Trading from the UAE: what is different
Since January 2022 the UAE has worked Monday to Friday with a Saturday–Sunday weekend, the same week the forex market keeps. Every trading day is a working day, and nothing happens in the market on your weekend except the Sunday-night open.
The dirham has been pegged at 3.6725 to the US dollar since 1997, so AED-based traders are in effect trading in dollars: a USD-denominated account carries no meaningful currency risk back into dirhams. That peg is why dollar pairs and gold priced in dollars (XAU/USD) are the natural starting point.
Gold and oil are part of the economy you live in. Dubai is one of the world's largest physical gold hubs, and Brent crude is the benchmark for Gulf oil. Both are on the platform alongside 100+ currency pairs.
Forex market hours in the UAE
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in the UAE.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 04:00–13:00 | 04:00–13:00 |
| London session | 12:00–21:00 | 11:00–20:00 |
| New York session | 17:00–02:00 | 16:00–01:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 17:00–21:00 | 16:00–20:00 |
| Weekly open | Monday 02:00 | Monday 01:00 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 02:00 | Saturday 01:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from the UAE
- XAU/USD (gold) — the most traded metal, priced in dollars, which the dirham is pegged to.
- Brent and WTI crude oil — Brent is the benchmark Gulf crude is priced against.
- EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY — the deepest pairs, busiest from the London open in the early afternoon UAE time.
- US indices (S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Dow) — active in your evening, from the New York open.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no UAE dirham conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the DFSA in the DIFC or the FSRA in ADGM. Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in the UAE.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in the UAE allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the forex market open in Dubai?
The forex week opens on Monday at 02:00 UAE time (01:00 from April to October) and closes on Saturday at 02:00 (01:00 in summer). The busiest hours are the London–New York overlap, about 17:00–21:00 UAE time from November to March.
Can I trade in dirhams?
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT. Because the dirham is pegged at 3.6725 to the dollar, the value of a USD account in AED terms does not move with exchange rates.
What is the minimum deposit from the UAE?
The Standard account opens from $100, funded in USDT. Pro starts at $1,000 and Raw ECN at $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.