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How to trade gold (XAU/USD)

A plain, practical guide for traders in the UAE — lots, leverage, margin, costs and the risk rules that keep beginners in the game.

xau/usd · one bar, one hourTARGETENTRYSTOP
A plan is three prices decided before the entry, not after.

Gold (XAU/USD) is traded as a CFD — you speculate on the price, you don't own the metal or coin. One standard lot is 100 oz.

Lots, leverage and margin

Margin is what your broker locks to open a position: (lots × 100 × price) ÷ leverage. At 1:500 a 0.10 lot needs $85.50. Use the margin calculator.

Size to a fixed risk

Decide the money you'll lose at your stop first, then let the position-size calculator pick the lot. Never size by how much margin you have.

A first gold trade, in the order the steps actually happen.A first gold trade, in the order the steps actually happen.RISKMoney you accept losingSTOPWhere the idea is wrongSIZEArithmetic, not instinctCOSTSpread plus swap
A first gold trade, in the order the steps actually happen.

Costs

You pay the spread on entry and an overnight swap if you hold. Factor both into every trade.

Ready to trade gold

Trade XAU/USD with tight spreads on FxPro

FxPro offers gold with competitive spreads, MT4/MT5 and Cards (Visa/Mastercard), bank transfer, e-wallets-friendly funding for traders in the UAE.

Trade gold on FxPro →
FAQ

Common questions

What are the actual steps of placing my first gold trade?

The steps are: choose your direction, size the position, set your stop, place the order, then record the trade. Sizing comes before entry, because the distance to your stop and your risk per trade together decide the lot size. Run our position size calculator first, then place the order on MT4, MT5, cTrader or FxPro Edge.

How do I work out the margin a gold trade will tie up?

Margin is the position value divided by the leverage on your account. At 1:500 on standard forex accounts, within DFSA/SCA-compliant limits, a 0.10-lot gold position needs about 85.50 US dollars of margin. That figure is a requirement, not a target, and it varies by instrument, so confirm it in our margin calculator before sizing up.

Where should I put my stop loss on a gold trade?

Place the stop where your idea is proven wrong, then size the position to fit that distance. Gold's pip is 0.01, so a stop 200 pips away is two dollars of price movement, which is 200 US dollars per standard lot. If that number is too large for your risk limit, reduce the lot size rather than moving the stop.

Can I fund a gold account from a UAE bank?

Yes, local UAE bank transfer is supported, alongside cards such as Visa and Mastercard and e-wallets. Fund in the currency you plan to trade so you are not paying conversion twice, and check the AED equivalent of your deposit before you commit. Keep your first deposit small until your process is consistent.

What should I record after my first trade closes?

Record entry, exit, size, the reason you entered, and what you expected to happen. Then note what actually happened and whether you followed your own rules. Our profit calculator gives you the exact result in US dollars and AED, which keeps the record factual rather than remembered.