ADSS Review

MENA-based CFD and forex traders

SCA

Founded 2011 · United Arab Emirates

Why investors choose this broker

Low $100 minimum deposit on Classic account
Commission-free trading on Classic and Elite accounts
Over 1,000 CFD instruments across multiple asset classes
Proprietary ADSS WebTrader and OREX mobile app alongside MT4

Review summary

ADSS is a UAE-based multi-asset broker founded in 2011, offering CFDs on forex, indices, stocks, commodities, crypto and bonds via MetaTrader 4 and its proprietary ADSS platform.

Pros

Low $100 minimum deposit on Classic account
Commission-free trading on Classic and Elite accounts
Over 1,000 CFD instruments across multiple asset classes
Proprietary ADSS WebTrader and OREX mobile app alongside MT4
Free demo account available
Swap-free Islamic account option
Integrated market research and educational content
Pro account offers spreads from 0.0 pips for high-volume traders

Cons

$5 flat withdrawal fee on all withdrawals
Possible inactivity fee on dormant accounts - policy varies by source
Elite and Pro accounts require $100,000 minimum deposit
Only SCA-regulated - no major Tier-1 regulator (FCA withdrawn, SFC revoked)
No copy or social trading features
No MetaTrader 5 support
USD-only account base currency
US residents not accepted

Company background

ADSS is an Abu Dhabi-based financial services company established in March 2011 as ADS Securities LLC with $400 million in initial private capital. It expanded into Hong Kong in 2011 and London in 2012, and in June 2018 rebranded from ADS Securities to ADSS. The broker serves retail, institutional, and private clients globally and positions itself as the leading forex broker in the GCC and MENA region.

ADSS provides access to over 1,000 CFD instruments including forex, indices, equity CFDs, commodities, crypto, bonds, and ETFs. Offices are maintained in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Singapore, and London.

Fees and pricing

ADSS offers three account tiers. The Classic account requires a $100 minimum deposit with commission-free trading and spreads from approximately 1.2 pips on EUR/USD. The Elite account requires $100,000 and offers spreads from around 0.7 pips. The Pro account also requires $100,000 and provides spreads from 0.0 pips with negotiable commissions. Deposits are free. A flat $5 withdrawal fee applies regardless of amount. Some sources report an inactivity fee on dormant accounts; verify current policy with ADSS before opening an account. A 1% currency conversion fee applies to deposits in currencies other than USD or AED. Overnight financing charges apply to leveraged positions held past market close.

Regulation and safety

ADSS is authorised and regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) in the UAE, which requires client funds to be held in segregated accounts at approved banks. The broker previously held FCA authorisation in the UK, which it applied to cancel in July 2023, and an SFC licence in Hong Kong, which has since been revoked. The SCA is considered a mid-tier regulator and retail clients do not benefit from a compensation scheme equivalent to the UK's FSCS.

Platform experience

ADSS provides three trading environments: the proprietary ADSS WebTrader with an integrated Insights Terminal for market research, the OREX mobile app for iOS and Android launched in 2016, and MetaTrader 4 for desktop, web, and mobile. A free demo account is available to all registered users. ADSS does not offer MetaTrader 5, copy trading, or VPS hosting.

Pros and cons

ADSS offers a low $100 entry point, commission-free trading on most accounts, over 1,000 instruments, integrated research, and both proprietary and MT4 platforms. Main drawbacks include a $5 withdrawal fee, a possible inactivity fee on dormant accounts, the $100,000 threshold for best pricing, sole SCA regulation without a Tier-1 equivalent, and no copy trading or MT5.

Ready to open an account at ADSS?

Open an account directly with the broker. Confirm current fees and account eligibility on the broker's website before depositing.

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Trading fees & commissions

Classic account trades are commission-free with spreads from around 1.2 pips on EUR/USD; a flat $5 withdrawal fee applies; an inactivity fee may apply after extended periods of no trading activity.

