Pepperstone UAE review: Is it the right forex broker for the Emiratis and Expats? [2025]

Pepperstone is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its multiple trading platform choices and competitive pricing. Founded in 2010, Pepperstone has grown to serve over 750,000 traders worldwide. 

It operates under strict regulation in multiple jurisdictions and now has a regional hub in Dubai, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). This means UAE clients can trade with the peace of mind of local regulatory oversight while accessing Pepperstone’s international range of markets and technology.

In this Pepperstone UAE review, we explore everything UAE residents and expats must know about Pepperstone. From background and key stats to its trading platforms, fees, and customer feedback. 

Pepperstone UAE: Overview

Founded in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia, Pepperstone has rapidly expanded to become one of the world's largest Forex and CFD brokers. It now serves a global client base of over 750,000 traders, processing an average monthly trading volume that exceeds $400 billion. 

It is even endorsed by the r/Forex subreddit - the largest forex community on the internet - alongside Interactive Brokers, which further attests to its credibility in the forex/CFD community.

For users in the UAE, Pepperstone operates via its Dubai entity, Pepperstone Financial Services (DIFC) Limited, which is regulated by the DFSA. This local authorization means the broker must comply with UAE laws and DFSA’s strict oversight on client fund safety, leverage limits, and transparency. 

UAE traders’ accounts are held with the Dubai office, and benefit from features like segregated client bank accounts and negative balance protection to ensure fund security.

What’s more, DFSA regulation caps retail leverage at 1:30 on major forex pairs, so UAE residents will trade with more conservative leverage by default compared to some of Pepperstone’s international offerings (though professional clients can apply for higher leverage up to 1:500). 

Pepperstone has also tailored its services to the region by offering Islamic swap-free accounts (no interest on overnight positions) to cater to Muslim traders. 

Who is it for? Pepperstone’s mix of easy-to-use platforms and advanced features makes it suitable for both new and experienced traders. 

Beginners appreciate the option of a Standard account with no commissions (costs are built into slightly higher spreads), which keeps things simple. Advanced and high-volume traders prefer Razor accounts for its ultra-tight spreads (near zero on majors) plus a small commission, enabling lower overall trading costs. 

What’s more, Pepperstone supports copy trading and algorithmic trading tools, appealing to those who want to automate strategies or follow other traders. 

Highlights

Below is a quick overview of Pepperstone’s key features and terms for UAE-based traders:

Pepperstone in the UAE offers local traders the best of both worlds: a globally acclaimed brokerage with tight spreads and diverse platforms, underpinned by UAE regulatory safeguards. 

With no minimum deposit, no fees on transactions, and a choice of account types, Pepperstone is undoubtedly one of the top choices for forex and CFD trading in the UAE. 

Pepperstone UAE core features

A broker's value is fundamentally tied to the quality of its technology. Pepperstone distinguishes itself by not forcing traders into a single proprietary system. 

Instead, it provides an open ecosystem of five distinct, high-performance trading platforms, and lets you choose which one you find is a perfect fit. But this choice is just one of the many features the platforms offer.

1. Choose from multiple trading platforms available

One of Pepperstone’s biggest strengths is the variety of trading platforms it offers. Whether you prefer the classic MetaTrader experience or integration with TradingView, Pepperstone has you covered.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4)

Pepperstone’s MT4 comes with full support for advanced charting, technical indicators, and Expert Advisors (EAs) for automated trading. 

This platform is light-weight and excellent for currency trading; if you’re a trader who relies on tried-and-true strategies or community-developed EAs, MT4’s extensive ecosystem makes it a great choice. 

Pepperstone’s MT4 execution is known to be lightning-fast and stable, which is crucial for timing-sensitive strategies like scalping on a Razor account with raw spreads.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5)

The successor to MT4, MT5 includes all MT4 features and adds more bells and whistles, like additional timeframes, more complex order types, and the ability to trade a wider range of CFD instruments from the same platform. 

Pepperstone offers MT5 to traders who want multi-asset trading on a modern interface. 

For example, if you plan to trade stock CFDs or other such assets alongside forex, MT5 is a good choice. Like MT4, it supports algorithmic trading through Expert Advisors. 

cTrader

cTrader is known for its clean design and powerful trading tools. Pepperstone’s cTrader integration is ideal if you want depth-of-market (Level II) data, detachable charts, and a more intuitive programming environment (cAlgo in C#) for algorithmic strategies. 

cTrader tends to appeal to more advanced traders or those who simply prefer its interface. It offers transparent pricing with raw spreads and, in Pepperstone’s case, slightly lower commission ($6 round-turn per lot on forex). 

