The Middle East and North Africa is emerging as one of the world’s most vigorous centres for retail derivatives trading, according to a new white paper from global e-trading platform Capital.com and consultancy APCO, which charts an industry undergoing rapid expansion driven by youth, education and digital ambition.
The research, based on two years of activity from 62,850 verified MENA traders executing 85.5 million trades, shows that the region generated US$804.1bn in trading volume on Capital.com in the first half of 2025 alone.
The UAE accounted for a striking US$576.5bn, underscoring its rising status as a global hub for online trading. MENA now makes up more than half of Capital.com’s global volume, the company said.
Digitally fluent population
Capital.com, which claims a 25 per cent share of the global e-trading market, reported total volumes of US$1.5tn in H1 2025, a 42.5 per cent rise on the previous six-month period. Growth was led overwhelmingly by the Gulf. The white paper, Trading’s New Horizon, attributes this surge to the region’s digitally fluent population, progressive financial regulation and near-universal mobile connectivity.
“The UAE’s strong performance reflects the country’s commitment to building a competitive, future-ready digital economy,” said Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s minister of foreign trade, speaking at the report’s launch during Abu Dhabi Finance Week. “By combining world-class infrastructure, forward-looking regulation and a growing culture of financial capability, we are enabling more people to participate confidently in the modern global economy.”
Demographics appear to be a central driver. Nearly 86 per cent of MENA traders on the platform are aged between 18 and 44, with millennials constituting the majority. They are also highly educated: 64 per cent hold a university degree, compared with 39 per cent of European users.
Income levels are markedly higher, too. MENA has ten times the share of clients whose cumulative deposits exceeded US$1mn between May 2023 and May 2025, and four times as many who earn more than US$200,000 annually.
“The Middle East is entering a defining moment in its financial evolution,” said Viktor Prokopenya, Capital.com’s founder. “Digital finance is unlocking unprecedented access to global markets and transforming how people trade, invest and build wealth.”
Strong appetite for learning
MENA traders also show a strong appetite for learning and experimentation. Forty-five per cent begin with demo accounts, far more than their European counterparts, and the region records the highest proportion of profitable trades globally. On average, 48.6 per cent of MENA trades close in profit, compared with 43.8 per cent in Europe.
Intraday activity dominates: 71 per cent of positions are closed within the day, with heavy volumes in gold, oil, natural gas, major equity indices and crypto assets.
Yet despite closing more trades successfully, MENA traders are less likely to end a period with net positive returns. Capital.com attributes this paradox to limited use of risk-management tools and a tendency toward overconfidence.
“Capacity and ambition define the region,” said Tarik Chebib, chief executive of Capital.com MENA. “But boldness, when unchecked, can easily become a liability. Risk management remains one of the biggest gaps we see, and education plays a huge role in correcting it.”
The study argues that improving financial literacy will be pivotal to turning the region’s trading enthusiasm into sustainable long-term gains. As governments, led by the UAE, reinforce national financial-education programmes and fintech platforms roll out AI-driven learning tools, researchers see potential for a more mature and resilient retail trading culture.
One Capital.com client quoted in the paper reflected that discipline had become more valuable than the pursuit of quick wins. “I’ve learned that risk management and flexibility matter far more than chasing big trades,” the trader said. “My experience has shaped me into a more structured and strategic participant.”
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