{
  "title": "GCC & Arab-World Forex Broker Regulation Audit 2026",
  "publisher": "Lead Media OOD",
  "brand": "Daleel FX",
  "url": "https://daleelfx.com/research/gcc-forex-broker-regulation-audit-2026/",
  "methodologyUrl": "https://daleelfx.com/methodology/",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "compiledOn": "2026-06-26",
  "notes": "Compiled and cross-checked from publicly verifiable facts (regulator registers, broker disclosures). Ratings, spreads and minimum deposits are intentionally omitted (null) because they require an independent hands-on test we have not yet completed — see the methodology's honest-null policy.",
  "tier1Regulators": [
    "FCA",
    "ASIC",
    "CySEC",
    "DFSA",
    "FSCA"
  ],
  "brokers": [
    {
      "broker": "Exness",
      "slug": "exness",
      "foundedYear": 2008,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "FCA",
        "CySEC",
        "FSCA",
        "FSA"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "FCA",
          "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "CySEC",
          "jurisdiction": "Cyprus",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FSCA",
          "jurisdiction": "South Africa",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Seychelles",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": true,
      "platforms": [
        "MT4",
        "MT5",
        "Exness Terminal",
        "Exness App"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "Exness Partners",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "XM",
      "slug": "xm",
      "foundedYear": 2009,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "CySEC",
        "ASIC",
        "FSC"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [
        "DFSA"
      ],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "CySEC",
          "jurisdiction": "Cyprus",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FSC",
          "jurisdiction": "Belize",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "DFSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Dubai (DIFC)",
          "status": "pending"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": true,
      "platforms": [
        "MT4",
        "MT5",
        "XM App"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "XM Partners",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "Pepperstone",
      "slug": "pepperstone",
      "foundedYear": 2010,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "DFSA",
        "ASIC",
        "FCA",
        "CySEC"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "DFSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Dubai (DIFC)",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FCA",
          "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "CySEC",
          "jurisdiction": "Cyprus",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": true,
      "swapFreeAvailable": true,
      "platforms": [
        "MT4",
        "MT5",
        "cTrader",
        "TradingView"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "Pepperstone Partners",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "FP Markets",
      "slug": "fp-markets",
      "foundedYear": 2005,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "DFSA",
        "ASIC",
        "CySEC",
        "FSCA"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "DFSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Dubai (DIFC)",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "CySEC",
          "jurisdiction": "Cyprus",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FSCA",
          "jurisdiction": "South Africa",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": true,
      "swapFreeAvailable": true,
      "platforms": [
        "MT4",
        "MT5",
        "cTrader",
        "TradingView"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "FP Markets Partners (IB)",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "IC Markets",
      "slug": "ic-markets",
      "foundedYear": 2007,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "ASIC",
        "CySEC",
        "FSA"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "CySEC",
          "jurisdiction": "Cyprus",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Seychelles",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": true,
      "platforms": [
        "MT4",
        "MT5",
        "cTrader"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "IC Markets Partners",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "AvaTrade",
      "slug": "avatrade",
      "foundedYear": 2006,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "CBI",
        "ASIC",
        "FSCA",
        "ADGM"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "CBI",
          "jurisdiction": "Ireland",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FSCA",
          "jurisdiction": "South Africa",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ADGM",
          "jurisdiction": "Abu Dhabi (ADGM)",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": true,
      "platforms": [
        "MT4",
        "MT5",
        "AvaTradeGO",
        "AvaOptions"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "AvaPartner",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "ADSS",
      "slug": "adss",
      "foundedYear": 2011,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "FSRA",
        "FCA"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "FSRA",
          "jurisdiction": "Abu Dhabi (ADGM)",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FCA",
          "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": true,
      "platforms": [
        "MT4",
        "ADSS Platform"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "ADSS Introducing Broker",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "EFG Hermes",
      "slug": "efg-hermes",
      "foundedYear": 1984,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "CMA",
        "FCA"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "CMA",
          "jurisdiction": "Egypt",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FCA",
          "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": false,
      "platforms": [
        "EFG Hermes One"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "EFG Hermes One",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "OANDA",
      "slug": "oanda",
      "foundedYear": 1996,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "FCA",
        "ASIC",
        "CFTC",
        "MAS"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "FCA",
          "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "CFTC",
          "jurisdiction": "United States",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "MAS",
          "jurisdiction": "Singapore",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": false,
      "platforms": [
