Sarwa, one of the GCC’s investment and personal finance platforms, has surpassed US$1 billion in client assets under management (AUM), becoming the first UAE homegrown fintech to reach the milestone.
The achievement comes amid ongoing global and regional uncertainty and reflects growing participation from retail investors in the UAE and wider region.
It also highlights Abu Dhabi’s position as a financial centre, supported by the ADGM, which has provided a regulated environment for fintech development.
“When we started, many said retail investing would not work in MENA,”
said Mark Chahwan, Group CEO and Co-founder of Sarwa.
“They thought investors here were different. Crossing US$1 billion in client assets proves otherwise. The demand was always there. What was missing was trust, access, and a simple product built by a great team.”
Sarwa received backing from Mubadala in its Series B round in 2021.
ADGM officials also highlighted the role of regulation in supporting fintech growth.
“This milestone underscores the strength of Abu Dhabi’s financial ecosystem,”
said Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM.
The GCC fintech sector is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of around 15% through 2030.
In the UAE, investment participation remains relatively low, with an estimated 6% of residents invested in stocks, bonds or funds.
Sarwa said it plans to continue expanding its product offering and investor access across the region.
Featured image credit: Sarwa press release
