Automation support by licensed broker
I keep this table alongside my wider comparison of trading platforms in the UAE. None of the brokers here falls into the first group.
This table is ranked by Automation Fit, which combines our own captured columns (70 points) with the broker’s Overall CFB Score from its review (30 points). A broker that is strong here and strong overall ranks above one that is only strong here. 2 brokers have no published CFB Score, so no Automation Fit is calculated and they sit at the bottom with every figure we did capture. The weights are set out on our methodology page.
| # | Broker | Automation Fit | Overall | Regulator | EAs (Expert advisors) | Platforms | VPS | Visit broker | More details |
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| 1 | #1 Highest Automation Fit IG | 81 | 85 | DFSA | Permitted |  MT4 MT5ProRealTime and IG APIs | Free on MT5 for qualifying accounts | Visit IG | |
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| 2 |  Equiti | 71 | 89 | CMA | Permitted | MT4 and MT5 | None; third-party VPS allowed | Visit Equiti | |
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| 3 |  CFI | 62 | 80 | CMA | Permitted | MT5 only | Not published | Visit CFI | |
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| 4 |  XTB | 56 | 79 | DFSA | Contradicted | MT4 only | Not published | Visit XTB | |
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| 5 |  AvaTrade | 52 | 67 | FSRA | Permitted | MT4 and MT5 | Not published | Visit AvaTrade | |
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| 6 |  ADSS | 51 | 58 | CMA | Permitted | MT4 and MT5not the ADSS proprietary platform | Not published | Visit ADSS | |
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| 7 |  Century Financial | 48 | 64 | CMA | Permitted | MT5 only | Not published | Visit Century Financial | |
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| 8 |  Amana | 42 | 54 | DFSA | Contradicted | MetaTrader published on the group sitenot by the licensed entity | Not published | Visit Amana | |
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| 9 |  eToro | 30 | 59 | FSRA | Not applicable | No MetaTrader | Not published | Visit eToro | |
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Risk warning: CFDs are leveraged products. Leverage works against you as well as for you, and you may lose some or all of your deposit. Read the broker's own client agreement and check its licence on the CMA (formerly SCA), DFSA or FSRA public register before opening an account.
1. IG: Free MT5 VPS for qualifying accounts
IG scores highest for automation because it permits expert advisors across MT4, MT5 and ProRealTime, and backs that with REST and streaming APIs alongside a FIX option for institutional work. I think it suits traders who need a broad platform set and can code their own integrations. The free MT5 VPS sweetens the deal for anyone running EAs around the clock. IG Limited is licensed by the DFSA (DIFC) under reference F001780.
Average spread
0.6 points EUR/USD
CFD account, no commission stated
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, TradingView, own platform
Minimum deposit
Not published
Regulation
DFSA (DIFC)
F001780
Why higher here? Its expert advisor policy and dual API offering push it 4 places above its 5th sitewide rank, making this page its strongest dimension. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
- Holds a DFSA dealing licence under register reference F001780.
- Publishes retail asset-class leverage maximums that match the DFSA rulebook figures.
- Lists a CFD account with a 0 USD minimum deposit and 0 USD commission per lot per side.
- Swap-free account status is unconfirmed on the UAE-hosted pages.
- AED does not appear on the captured UAE page; account currencies and conversion fees are not published.
- Platform availability is not stated because the platform set was not recaptured this pass.
Broker's Detail
IG trades in the UAE through IG Limited on DFSA (DIFC) reference F001780: a dealing permission, so the UAE-licensed entity can be your counterparty, with client assets endorsed.
Licence covers: Dealing in Investments as Principal (Certificates, Debentures, Futures, Options, Shares, Structured Products, Warrants, Units, Crypto Tokens); Providing Custody (Certificates, Debentures, Shares, Units)
2. Equiti: Expert advisors permitted on MT4 and MT5
Equiti permits expert advisors on both MT4 and MT5 and allows third-party VPS connections, so your automated setup can run without the broker hosting it. I would send a trader here if they already have their own VPS provider and want a straightforward CMA-licensed home for their EAs. Equiti Securities Currencies Brokers LLC is licensed by the CMA (formerly SCA) under reference CP-0000791.
