated by the DFSA (F004356).
- Session times: the FTSE is most liquid during London hours, which fall in the UAE afternoon and evening.
- Leverage tier: Pepperstone's UAE table allows 1:200 on major indices and 1:100 on minor ones. Check which tier UK100 sits in on the platform.
- Stops: no guaranteed stop-loss is published, so a gap at the London open can fill your stop below its level.
Sources
Can I spread bet on the FTSE 100 from the UAE with Pepperstone?
Pepperstone's spread betting is offered on its UK site to UK residents. A UAE resident trades the FTSE 100 as a CFD.
What is the symbol for the FTSE 100 at Pepperstone?
UK100 for the cash CFD and UK100-F for the forward contract.
Can I trade individual FTSE shares too?
Pepperstone lists 100+ London Stock Exchange share CFDs, with a 0.10% commission per side on UK shares.
CFDs carry a high risk of losing money rapidly because of leverage, and currency moves can add to losses on a GBP-priced index. Trade only what you can afford to lose. This page is not investment advice.