How to choose a regulated broker in the UAE and GCC

What SCA, DFSA, FSRA and CMA licences mean, how to verify a broker on the regulator's register, and what to compare before opening an account.

Beginner Lesson 8 of 10 · 2 min read

⚠️ Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged forex are complex instruments with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Most retail accounts lose money. This content is education only, not investment advice or a recommendation.

Regulators and checksSCAUAE federalDFSADubai DIFCFSRAAbu Dhabi ADGMCMASaudi ArabiaLicence found on the regulator's own registerEntity name and website match the registerClear costs, withdrawals and complaints processClient money segregated; negative balance protection
Regulators and checks

Your broker holds your money and executes your trades. Choosing a properly licensed one is the most important decision you make before your first trade.

Who regulates brokers in the region

  • SCA: the Securities and Commodities Authority, the UAE federal regulator for the onshore market.
  • DFSA: the Dubai Financial Services Authority, which regulates firms in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
  • FSRA: the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
  • CMA: the Capital Market Authority in Saudi Arabia. Kuwait also has a Capital Markets Authority; Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have their own regulators.

A licence from a major international regulator (such as the UK FCA or Cyprus CySEC) is also meaningful, but check which legal entity your account will actually be opened with: many groups run several entities with different protections.

Verify it yourself

  1. Find the broker's licence number and legal entity name in the website footer.
  2. Search that name or number on the regulator's own public register (not a link the broker sends you).
  3. Check that the website address and contact details on the register match.
  4. Be wary of “clone firms” that copy a real company's name and licence number.

What to compare

  • Which entity and regulator your account falls under.
  • Spreads, commissions and overnight (swap) costs on the markets you will trade.
  • Deposit and withdrawal methods, including AED and local bank transfers, and any fees.
  • Platforms offered (MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, own app).
  • Negative balance protection, client money segregation and complaint procedures.
  • Islamic (swap-free) account terms, if relevant to you.

Our broker comparison lists licence facts with links to the official registers. It is information, not a recommendation.

✍️ Quick quiz

Check what you learned. Your answers stay in this browser.

1. Which regulator supervises firms in the DIFC?

Show answer

DFSA. The Dubai Financial Services Authority regulates firms in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

2. What is the safest way to verify a licence?

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Search the regulator's own public register. Only the regulator's own register is authoritative; logos and links can be faked.

3. What is a "clone firm"?

Show answer

A fraudster copying a real firm's name and licence details. Clone firms impersonate licensed companies; check the website and contact details on the register.

4. FSRA is the regulator of…

Show answer

Abu Dhabi Global Market. FSRA is the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM in Abu Dhabi.