All-in cost per lot
0 pips plus USD 7.00 round turn
Premier account
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, own platform
Minimum deposit
Not published
Regulation
CMA (formerly SCA)
CP-0000791
Pros & Cons
- AED is accepted for account denomination, deposits and local bank transfers with no fees.
- The CMA licence permits the broker to deal as principal, providing direct counterparty execution.
- A Micro account carries a minimum deposit of USD 0 and offers MT5 and WebTrader access.
- The CMA retail maximum for major forex pairs is 500:1, and the broker's published maximum matches that figure.
- Four versions of the swap-free terms are publicly accessible, creating uncertainty about the applicable equity or balance trigger.
- Classic and Standard accounts do not publish a typical or advertised EUR/USD spread.
Broker's Detail
Equiti trades in the UAE through Equiti Securities Currencies Brokers LLC on CMA (formerly SCA) reference CP-0000791, also published as SCA-era 20200000026 (Cat 1); 20200000352 (Cat 5): a dealing permission, so the UAE-licensed entity can be your counterparty, with client assets endorsed.
Licence covers: Category 1, Trading broker of OTC derivatives and currencies (spot market)
3. CFI: Expert advisors permitted on MT5
CFI permits expert advisors on MT5 and scores well on API readiness, though you need prior written consent for automated mass data entry. I think it suits a trader who runs a single EA and can work within a clear terms framework. CFI FINANCIAL MARKETS L.L.C is licensed by the CMA (formerly SCA) under reference CP-0000894.
Average spread
1.1 pips EUR/USD
Zero Commission account, no commission stated
Trading platforms
MT5, TradingView, own platform
Minimum deposit
Not published
Regulation
CMA (formerly SCA)
CP-0000894
Why higher here? Its clean EA permission and API score lift it 4 places above its 7th sitewide rank, rewarding the automation-focused reader. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
- CFI FINANCIAL MARKETS L.L.C holds CMA Category 1 licence 20200000154.
- The CMA public register lists all four permitted activities as Active.
- CFI classifies everyone who opens an account under its UAE entity as a retail client, which carries the retail protections of the SCA rulebook.
- CFI publishes two different EUR/USD spread figures for the same Zero Commission account on different pages.
- The Dynamic Trader account page states a low volume based commission but gives no commission number, and the same page contains a contradictory no additional commissions footnote.
- CFI does not publish a typical or average spread figure for either account.
Broker's Detail
CFI trades in the UAE through CFI FINANCIAL MARKETS L.L.C on CMA (formerly SCA) reference CP-0000894, also published as SCA-era 20200000154: a dealing permission, so the UAE-licensed entity can be your counterparty, with client assets endorsed.
Licence covers: Financial Consultations; Portfolios management; Trading broker in the international markets; Trading broker of OTC derivatives and currencies in the spot market
4. XTB: Platforms MT4 only
XTB presents a mixed picture for automated traders: its terms exclude arbitrage, sniping and scalping, its API was withdrawn in March 2025, and the expert advisor status is contradicted. I would treat the EA question as an open issue until the broker clarifies it in writing. XTB MENA Limited is licensed by the DFSA (DIFC) under reference F006316.
Average spread
0.8 pips EUR/USD
Published schedule account, no commission stated
Trading platforms
MT4, own platform
Minimum deposit
Not published
Regulation
DFSA (DIFC)
F006316
Why higher here? Its API and EA dimensions land it 4 places higher than its 8th sitewide rank here, though the withdrawn API is a material constraint. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
- Zero minimum deposit on the standard account.
- No commission per lot on the standard account.
- Regulated by the DFSA in the DIFC under reference F006316.
- API access is not published.
- AED is not supported for deposits, withdrawals, or account currency.
- Swap-free account does not state Shari'ah certification.
Broker's Detail
XTB trades in the UAE through XTB MENA Limited on DFSA (DIFC) reference F006316: a dealing permission, so the UAE-licensed entity can be your counterparty, with client assets endorsed.
Licence covers: Dealing in Investments as Principal (Debentures, Futures, Options); Arranging Deals in Investments (Debentures, Futures, Options, Shares, Units)
5. AvaTrade: Expert advisors permitted on MT4 and MT5
AvaTrade permits expert advisors on MT4 and MT5, which gives your automated strategy a home on two widely used platforms. You will need written approval for any gateway or datafeed work, and there is no published VPS or API. Ava Trade Middle East Limited is licensed by the FSRA (ADGM) under reference FSP 190018.
