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Nasdaq Dubai Brokers 2024

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Written By
James Barra
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Written By
James Barra
James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he has worked on major operational transformation programmes at prominent European banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.
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Edited By
James Barra
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Edited By
James Barra
James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he has worked on major operational transformation programmes at prominent European banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.
» James Barra Profile Page
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Fact Checked By
William Berg
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Fact Checked By
William Berg
William contributes to several investment websites, leveraging his experience as a consultant for IPOs in the Nordic market and background providing localization for forex trading software. William has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of financial publications.
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Updated
Jun 13, 2024

Nasdaq Dubai brokers offer access to the premier international stock exchange in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Middle East region. It is known for providing a series of shariah-compliant securities, indices and bonds. This guide will explain what the Nasdaq Dubai is and detail what you need to get started trading on the exchange, including a summary of its products, rules, regulations, opening hours and tips to maximize returns. We also list the top brokers with access to the Nasdaq Dubai in 2024, with key considerations when comparing between platforms.

Nasdaq Dubai Brokers

These are the 1 best brokers for trading on the Nasdaq Dubai:

Click a broker for details
  1. 1
    ActivTrades
    Cashback on Trades
    Ratings
    4 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4 / 5
    4 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.9 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (UK and EU), 1:400 (Global & Pro)
    FCA, CMVM, CSSF, SCB
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Futures, Cryptos (location dependent)
    ActivTrades, MT4, MT5, TradingView
    Skrill, Neteller, Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Sofort, AstroPay
    USD, EUR, GBP, CHF
    Go To ActivTrades

This is why we think these brokers are the best in this category:

  1. ActivTrades - ActivTrades is a UK-headquartered CFD and forex broker established in 2001. The award-winning brokerage has secured licenses from trusted bodies, notably the UK’s FCA, and facilitates trading on over 1000 instruments spanning 7 asset classes, with over 93.60% of orders are executed at the requested price.

ActivTrades

"ActivTrades is an obvious choice for day traders at all levels, with almost unmatched execution speeds of 4ms and a choice of leading trading software, from MT4, MT5 and TradingView to ActivTrader, which sports a simple and elegant interface that aspiring traders will enjoy using."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

ActivTrades Quick Facts

Bonus OfferCashback on Trades
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Futures, Cryptos (location dependent)
RegulatorFCA, CMVM, CSSF, SCB
PlatformsActivTrades, MT4, MT5, TradingView
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (UK and EU), 1:400 (Global & Pro)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CHF

Stock Exchanges

ActivTrades offers trading on 18 stock exchanges:

  • Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
  • CAC 40 Index France
  • DAX GER 40 Index
  • Deutsche Boerse
  • Dow Jones
  • Euronext
  • FTSE UK Index
  • Hang Seng
  • Hong Kong Stock Exchange
  • IBEX 35
  • Japan Exchange Group
  • London Stock Exchange
  • Nasdaq
  • Nasdaq Dubai
  • New York Stock Exchange
  • Russell 2000
  • S&P 500
  • SIX Swiss Exchange

Pros

  • ActivTrades provides fast, dependable and multilingual support based on our tests of its live chat, email, and phone assistance, making it excellent for active traders and beginners.
  • ActivTrades offers tight spreads, particularly for forex trading with spreads starting from 0.5 pips on major currency pairs without additional commissions. The €/£10 inactivity fee doesn’t kick in for 52 weeks either, so it doesn’t penalize active traders.
  • ActivTrades is highly trusted, boasting 20+ years in the industry, authorization from 3 ‘green tier’ bodies under DayTrading.com’s Regulation & Trust Rating, and it goes the extra mile for UK traders with £1M in investor compensation (exceeding the £85K through the FSCS) in the event of brokerage insolvency.

Cons

  • There are no copy trading or social trading features, which is a drawback for traders seeking passive investment opportunities or the ability to mimic the trades of more experienced traders, especially compared to eToro and Vantage.
  • ActivTrades still has some way to go to match firms like XTB and CMC Markets in the education department, with some well-presented, informative webinars but limited courses and quizzes for a more comprehensive and engaging learning journey.
  • There's a varied selection of 1000+ markets, such as forex, commodities, indices, and ETFs, but the range of asset classes overall is limited, notably there are zero stocks outside the US, UK and Europe, while BlackBull offers a superior 26,000+ markets.
Visit ActivTrades
ActivTrades Review

Whether you want to invest in Nasdaq Dubai from the UAE or from overseas via online brokers, this guide will help you get started:

Choosing Brokers & Getting Started

Do your research before selecting one of the 39 members Nasdaq Dubai offers. Consider the fees they quote as these can quickly eat away at profits. Look out for Nasdaq Dubai brokers and providers that offer tight spreads or commission-free investing. Citi Group, for example, applies a 0.45% commission fee for online brokerage services with a trade value of up to $99,000.

