Hello, fellow investor! We will look into Sarwa, covering the brokerage and robo-advisor sides.
Sarwa offers a brokerage service through Sarwa Trade (US stocks, ETFs and options) and Sarwa Crypto, and a robo-advisor service through Sarwa Invest (automated investment in pre-built portfolios). You can also use Sarwa Save to earn a return on cash through money market funds.
Finally, Sarwa is supervised by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA”) in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (“ADGM”). In May 2026, it reached $1 billion in client assets.
As a side note, Sarwa offers a referral bonus of AED 100 to AED 3,000, depending on how much you fund within 90 days (from $500). The bonus must stay in your account for 12 months.
That’s Sarwa in a nutshell! Let’s explore all the details!
Video summary
Overview
Sarwa is a digital wealth management platform founded in 2017 and based in Abu Dhabi. It serves residents across multiple countries, mainly in the Gulf, and is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Sarwa brings several services together in a single app:
- Sarwa Trade: a self-directed platform for buying and selling US stocks, ETFs and options, alongside crypto through Sarwa Crypto. No advice is provided to Sarwa Trade clients, so all decisions are yours.
- Sarwa Invest: low-cost, globally diversified portfolios matched to your risk tolerance, built from ETFs and fully automated. Halal portfolios are available alongside Conventional and Socially Responsible options.
- Sarwa Save: a cash management product invested in money market funds, with an estimated return of 3.8% in USD (Save+) or 4.2% (Save Halal) before fees as of October 2026.
Sarwa is available on the web and through iOS and Android apps, which are clean and straightforward to navigate.
Sarwa charges no account opening fee, custody fee, withdrawal fee, account closing fee or inactivity fee, and transfers from local UAE bank accounts are free. There are fees that do apply, which we cover in the “Fees” section below.
Highlights
| 🗺️ Supported countries | Many countries worldwide, with exceptions including the US, Cyprus, Croatia, Russia and Ukraine |
| 💵 Minimum deposit | Sarwa Trade: $500 net deposit to start; Sarwa Invest: $500 to $2,500 depending on the portfolio |
| 📍 Products offered | US stocks, ETFs and options, cryptocurrencies, managed ETF portfolios and money market funds |
| 💰 Sarwa Trade fees | Stocks and ETFs: the greater of $1 per trade or 0.25% of trade value. US options: $4 per contract |
| 💰 Sarwa Invest fees | 0.4% to 0.85% per year depending on your balance (minimum $7 per month on the Standard tier), plus roughly 0.1% in underlying fund costs |
| 💰 Sarwa Crypto fees | 1.5% spread, no commission |
| 💰 Sarwa Save fees | 0.50% per year |
| 🕌 Sharia-compliant options | Halal portfolios and Sarwa Save Halal available |
| 💰 Inactivity fee | $0 |
| 💰 Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| 🎮 Demo account | No |
| 📜 Regulatory entity | FSRA (Abu Dhabi Global Market) |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Access to human financial advisor
- Low fees
- Slick and easy to use app
- Sarwa Invest (Robo-advisor) is a good option for beginners
- Sarwa Save is a good alternative to earn interest on cash
Cons
- Newcomer in the industry: short track record
- Limited asset offering: no bonds or stocks listed outside the USA
- US options are quite expensive ($4 per contract)
Account opening
The sign-up process is pretty simple. You just need to fill in your personal details and provide the necessary documentation (passport and proof of residency):
Investment platform
Sarwa is available both on PC and mobile. We will cover both.
In the PC, this is your dashboard as soon as you log into Sarwa:
You can clearly see your account balance (my account had $50 at this review), returns, deposits and any withdrawals. Plus, you can manage your account settings.
The mobile is also pretty intuitive:
Within Sarwa Trade, orders can be placed as market, limit or stop orders, and you can also place dollar-based orders and set up recurring auto-trades.
Products and markets
As noted above, Sarwa offers several distinct services. Here is a closer look at each.