If you’re a scalper or algorithmic trader, cTrader’s fast execution and customizability are a big draw. Pepperstone has been recognized as ‘Best in Class’ for MetaTrader and for cTrader/TradingView integration in industry awards, reflecting the quality of its platform offerings.

TradingView integration

Pepperstone allows you to trade directly through the popular charting platform TradingView. I personally love TradingView for its powerful browser-based charts and social network of trading ideas. 

With Pepperstone, you can execute trades on your account from within TradingView’s interface. 

This is perfect for traders who already use TradingView for analysis; you get one-click trading from the charts and integration of your Pepperstone order execution with TradingView’s tools. 

This integration works for both Razor and Standard accounts.

Pepperstone’s proprietary platform

In 2024, Pepperstone launched its own proprietary trading platform - available via web and mobile - to complement MT4/MT5 and cTrader. This platform aims to provide a simple, user-friendly experience for clients who prefer not to use third-party software. 

It’s great for casual traders who want to log in from any browser or device and execute trades without the complexity of MetaTrader. 

Pepperstone’s proprietary web trader includes basic charting, news, and an economic calendar, and it syncs with your account so you can manage positions alongside your other platforms. 

While it may not be as feature-rich as MT5 or cTrader, it’s continually improving and lowers the barrier for beginners to start trading immediately via Pepperstone’s website. 

Think of it as a convenient option if you value ease of use and accessibility – you can always switch to MT4/MT5 or cTrader later as you grow more comfortable.

2. Products and Markets

Pepperstone gives UAE traders access to global markets; it offers 1,200 CFDs across multiple asset classes. This includes:

• Forex: 60+ currency pairs from more well-known ones like EUR/USD to lesser-known ones like GBP/USD.
• Indices: Offers popular global indices like US500, UK100, Germany 40, and AUD200 with competitive spreads and 24-hour trading on many U.S. shares.
• Commodities: Lets you trade precious metals like gold and silver, energy products like crude oil and natural gas, and agricultural commodities.
• Shares and EFTs: Get access to thousands of U.S., UK, European, and Australian share CFDs and EFTs.
• Cryptocurrencies: Comes with major crypto pairs like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, traded as CFDs with leverage.

To learn about how you can invest in the S&P 500 on Pepperstone, watch the video below:

3. 24-hour stock CFD trading

Pepperstone offers 24-hour trading on many U.S. stock CFDs. Typically, stock markets have set trading sessions; for example, the NYSE runs on U.S. hours, but Pepperstone provides CFDs on over 100 major U.S. shares with extended hours trading beyond the normal market times. 

This means as a UAE trader, you can trade popular U.S. stocks virtually around the clock, even when the actual New York market is closed. 

Note: Keep in mind these are offered as CFDs, so you’re trading price movements and not owning the shares, but the extended hours give you flexibility to manage positions or enter trades at almost any hour of the work week. 

But also keep this in mind - spreads on stock CFDs can be slightly wider during off-market hours due to lower liquidity, but Pepperstone’s pricing remains competitive. 

Leverage on stock CFDs for retail UAE traders is capped (often 1:5 or 1:10 for stocks under DFSA rules), so you will be using moderate leverage. 

4. Free demo account

For traders in the UAE just starting out, or those wanting to test Pepperstone’s platform, the broker provides a free demo account option. 

The Pepperstone demo account lets you practice trading with virtual money under real market conditions. You get live prices and can execute trades just as you would on a real account, but without risking any capital. 

Pepperstone’s demo accounts are available on all platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader, and others), so you can familiarize yourself with the interface and test the broker’s execution. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up a demo account on Pepperstone.

Step 1. Visit Pepperstone’s website

Go to Pepperstone’s official website and click on ‘Join now.’

Step 2. Fill in all the details asked

You get multiple options via which you can join:

Select the one you want to join Pepperstone with (I am selecting Sign up with Google).

You will then reach your profile page, where you fill in details like Country of residence, Account type, your name, date of birth, and contact details.