The quality of the platform offered by Nasdaq Dubai brokers should also be a key consideration. Does it have all the historical data you need? Is it fast and reliable? Is there a mobile app for easy access? Demo profile access, a fully customizable interface and analysis tools such as technical indicators will rank a platform above others.

Other useful tools to look out for include an economic calendar to keep track of important dates, copy trading services or educational content integrated within Nasdaq Dubai brokers client portals. Live news streams of the latest UAE corporation publications and performance will be valuable when making investment decisions.

Develop A Strategy

Investing is inherently risky, so it is important to have a strategy in place before you begin. There are many existing techniques and approaches available online to take inspiration from, but the main thing is to research previous market data and patterns to make sure you are well-versed in the market you are speculating on. Being able to make informed investment decisions and maximize profits using the information listed within Nasdaq Dubai brokers’ platforms is important.

The best Nasdaq Dubai brokers will also provide unlimited access to a demo account loaded with virtual funds so you can spend time finessing a plan before entering the live environment.

Choose A Stock

Nasdaq Dubai brokers have plenty of listed securities, so choosing how to trade will require consideration and planning. This includes individual stocks, bonds or ETFs for example. The volatility and volume of stock are the two main attributes to analyze. Usually, the more volatile a stock the more profit can be made, but the risk is also higher.

Additionally, some traders use the IPO of stocks as a guide – if it is high there is a possibility of decent profits. The level of importance you place on volume and volatility depends on the strategy you choose to trade with. It will be important to keep track of fluctuations in stock prices so live index trackers and screeners will be useful at Nasdaq Dubai brokers.

What Is The Nasdaq Dubai?

Nasdaq Dubai Limited (ticker symbol: NDAQ) is the international financial exchange between East Asia and Western Europe. Global investors have access to a variety of products such as Sukuk (Shariah-compliant ‘bonds’), conventional bonds, and equities from within the region.

The exchange was originally founded by the Nasdaq OMX Group and the Borse Dubai group in September 2005, but in May 2010, it became jointly owned by the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Borse group, split 2:1.

Importantly, Dubai is the world’s largest centre for Sukuk listings, with Nasdaq Dubai making up 95% of the 51.21 billion USD while pledging to expand this. In total there are over 70 companies listed on the stock exchange, with the value of equities traded growing by 347% according to recent monthly trade reports (December 2020 – January 2021).

The region of the exchange comprises the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) including the UAE, the Middle East and North Africa, Turkey and India.

Dubai Financial Market Vs Nasdaq Dubai

Both the DFM and Nasdaq Dubai are stock exchanges, the main difference between the two being that DFM are the majority shareholders of Nasdaq Dubai, and Nasdaq Dubai was set up after DFM to trade international stocks.

The two are regulated by different bodies; DFM by the Securities and Commodities Authorities (SCA), and Nasdaq Dubai by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The SCA is UAE-based and a government agency whereas the DFSA is an independent body that enforces international standards. There is virtually no difference in how retail clients can trade the DFM and NDAQ via online brokers, only in what is available to trade.

The DFM location is in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Nasdaq Dubai is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Importantly, DFM brokers also tend to offer access to the Nasdaq Dubai.

History

Significant Companies

Before delisting, DP World was one of Nasdaq Dubai’s biggest companies listed on the exchange. Other significant players include:

Nasdaq Dubai has a total listed value of Sukuk’s of 49.06 billion USD, with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) making up the biggest proportion of this with 13 issuances making up 18.04 billion USD. This makes it the world’s largest centre for Sukuk listings. The best Nasdaq Dubai brokers will provide detailed insights into leading stocks, along with key financial metrics.

How Does The Nasdaq Dubai Work?

Nasdaq Dubai brokers will offer various investing opportunities including:

Sukuk

Nasdaq Dubai is known for its Sukuk listings – Shariah-compliant bonds. Listing requirements include a minimum market cap of 2 million USD, providing a Shariah certification and appointing Shariah supervisory boards.

Indices

The FTSE Nasdaq Dubai UAE 20 Index is available to trade on the exchange. It comprises the top 20 eligible constituents ranked by full market cap for the use of the GCC and international investors. Moreover, the FTSE also offers a Nasdaq Dubai Shariah Index series which is made up of 15 Islamic-friendly companies.