Sarwa Trade
Sarwa Trade is the self-directed side of the platform, covering US stocks, ETFs, and options. It competes most directly with brokers such as eToro and Interactive Brokers. Key characteristics:
- Access to thousands of US stocks and ETFs, plus US options (long calls and puts, covered calls and cash-secured puts).
- A minimum net deposit of $500 to start trading.
- Market, limit and stop orders.
- Fractional shares, useful for building positions in higher-priced companies.
Two limitations worth knowing. Sarwa Trade covers US-listed securities only, so there is no access to European, Asian or local Gulf markets, a meaningful constraint if you want geographic diversification beyond the US. And unlike Sarwa Invest, Sarwa Trade applies no Sharia screening, so if compliance matters to you, that responsibility sits entirely with you on this side of the platform.
Here is Sarwa Trade in the mobile app:
Sarwa Invest
Sarwa Invest distinguishes itself from Sarwa Trade since it is a pre-defined investment process that incentivizes you to “take the hand from the wheel” and simply let your investment run in a portfolio that corresponds to your risk level.
There are several portfolios to choose from, namely:
Conventional
The conventional portfolios give you six diverse portfolios from “low risk” to “more risk”. The “low risk” allocations give you more exposure to US and Global Bonds:
Whereas, as you go through the risk profile, the allocations to US and other developed market stocks increase:
In any of the portfolios chosen (from 1 to 6), the combined allocation to Real Estate and Emerging Markets does not surpass 20% of the total allocation.
Halal
The Halal portfolios, built from BlackRock Islamic ETFs and the Franklin Global Sukuk Fund, expose you to Sukuk, an Islamic financial certificate that complies with Islamic religious law (Sharia). The “lower risk” portfolio gives you a high allocation to Sukuk:
Going through the risk ladder, the portfolios look more like the Conventional ones. Also, you get a 5% exposure to Gold, an asset class (precious metals) not available in the Conventional portfolios:
Socially Responsible
The Social Responsible portfolios incorporate ETFs that invest in companies that meet certain sustainable criteria such as environmentally sustainable practices, fair labor standards, and others.
The allocations to each asset class are almost identical to the Conventional portfolios (remember that the change in ETFs does not affect the risk profile of an investor). The “Lower risk” portfolio:
And the “more risk” portfolio:
Please note that the minimum investment is $2,500 (not $500 as in the Conventional and Halal portfolios).
Conventional Crypto
The Conventional crypto portfolios comprise 5 portfolios in total (not 6) and add a 5% exposure to Bitcoin through the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), whether it is a “lower risk” or “more risk” portfolio.
“Lower risk” portfolio exposure:
“Higher risk” portfolio exposure:
Socially Responsible Crypto
The Socially Responsible Crypto portfolios follow the same structure as the Conventional Crypto option, substituting certain ETFs for alternatives that apply sustainability screening.
Sarwa Crypto
Sarwa Crypto lets you buy and sell cryptocurrencies from as little as $5, with 24/7 access to crypto markets.
Key characteristics:
- 1.5% spread on trades, with no separate commission.
- Fractional crypto purchases.
- Minimum of $5 per trade.
- Market, stop and limit orders.
- Real-time pricing.
Bear in mind that cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and speculative. You should be prepared to lose the full amount invested. Crypto is held by Alpaca Crypto with Fireblocks as custody provider and carries no investor compensation protection.
Sarwa Save
Sarwa Save+ offers an estimated return of 3.8% in USD before fees (October 2026), invested in the Pictet Short Term Money Market (USD) fund, with no minimum deposit and no lock-in period, subject to a 0.50% management fee. As with any money market product, the rate is variable and tracks prevailing conditions, so check the current figure before committing:
A Sharia-compliant version, Save Halal, is also available, with an estimated 4.2% in USD before fees (October 2026) through the Emirates Islamic Money Market Fund:
Fees
Here is the overall fee structure:
| Account type | Fees |
| Sarwa Trade | The greater of $1 or 0.25% of trade value on stocks and ETFs; $4 per options contract |
| Sarwa Invest | 0.40% to 0.85% annual management fee depending on your balance (minimum $7 per month on the Standard tier), plus roughly 0.1% in underlying ETF costs |
| Sarwa Crypto | 1.5% spread on each trade |
| Sarwa Save | 0.50% annual management fee |
Stock and ETF trades cost the greater of $1 or 0.25% of trade value, and options $4 per contract (exercising a contract costs the greater of $1 or 0.25% of the traded value).
