“Can a regional robo-advisor become the default wealth and savings platform for the MENA mass affluent?”
Sarwa launched in 2017 as the first robo-advisor in MENA, operating under DFSA's Innovation Testing License sandbox before moving to ADGM/FSRA. The product expanded from purely auto-investing into a multi-product platform: self-directed trading (Sarwa Trade), crypto (Sarwa Crypto) and a cash account (Sarwa Save). The underlying execution and custody is provided by Saxo Bank for invest/trade and Alpaca for US securities (including a fully-paid securities lending program). Funding flows have shifted from card and wire to open-banking-powered bank transfers via Lean Technologies.