Sarwa review: Broker & Robo-Advisor (2026)

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 Invest is available both on PC and mobile. However, you can only use Sarwa Trade in the mobile app. 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 or limit orders.

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 10,000+ US stocks and ETFs, plus US options;
• No minimum deposit – you can start from $1;
• Market and limit 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.

A reminder that Sarwa Trade is available only through the Sarwa 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 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 Conventional and Halal portfolios).

Conventional Crypto

The Conventional crypto portfolios only comprise 5 portfolios in total (not 6) and add a 5% exposure to Bitcoin (Greyscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), the largest publicly traded Bitcoin fund in the world), no matter if 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:

• 0.75% spread on trades, with no separate commission;
• Fractional crypto purchases;
• Minimum of $5 to start;
• 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, and crypto holdings carry no investor compensation protection.

Sarwa Save

Sarwa Save offers a projected return of 3.7% in USD, 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 is also available, offering a projected 4.0% in USD as of August 2026 through the Emirates Islamic Money Market Fund:

Fees

Here is the overall fee structure:

Stock and ETF trades cost the greater of $1 or 0.25% of trade value, and options $4 per contract.

Sarwa Invest carries an annual management fee of 0.50% to 0.85%, subject to a minimum of $7 per month. That minimum deserves attention: 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 0.75% spread on each side of a trade, meaning a round trip costs roughly 1.5%. Sarwa Save charges 0.50% annually on the deposited amount, which is deducted from the headline return.

There are no account opening, custody, withdrawal, account closing or even inactivity fees.

Regulation

Sarwa, formerly known as “Sarwa Digital Wealth (Capital) Limited”, is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (“ADGM”).

Client assets – both investable cash and securities – are held separately from Sarwa’s own balance sheet in a custodian account at Saxo, which is regulated by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority.

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 and Sarwa Crypto, Alpaca acts as the executing broker, using BMO Harris Bank as custodian for client deposits.

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 – a standard feature of this arrangement rather than a Sarwa-specific issue, but worth understanding.

Supported countries

Sarwa accepts clients worldwide, though its primary focus is residents of the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. 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.

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.