The Nasdaq Dubai Ideal Ratings Global Sukuk Index is also listed with a group of USD sub-indices for alternate trading opportunities. The subindices are:

Futures

The futures available at Nasdaq Dubai brokers are in sectors from real estate and petrochemicals to banking and transport. Companies include Aldar Properties, Emirates Telecommunications Group (Etisalat), Rabigh Refining And Petrochemical Co., and Saudi Arabian Mining Co. Trading is also available on the Murabaha platform.

Crypto

A Bitcoin ETF is available to trade on the exchange and enables investors to transfer their units from the Toronto Stock Exchange to Nasdaq Dubai and vice versa, as well as acquire directly.

Bonds

Conventional bonds are also listed alongside Sukuk’s, notable ones including Capital Bank of Jordan, Commercial Bank of Dubai P.S.C, Emirates Development Bank P.J.S.C and Government of UAE Treasury bonds.

Private Market

Private companies can issue their shares on the Central Securities Depository (CSD) allowing investors to buy and sell them through brokers that are members of Nasdaq Dubai. Trading takes place off-exchange, with the transfer of ownership taking place in the CSD and companies having different listing requirements to maintain security.

Notable Private Market Companies include Malabar Gold and Diamonds, W Motors, and Manrre REIT.

Rules & Regulations

NASDAQ Dubai is licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The regulatory body holds them to various rules regarding the clearing house, admission and disclosure standards and corporate governance requirements. These define rules which regulate:

Trading Hours

The working hours of Nasdaq Dubai are from the opening hours of 06:00 GMT to the closing hours of 11:00 GMT from Sunday to Thursday, as weekends in the UAE are Fridays and Saturdays. Times for specific securities will be listed on Nasdaq Dubai brokers websites, in Dubai’s time zone.

Calendar

There were some minor differences between Nasdaq Dubai’s trading and settlement calendar between 2020, 2021 and 2022, mainly due to Islamic holidays differing yearly, so it is important to keep up to date with any changes. The general rules of the calendar are outlined below:

Additionally, on New Year’s Day, Eid Al Fitr, Arafat (Hajj) Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year’s Day, The Prophet’s birthday, Commemoration Day, and the two UAE National Days, the market is either closed or it is a non-trading day. The exact dates some of these falls on fluctuate yearly. Cross-reference these dates with non-trading dates specific to the region you are trading from. The best Nasdaq Dubai brokers will provide a fully comprehensive opening calendar.

Pros Of Brokers With Access To Nasdaq Dubai

The Nasdaq Dubai is leading in Islamic financial products, so it is a good place to trade the likes of Sukuk’s. If you are based within the region, then it is also one of the best ways to access stocks of international markets.

Nasdaq Dubai Academy

The Academy provides tailored courses to issuers, members, investors, market participants, and the public, to improve their financial literacy. It can help quash any doubts before beginning trading if you choose to participate.

CANDI

Nasdaq Dubai’s Company Announcements and News Disclosure system is a Regulatory Announcement System (RAS), which is an automated processing system that supports issuers in meeting regulatory disclosure obligations, reaching investors across the MENA region and European and American markets. This is available for an annual fee between $1,500 – $2,500.

Tips For Day Trading On The Nasdaq Dubai

Final Word On Nasdaq Dubai Brokers

Nasdaq Dubai brokers offer a wide variety of securities to trade, best known for those that are Shariah-compliant. They have multiple services to make trading as easy as possible and offer traders the opportunity to diversify their portfolios. Use our investing tips to get started and see our list of supporting Nasdaq Dubai brokers.

FAQs

Is It Risky To Invest In Stocks Via Nasdaq Dubai Brokers?

Trading is inherently risky whether on the Nasdaq Dubai or London Stock Exchange. This risk can be minimized with practice via regulated Nasdaq Dubai brokers, appropriate risk management techniques and a carefully thought-through strategy.

Is Investing In The Nasdaq Dubai A Halal Investment?

Nasdaq Dubai pledged to become the hub for Islamic financial services from its launch. It offers a range of shariah-compliant securities, indices, and bonds. See our guide to Halal trading for more information.

How Many Companies Are Listed On Nasdaq Dubai Brokers?

70+ companies make up the UAE and Middle East’s top stock exchange. Head to the official website for live prices and details of respective constituents or visit registered Nasdaq Dubai brokers’ websites.

Who Owns Nasdaq Dubai?

Nasdaq Dubai is jointly owned by the Borse Dubai group and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). Until May 2010, it was partly owned by the Nasdaq OMX group.

What Is Nasdaq Dubai’s BIC?

The BIC number relates to the Swift code required to send money internationally. The Nasdaq Dubai BIC code is DIFXAEAAXXX.

Where Is Nasdaq Dubai’s Office?

There is no official address for Nasdaq Dubai. However, it is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).