The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is rapidly establishing itself as one of the world’s most important centres for online derivatives trading, driven by surging volumes, a young and affluent investor base, and increasingly progressive regulation.
According to a new white paper published by Capital.com and strategic communications firm APCO, traders in the MENA region generated $804.1 billion in trading volume on Capital.com’s trading platform in the first half of 2025 alone. More than $576.5 billion of that came from the United Arab Emirates, underlining the country’s growing status as a global e-trading capital.
The report, based on data from 62,850 verified MENA traders executing over 85 million trades, shows that the region has become Capital.com’s fastest-growing market and now accounts for more than half of the platform’s global trading volumes. By comparison, European markets generated around $224 billion over the same period.
Capital.com founder Viktor Prokopenya said the growth reflects a structural shift in how individuals across the region engage with financial markets. “The Middle East is entering a defining moment in its financial evolution. Digital finance is unlocking unprecedented access to global markets and transforming how people trade, invest, and build wealth,” he said.
Demographics are a major driver. Nearly 86% of MENA traders are aged between 18 and 44, with Millennials alone accounting for 55% of active users. Education levels are also high, with 64% of traders holding a university degree, compared with 39% in Europe. The data also shows MENA has ten times the share of high-value clients with cumulative deposits exceeding $1 million compared with European peers.
The UAE’s role has been particularly significant. Capital.com received its local licence from the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority in April 2024, and in the 18 months since, the UAE CFD trading has become the company’s single largest market globally. His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, said the figures reflect the country’s wider digital ambitions. “By combining world-class infrastructure, forward-looking regulation and a growing culture of financial capability, we are enabling more people to engage confidently in the modern global economy,” he said.
Trading behaviour in MENA also stands out. The report shows MENA traders close the highest proportion of successful trades across Capital.com’s global client base, with an average win rate of 48.6%, compared with 43.8% in Europe. However, fewer traders end up net profitable overall, largely due to limited use of risk-management tools such as stop losses.
Tarik Chebib, CEO of Capital.com MENA, said ambition plays a central role.“Part of what makes the region unique is the combination of capacity and ambition. But boldness, when unchecked, can tip into overconfidence. Risk management is one of the biggest gaps we see, and education plays a huge role in changing that behaviour,” he said.
Nearly 45% of MENA traders start with demo accounts, signalling a strong appetite for learning. As regulators and fintech platforms increasingly focus on financial literacy and AI-driven education, the report suggests MENA is well positioned to turn trading enthusiasm into long-term, sustainable participation in global markets
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