Sarwa Invest management fees fall as your balance grows:
| Tier | Balance | Annual fee |
| Standard | Under $100,000 | 0.85% (minimum $7 per month) |
| Platinum | $100,000 to $500,000 | 0.70% |
| Private Wealth | Over $500,000 | 0.50% |
| Legacy | Over $5 million | 0.40% |
Sarwa Invest management fees as of October 2026, according to Sarwa’s help centre.
The $7 monthly minimum on the Standard tier deserves attention. It is waived for the first three months, but after that, on a $500 portfolio, the stated entry point, $84 a year works out at roughly 17% annually, which would overwhelm any realistic return. The fee only becomes proportionate above roughly $10,000, so if you are starting small, Sarwa Trade with a low-cost ETF is likely the more sensible route until your balance grows.
Sarwa Crypto applies a 1.5% spread, which is high compared with most crypto platforms. Sarwa Save charges 0.50% a year on the deposited amount, which is deducted from the estimated return.
Funding by local UAE bank transfer is free, while debit card deposits cost 2.99% + AED 1 (UAE cards) or 3.99% + AED 1 (international cards). Converting AED to USD costs roughly 0.25% compared with the official peg.
There are no account opening, custody, withdrawal, account closing or even inactivity fees.
Regulation
Sarwa operates through Sarwa Digital Wealth (Capital) Limited, regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) under FSP number 190037. Its former Dubai entity, regulated by the DFSA, was consolidated into the ADGM entity in 2024.
For Sarwa Invest and Sarwa Save, client assets (both cash and securities) are held separately from Sarwa’s own balance sheet in a custodian account at Saxo, regulated by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, with Citibank as sub-custodian.
If Saxo were unable to return securities held in custody, the Danish Guarantee Fund covers up to €20,000 per client (or USD equivalent). For cash deposits not yet invested, protection extends to €100,000.
For Sarwa Trade, Alpaca Securities acts as broker and custodian, with BMO Bank as the bank for client cash. Sarwa Trade accounts are covered by the US Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) up to $500,000, including $250,000 in cash, plus excess insurance arranged by Alpaca.
One practical caveat worth noting: this multi-layered structure means your assets pass through several entities. Segregation and custodian protection apply once funds reach the custodian, but there is a brief window during transfers where that protection is not yet in effect. This is a standard feature of this arrangement rather than a Sarwa-specific issue, but worth understanding.
Supported countries
Sarwa accepts clients from many countries, though its primary focus is residents of the UAE and the wider Gulf. US citizens and residents cannot open an account, and 29 countries of residence are restricted, including Cyprus, Croatia, Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria and Vietnam. The full list of restricted countries is available here.
Bottom line
Sarwa is a versatile digital wealth platform serving both self-directed investors and those who prefer a hands-off approach. Across Sarwa Trade, Sarwa Invest, Sarwa Crypto, and Sarwa Save, it covers most of what a retail investor in the Gulf would need within a single app.
Its strengths are clear: zero local transfer fees, no account maintenance or inactivity charges, FSRA regulation, a well-designed mobile experience and, notably for the region, genuine Sharia-compliant portfolio options with dedicated Halal screening.
Two limitations to weigh. Sarwa Trade covers US-listed securities only, so investors seeking European, Asian, or local market exposure will need a second account or a different broker. And the $7 monthly minimum on Sarwa Invest makes the managed service uneconomic below roughly $10,000, despite the $500 stated entry point. Crypto is also expensive, with a 1.5% spread.
Overall, Sarwa suits UAE and Gulf residents wanting a low-friction, low-cost route into US markets or a fully automated portfolio, particularly those who value locally regulated service and Sharia-compliant options. Investors with larger portfolios or a need for global market access may find a broker like Interactive Brokers a better fit.