Step 3. Setting up a demo account

After filling in the information, click ‘Continue.’ On the next page, select ‘Start trading with demo.’

Fill in the following preferences:

• Trading platform
• Nickname
• Currency
• Account type
• Demo amount

Click ‘Submit,’ and that’s it.

To access this account, simply click on ‘Continue to Webtrader’ and you will be redirected to your demo account.

If you have selected Pepperstone as your trading platform, the demo account will look like this:

The beauty of Pepperstone? It lets you launch multiple demo accounts with unlimited duration. This is a handy feature for investors like me who want to test Pepperstone’s compatibility with all its trading platforms and then decide which one is the best.

Want to open a live account?

Choosing the right account type is one of the most important decisions you make as a new Pepperstone client, as it directly defines the cost structure of your trading. 

Pepperstone simplifies this by offering two primary CFD account options: Standard and Razor.

For traders in the UAE who must adhere to Sharia law, Pepperstone also offers Swap-free (Islamic) versions of its accounts. These accounts do not incur or pay overnight interest (swaps). Instead, an administration fee is charged on positions held open for more than five days to cover associated costs.  

One thing to highlight: Pepperstone charges no inactivity or account maintenance fees on either account. You can have a Razor or Standard account and not trade for a while without worrying about penalties – a very friendly policy for part-time traders.

6. ‘Learn to Trade’ educational section

Pepperstone offers a respectable range of educational content under its ‘Learn to Trade’ section. Here’s what Pepperstone provides in terms of learning and research:

• Trading Guides and Articles: Pepperstone’s website hosts a library of written guides covering trading basics, strategies, and platform tutorials.
• Videos and Webinars: The broker produces video content ranging from platform how-tos to market analysis. Pepperstone runs weekly webinars.
• Platform Tutorials: Knowing that many clients might be new to platforms like MT4 or cTrader, Pepperstone offers around a dozen tutorial videos specifically on how to use their trading platforms.
• Market Analysis and Research: Pepperstone’s content isn’t just educational; they also provide daily market analysis.

While the content is of high quality and covers essential topics from beginner basics to more advanced strategies, the overall offering is generally in line with the industry average. It serves as a valuable resource for new and developing traders, but lacks the depth and interactive features found at brokers who specialize primarily in education.

Pepperstone UAE fees and commissions

When it comes to costs, Pepperstone is highly competitive and transparent. There are two types of fees and commissions Pepperstone charges: Trading and Non-trading. Let’s break down the fees you’ll encounter with Pepperstone in the UAE:

Trading fees (spreads and commissions)

These will depend on your account type (Standard vs Razor) and what instrument you’re trading.

1. Forex spreads

Pepperstone’s forex spreads are among the tightest in the industry. 

On a Razor account, spreads for major currency pairs like EUR/USD can be as low as 0.0 to 0.2 pips during peak liquidity. 

On a Standard account, the EUR/USD spread typically averages around 1.1 to 1.3 pips (with no additional commission).

These spreads can widen during volatile news, but in normal conditions, Pepperstone’s pricing is reasonable.

2. Forex commissions

If you choose the Razor account, you pay a fixed commission per trade. The standard rate for USD-based accounts is $7 per 1.0 lot round-turn (100,000 units), which is $3.50 when opening and $3.50 when closing the position. 

If you use cTrader, Pepperstone gives a small discount; the commission is $6 round-turn per lot on cTrader. 

On TradingView or the Pepperstone Web platform, the commission is the same as MT4/MT5 ($7 RT).

Meanwhile, Standard accounts have no commission. The cost is just the built-in spread. 

Bottom line: Opt for Razor to maximize those low spreads, paying commission in exchange, or stick to Standard for its zero-commission convenience.

3. CFD spreads and commissions

Pepperstone has CFDs on indices, commodities, shares, etc., and the fee model differs for all of them:

• Indices: Index CFDs like US500, UK100, Germany 40, are typically spread-only, with no commission. The spreads are quite tight. 
• Commodities: Major commodity CFDs like Gold (XAU/USD) or Oil have spread-only pricing. For instance, Gold might have a spread of around 0.05 ($0.50) on Razor. Again, no extra commission.
• Cryptocurrencies: Crypto CFD trading is also spread-based. Spreads here are a bit larger due to volatility. The platform’s crypto spreads are reasonable, though the range of crypto offerings is smaller than that of some dedicated crypto exchanges.