        "MT4",
        "MT5",
        "OANDA Trade"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "OANDA Partner Programme",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "CMC Markets",
      "slug": "cmc-markets",
      "foundedYear": 1989,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "FCA",
        "ASIC",
        "MAS"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "FCA",
          "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "MAS",
          "jurisdiction": "Singapore",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": false,
      "platforms": [
        "Next Generation",
        "MT4"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "CMC Markets Introducing Broker",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "IG Markets",
      "slug": "ig-markets",
      "foundedYear": 1974,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "FCA",
        "ASIC",
        "MAS",
        "DFSA"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "FCA",
          "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "MAS",
          "jurisdiction": "Singapore",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "DFSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Dubai (DIFC)",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": true,
      "swapFreeAvailable": false,
      "platforms": [
        "IG Platform",
        "MT4",
        "ProRealTime"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "IG Introducing Broker",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "Saxo Bank",
      "slug": "saxo-bank",
      "foundedYear": 1992,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "FSA",
        "MAS",
        "ASIC",
        "DFSA"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "FSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Denmark",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "MAS",
          "jurisdiction": "Singapore",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "DFSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Dubai (DIFC)",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": true,
      "swapFreeAvailable": false,
      "platforms": [
        "SaxoTraderGO",
        "SaxoTraderPRO",
        "OpenAPI"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "Saxo White Label / IB",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "Admirals",
      "slug": "admirals",
      "foundedYear": 2001,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "FCA",
        "CySEC",
        "ASIC",
        "EFSA"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "FCA",
          "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "CySEC",
          "jurisdiction": "Cyprus",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "EFSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Estonia",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": true,
      "platforms": [
        "MT4",
        "MT5",
        "MetaTrader Supreme Edition"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "Admirals Partners",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    },
    {
      "broker": "Capital.com",
      "slug": "capital-com",
      "foundedYear": 2016,
      "regulatorsRegulated": [
        "FCA",
        "CySEC",
        "ASIC",
        "FSA"
      ],
      "regulatorsPending": [],
      "regulatorDetail": [
        {
          "abbr": "FCA",
          "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "CySEC",
          "jurisdiction": "Cyprus",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "ASIC",
          "jurisdiction": "Australia",
          "status": "regulated"
        },
        {
          "abbr": "FSA",
          "jurisdiction": "Seychelles",
          "status": "regulated"
        }
      ],
      "holdsTier1Licence": true,
      "holdsDfsaUae": false,
      "swapFreeAvailable": true,
      "platforms": [
        "Capital.com App",
        "MT4",
        "TradingView"
      ],
      "affiliateProgram": "Capital.com Affiliates",
      "marketsServedConfirmed": "",
      "rating": null,
      "typicalSpread": null,
      "minDeposit": null
    }
  ],
  "markets": [
    {
      "market": "United Arab Emirates",
      "slug": "uae",
      "region": "GCC",
      "tier": 1,
      "regulator": "Securities & Commodities Authority / Dubai Financial Services Authority",
      "regulatorAbbr": "SCA · DFSA",
      "regulatorUrl": "https://www.dfsa.ae/",
      "tradingStatus": "legal",
      "affiliateRisk": "low",
      "swapFreeExpected": true
    },
    {
      "market": "Saudi Arabia",
      "slug": "saudi-arabia",
      "region": "GCC",
      "tier": 1,
      "regulator": "Capital Market Authority / Saudi Central Bank",
      "regulatorAbbr": "CMA · SAMA",
      "regulatorUrl": "https://cma.org.sa/en/",
      "tradingStatus": "restricted",
      "affiliateRisk": "high",
      "swapFreeExpected": true
    },
    {
      "market": "Qatar",
      "slug": "qatar",
      "region": "GCC",
      "tier": 1,
      "regulator": "Qatar Financial Markets Authority",
      "regulatorAbbr": "QFMA",
      "regulatorUrl": "https://www.qfma.org.qa/",
      "tradingStatus": "offshore-only",
      "affiliateRisk": "grey",
      "swapFreeExpected": true
    },
    {
      "market": "Kuwait",
      "slug": "kuwait",
      "region": "GCC",
      "tier": 2,
      "regulator": "Capital Markets Authority / Central Bank of Kuwait",
      "regulatorAbbr": "CMA · CBK",
      "regulatorUrl": "https://www.cma.gov.kw/en/",
      "tradingStatus": "offshore-only",
      "affiliateRisk": "high",
      "swapFreeExpected": true
    },
    {
      "market": "Bahrain",
      "slug": "bahrain",
      "region": "GCC",
      "tier": 2,
      "regulator": "Central Bank of Bahrain",
      "regulatorAbbr": "CBB",
      "regulatorUrl": "https://www.cbb.gov.bh/",
      "tradingStatus": "legal",
      "affiliateRisk": "high",
      "swapFreeExpected": true
    },
    {
      "market": "Oman",
      "slug": "oman",
      "region": "GCC",
      "tier": 2,
      "regulator": "Capital Market Authority",
      "regulatorAbbr": "CMA",
      "regulatorUrl": "https://cma.gov.om/",
      "tradingStatus": "offshore-only",
      "affiliateRisk": "high",
      "swapFreeExpected": true
    },
    {
      "market": "Egypt",
      "slug": "egypt",
      "region": "North Africa",
      "tier": 1,
      "regulator": "Financial Regulatory Authority",
      "regulatorAbbr": "FRA",
      "regulatorUrl": "https://fra.gov.eg/",
      "tradingStatus": "grey",
      "affiliateRisk": "high",
      "swapFreeExpected": true
    },
    {
      "market": "Jordan",
      "slug": "jordan",
      "region": "Levant",
      "tier": 2,
      "regulator": "Jordan Securities Commission",
      "regulatorAbbr": "JSC",
      "regulatorUrl": "https://www.jsc.gov.jo/",
      "tradingStatus": "legal",
      "affiliateRisk": "high",
      "swapFreeExpected": true
    }
  ]
}