Average spread
0.9 pips EUR/USD
Published schedule account, commission not published
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, own platform
Minimum deposit
Not published
Regulation
FSRA (ADGM)
FSP 190018
Why higher here? Its EA permission alone drives a 10-place jump from its 15th sitewide rank, making automation its strongest relative dimension by a wide margin. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
- ADGM dealing licence held by Ava Trade Middle East Limited (FSP 190018).
- No commission on the single CFD offering.
- Swap-free account available with a five-day grace period.
- Broker-published leverage for gold, indices, commodities and shares exceeds FSRA retail caps.
- AED acceptance for deposits and withdrawals is not stated.
- Swap-free account terms contain three conflicting statements on charges after five days.
Broker's Detail
AvaTrade trades in the UAE through Ava Trade Middle East Limited on FSRA (ADGM) reference FSP 190018: a dealing permission, so the UAE-licensed entity can be your counterparty, with no client-asset endorsement.
Licence covers: Dealing in Investments as Principal (Matched); Arranging Deals in Investments
Strategies each broker excludes in its trading terms
Our team fact-checked every contract clause in this section against the broker’s current terms in August 2026. What strikes me about these clauses is that they target arbitrage and latency, not how long you hold a position. ADSS names the conduct directly in Clause 33 of its Terms of Business, where abusive trading strategies include
“attacking the System in order to create and abuse price latency opportunities, internet or System connectivity, trading instruments which are clearly misquoted (arbitrage)”
ADS SECURITIES - L.L.C - S.P.C, Clause 33, Abusive Trading Strategies, ADSS Terms of Business, 13 December 2023.
Century Financial turns the same concern into a list in Clause 13.1(a) of its terms, covering
“arbitrage or latency exploitation, including the use of pricing delays, differences between indicative and executable prices, variations between faster and slower price feeds, or delays between market data feeds and execution systems”
Century Financial Consultancy LLC, Clause 13.1(a), Section 13, Terms of Business, August 2026.
IG’s clause broadens the scope:
“you will not use any electronic device, software, algorithm, any trading strategy or any arbitrage practices (such as but not limited to latency abuse, price manipulation or time manipulation) that aims to manipulate or take unfair advantage of the way in which we construct, provide or convey our bid or offer prices”
IG Limited, Term 20(1)(j), IG Limited Margin Trading Customer Agreement, December 2021.
Scalping appears by name in the XTB clause, which lists
“trading strategies aimed at exploiting errors in prices and/or concluding Transactions at off-market prices and/or by taking advantage of internet delays (commonly known as “arbitrage”, “sniping” or “scalping”)”
XTB MENA Limited, Clause 27.2, General Client Agreement, Terms and Conditions, version 16, June 2026.
CFI is the outlier. I searched its current terms and found the words arbitrage, latency and high-frequency zero times. Its restriction is aimed at news-window and multi-account trading:
“Abusive trading includes engaging in opposite-direction trading across multiple accounts or trading just before economic news releases or market closures”
CFI FINANCIAL MARKETS L.L.C, Section 26, sub-clause 6, General Terms and Conditions, July 2026.
Our search across both Amana DFSA-entity documents found the words arbitrage, abusive, scalping, latency and high-frequency zero times. IG and Equiti do not use the word scalping in their customer agreements. Equiti’s UAE FAQ expressly permits scalping and hedging, which is worth knowing if you run short-duration strategies.
Where the platform page and the contract disagree
Two of the nine brokers compared here market expert advisors on their platform pages while their own client agreements restrict automated trading. I would not rely on a platform page for this. The contract is what the broker enforces, and the contract is where you need to look.
Amana’s MetaQuotes platform page advertises automated trading with expert advisors. I want to be clear about which entity I am talking about: Amana Financial Services (Dubai) Limited is the DFSA-licensed broker, not the Amana construction group and not the Labuan-regulated consumer app of the same name. Its client agreement states:
“If it comes to the attention of AFSDL that the client is using any such solutions the former has the right to terminate the provision of investment and ancillary service to the latter, in order to protect the orderly operations of the trading.”
Amana Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Clause 6.7, Provision of services, Terms and Conditions AFSDL.