Fees

Item	Fee
Cfds	Commission-free on Classic and Elite; equity CFD commission 0.20% on some account types
Crypto	Available as CFDs; spreads vary by instrument
Margin	Overnight financing fees apply on leveraged positions held overnight
Account	No account opening or management fee
Deposit	Free
Inactivity	Potentially charged after extended inactivity; verify current policy with ADSS directly
Withdrawal	$5 flat fee per withdrawal
Fx Conversion	1% on non-USD/AED deposits

Trading platform & features

Platforms

ADSS WebTrader
OREX
MetaTrader 4
Web app
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

ADSS is authorised and regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) in the UAE. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at approved banks in line with applicable client-asset rules.

Broker FAQs

Is ADSS safe?

Is ADSS a scam?

No. ADSS has been operating since 2011 and is regulated by the SCA in the UAE. It was previously also authorised by the UK FCA and licensed by the Hong Kong SFC.

Is ADSS regulated and by whom?

Yes. ADSS is currently regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) in the UAE. Its previous FCA authorisation in the UK was cancelled in 2023 and its SFC licence in Hong Kong has been revoked.

Does ADSS keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. ADSS states that client funds are held in segregated accounts at approved banks in accordance with applicable client-asset rules.

What happens to my money if ADSS goes bankrupt?

Client funds are held in segregated accounts and cannot be used for company operations. However, SCA-regulated clients do not benefit from a formal investor compensation scheme equivalent to the UK FSCS.

What products does ADSS offer?

ADSS offers CFDs on forex (60+ pairs), equity CFDs (950+), indices (22), commodities (33), cryptocurrencies (10), bonds, and ETFs. All instruments other than bonds are offered as CFDs.

Does ADSS offer forex trading?

Yes. ADSS offers CFD trading on over 60 forex pairs with commission-free execution on Classic and Elite accounts and spreads from approximately 1.2 pips on the Classic account.

Does ADSS offer stock trading?

ADSS offers equity CFDs on over 950 stocks from US, UK, European, and other exchanges. These are CFD instruments, not direct share ownership.

Does ADSS offer crypto?

Yes. ADSS offers CFDs on around 10 cryptocurrencies. These are leveraged derivative instruments and do not involve ownership of the underlying crypto asset.

Does ADSS offer a demo account?

Yes. A free demo account is available to all registered users and can be used to practise trading without risking real funds.

What does ADSS charge for forex trades?

Classic and Elite accounts are commission-free with spreads from around 1.2 pips and 0.7 pips on EUR/USD respectively. The Pro account offers spreads from 0.0 pips with negotiable commissions.

Is there a withdrawal fee at ADSS?

Yes. ADSS charges a flat $5 fee per withdrawal regardless of the amount or payment method used.

Does ADSS charge an inactivity fee?

Yes. ADSS charges $15 per month after an account has had no trading activity for 90 days.

What is the minimum deposit at ADSS?

The Classic account requires a minimum deposit of $100. The Elite and Pro accounts both require a minimum deposit of $100,000.

What is ADSS's currency conversion fee?

ADSS charges a 1% currency conversion fee on deposits made in currencies other than USD or AED.

Does ADSS have a mobile app?

Yes. ADSS offers the OREX mobile app for iOS and Android, as well as a mobile version of MetaTrader 4.

Is ADSS good for beginners?

ADSS offers a $100 minimum deposit, a free demo account, commission-free Classic account trading, and an integrated educational and research content library. However, it does not offer copy trading or social investing features.

Is ADSS good for long-term investing?

ADSS primarily offers CFD products, which carry overnight financing charges and are not typically suited to long-term buy-and-hold investing. The platform is better suited to active and medium-term traders.

Bottom line

ADSS suits users who want a multi-asset CFD broker with a low $100 entry point, commission-free forex trading, over 1,000 instruments, and both proprietary and MT4 platforms with integrated market research. It may not suit users who require Tier-1 regulation such as FCA or ASIC, want copy trading or MT5, prefer direct share ownership over CFDs, or wish to avoid a monthly inactivity fee.

ADSS

MENA-based CFD and forex traders

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.