What are the best alternatives to Exness in the UAE?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our first alternative to Exness for UAE traders, followed by Capital.com and XS: Pepperstone publishes average spreads, offers AED accounts and UAE bank transfers, and has a DFSA-regulated company in the DIFC.
- Capital.com is the alternative if you want an onshore UAE licence (CMA 20200000176) and a swap-free account.
- XS is closest to Exness in style, with MetaTrader and automatic swap-free status for UAE residents; its Elite account is published at 0.1 pips average on EUR/USD, with a $6 round-turn commission and a $500 minimum.
- All three name a UAE-linked entity; Exness lists none for the UAE.
People leave Exness for three main reasons: they want a broker with a UAE-linked licence, a dirham account, or pricing they can check in advance. Our three alternatives cover those in different ways.
Our first alternative: Pepperstone
Pepperstone replaces Exness's unpublished pricing with stated averages, 0.1 pips on EUR/USD on Razor plus $3.50 per side, or 1.1 pips commission-free on Standard, and adds cTrader and TradingView to MetaTrader. For UAE residents it offers AED accounts, Mashreq Bank and Barclays transfers, and a Dubai office at Emaar Square. Two caveats: your CFDs are issued by its Bahamas company (the DIFC company is DFSA-regulated, and the Dubai LLC's CMA licence covers introduction and consultation), and Pepperstone does not offer swap-free accounts to UAE residents.
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Exness and three alternatives compared
| Exness | Pepperstone | Capital.com | XS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE-linked company | None listed | DIFC company (DFSA F004356); Dubai LLC (CMA introduction licence) | Dubai company, CMA licence 20200000176 | Dubai financial-consultation company, CMA 20200000339 |
| Published EUR/USD | No fixed figure | Razor 0.1 avg + $3.50/side | Not in our data | Elite 0.1 avg + $6 round turn |
| Minimum deposit | Not verified | $10 | $20 | $500 (Elite) |
| AED account | Not published | Yes | Yes | No |
| Swap-free for UAE residents | Advertised, T&Cs apply | No | Yes | Yes, automatic |
| MetaTrader | MT5 | MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5 |
Capital.com: for an onshore licence and swap-free
Capital.com is the most onshore of the three: CAPITAL COM MENA SECURITIES TRADING L.L.C. is licensed by the UAE CMA, AED accounts can be funded through LEAN open banking, and UAE residents can switch to a swap-free account by emailing support with no open positions. Admin fees and grace periods for that account aren't published, so ask first. Its Dubai company lists retail leverage up to 300:1 on FX.
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XS: if you liked Exness's MetaTrader set-up
XS feels most like Exness: it is MetaTrader-based, swap-free status is applied automatically for UAE residents on MT4 and MT5, and XS says it doesn't widen spreads or add fees in its place, with crypto and shares as exceptions. Its Elite account is published at 0.1 pips average on EUR/USD, with a $6 round-turn commission and a $500 minimum. It has no AED account, and its Dubai company is a financial-consultation firm, so confirm which XS entity would hold your account.
Moving from Exness without surprises
- Close open Exness positions before withdrawing, so you aren't carrying risk across two accounts.
- Withdraw to the method you deposited with; Pepperstone, for one, returns funds only to the original source.
- Open the new account in the currency you earn in: AED at Pepperstone or Capital.com.
- Fund a small amount first and run a test withdrawal.
Sources
Regulation and account terms from each broker's site.
Which Exness alternative is cheapest?
On published EUR/USD figures, Pepperstone on cTrader and XS Elite both work out at about $7 per lot; Pepperstone needs $10 to start, XS Elite $500.
Which alternative has a UAE licence?
Capital.com's Dubai company holds a UAE CMA licence. Pepperstone has a DFSA-regulated DIFC company, with CFDs issued from the Bahamas.
Which alternatives offer swap-free accounts in the UAE?
Capital.com and XS. Pepperstone does not offer one to UAE residents.
Trading CFDs and forex on margin is high risk: leverage can wipe out a deposit quickly, and these products are complex. Nothing here is investment advice. Broker fees, licences and account terms change, so check them on the broker's own site before you sign up.