Share CFDs: Pepperstone charges a commission on share CFDs (stocks and ETFs) instead of a spread markup. For U.S. shares, the fee is $0.02 per share (per side). For UK shares, commission is 0.10% of the trade value. Australian shares are 0.07%, German 0.10%, etc., with no minimum commission.

4. Swap (overnight) fees

If you hold positions overnight, Pepperstone will charge or credit you a swap fee (AKA overnight financing). This reflects the interest rate differential for forex pairs or the financing cost for CFD leverage. The platform uses different formulas to calculate these changes based on the asset classes you’re trading.

For forex, Pepperstone calculates swap based on the interbank overnight interest rates of the two currencies and your position size. 

Formula: Daily swap charge / credit = One point x (Trade size [or notional amount] x Tom-next*)

*The platform sources its Tom-next rates from tier-one global investment banks. These are updated on a daily basis to account for the dynamic swap market.

For indices and commodities, Pepperstone uses a formula:

Daily swap charge / credit = (market closing price x Trade size x (our charge (2.5%) +/- ARR or IBOR)) / 360

Likewise, they have different formulas for Commodities, Shares, and Cryptocurrencies.

Practically, if you hold for just a night or two, swaps are small, but long-term holders need to account for them. If you’re an Islamic account holder and opt for a swap-free account, Pepperstone will not charge overnight interest; instead, after a certain holding period, the platform might charge an administration fee on certain assets to offset costs.

As for the non-trading fees, there are no deposit/withdrawal or inactivity fees.

How secure and compliant is Pepperstone in the UAE?

Trust and safety are like the building blocks for any forex and CFD broker. Pepperstone knows this and therefore has a robust regulatory framework and strong security measures in place.

Regulations - DFSA

As mentioned earlier, Pepperstone’s entity for the UAE is regulated by the DFSA.  

The DFSA is a respected regulatory body that imposes strict rules similar to European standards. These rules include leverage limits, marketing transparency, and capital adequacy.

Globally, Pepperstone is regulated by (just to name a few):

• FCA in the UK
• ASIC in Australia
• CySEC in Cyprus

This multi-jurisdictional oversight gives Pepperstone a high trust level. The platform holds a ‘Tier 1 regulator status’ in multiple regions, which signifies the highest level of investor protection.

Client fund safety

Pepperstone keeps all client funds in a segregated account at reputable banks, meaning Pepperstone can’t use your deposits for its own business activities. This rule ensures that in the highly unlikely event of Pepperstone's insolvency, client money can’t be used to pay its creditors and remains protected.

Another client fund safety measure that Pepperstone has in place is the negative balance protection it provides for all its clients under its DFSA license. This is an essential risk management measure that guarantees a trader’s account can’t go into a negative balance. 

If a sudden market gap occurs, Pepperstone will absorb the loss beyond your balance, so you don’t owe money. 

Compliance and transparency

Pepperstone has a mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) process in place for all new clients, which requires the submission of valid identification and proof of address documents. 

This is a standard Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedure that helps ensure the security of the financial system. 

The broker also provides comprehensive legal documentation, including its Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), on its website, offering full transparency on its services and the associated risks.  

What do existing users say about Pepperstone?

To get a full picture of any broker, it’s wise to hear from actual users. Pepperstone has a strong reputation among its clients, including those in the UAE, but we still combed through TradingView reviews, Trustpilot feedback, Reddit forums, and more to summarize what traders say about the platform:

Overall customer satisfaction: On TrustPilot, Pepperstone has an average rating of 4.5 (across 3,000+ reviews), which is a good sign.

Is Pepperstone UAE worth it?

Short answer: Yes, Pepperstone is one of the top forex and CFD brokers in the UAE.

Long answer: 

With strict regulations in place, an array of trading platform options, and competitive pricing via both spread-only and Razor accounts, Pepperstone attracts both beginners and advanced traders.

It’s the perfect CFD broker if you’re an occasional trader, as it has no fee for inactivity, no deposit/withdrawal fee, and availability of swap-free Islamic accounts.

But keep in mind: Pepperstone is a CFD broker, you won’t own the underlying assets, and swap charges on overnight positions can add up for non-Islamic accounts.

Overall, for UAE traders seeking a well-regulated, cost-effective broker with multiple platform choices and global market access, Pepperstone is up there with the top brokers.