XTB’s UAE MetaTrader 4 page markets expert advisors from the MQL4 community. The entity behind that page is XTB MENA Limited, the DFSA one, though XTB also contracts UAE clients through XTB FINANCIAL SERVICES L.L.C under the CMA on its default route. Its UAE help centre states: “We do not provide automated trading strategies (Expert Advisors).” The Arabic version of the same article is blunter and translates as “No. We do not support automated trading programs (EAs).” That is a direct contradiction, and it is the kind of thing you need to catch before you open an account.
VPS provision and where the servers sit
The expert advisor execution chain shown from trader to MetaTrader to VPS to broker execution server, with the point at which latency enters marked.
IG is the only one of the nine brokers compared here that provides a VPS. It describes the service as native cloud hosting with nine global servers, free with qualifying accounts, but does not publish the qualifying criteria. Equiti provides none of its own and permits a third-party VPS. Nobody else publishes anything. If you run an expert advisor around the clock, a VPS matters, and the silence from seven brokers is a gap you cannot fill with research.
Zero of the nine brokers compared here state where their execution servers physically sit. Two of them edge around the question. Century Financial says execution speed may depend on the data centre through which you are trading. Equiti says, “The speed of execution may depend on which data center the client is trading on.” Neither names a facility. What this means for you is that latency-sensitive automation cannot be compared across these brokers on server proximity, because none of them publish it. Execution cost is another variable, and published spreads compared matter for automated strategies. On API access, two of the nine provide it: IG and eToro. XTB withdrew its API on 14 March 2025.
What an expert advisor is
An expert advisor is a program written in MQL, MetaQuotes’ own programming language, that runs inside MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 and places orders according to rules you set. MetaTrader 4 brokers in the UAE use MQL4. MetaTrader 5 brokers in the UAE use MQL5. MetaTrader is published by MetaQuotes. An API is a direct programmatic connection to the broker rather than a program running inside a platform. eToro’s route is an API rather than an expert advisor, because it runs no MetaTrader platform.
Automated trading and copy trading
Automation executes a rule set you define. Copy trading reproduces another trader’s positions. The distinction matters because a broker may permit one and not the other. If you are considering either, I suggest you also read our separate note on copy trading in the UAE.
How each broker is licensed in the UAE
We checked the three UAE registers on 17 August 2026, and our team corroborated eToro’s ADGM entry directly against the ADGM public register on 18 August 2026. The capture method is set out in our methodology.
| Broker | Licensed entity | Regulator | Register reference | SCA-era licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADSS | ADS SECURITIES - L.L.C - S.P.C | CMA | CP-0000786 | 305027 (Category 1), 20200000217 (Category 5) |
| Century Financial | Century Financial Consultancy LLC | CMA | CP-0000038 | 20200000028, 301044 |
| CFI | CFI FINANCIAL MARKETS L.L.C | CMA | CP-0000894 | 20200000154 |
| Equiti | Equiti Securities Currencies Brokers LLC | CMA | CP-0000791 | 20200000026 (Category 1), 20200000352 (Category 5) |
| IG | IG Limited | DFSA | F001780 | Not applicable |
| AvaTrade | Ava Trade Middle East Limited | FSRA | FSP 190018 | Not applicable |
| Amana | Amana Financial Services (Dubai) Limited | DFSA | F003269 | Not applicable |
| XTB | XTB MENA Limited | DFSA | F006316 | Not applicable |
| eToro | eToro (ME) Ltd | FSRA | FSP 220073 | Not applicable |
The four CMA-licensed entities carry a licence number from both the SCA era and the current CMA register. Both are given so a reader can find the entity under either system. eToro’s ADGM permission to deal as principal is limited to acting as a matched principal.
FAQs
Is automated trading permitted in the UAE?
Which strategies do UAE brokers exclude in their terms?
Do I need to write code to run an expert advisor?
Which UAE-licensed brokers provide a VPS?
Related pages
About the author
Justin Grossbard co-founded CompareForexBrokers in 2014 and serves as Co-Founder and CEO. He has traded forex since 1998. For this site he directs the research and comparison of UAE-licensed brokers. He holds Monash University degrees including a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours and a Master of Marketing. His commentary has appeared in Forbes, Kiplinger, Finance Magnates and Entrepreneur.