Chocolate Finance has entered the UAE market, extending its investment services beyond Singapore and Hong Kong.

UAE residents and international non-residents can now open accounts and invest in UAE dirhams (AED), US dollars (USD) or both.

Customers can earn returns of 4.4 percent per annum on their first AED 100,000 or US$25,000 respectively, with returns of up to 4.4 percent on amounts exceeding those thresholds.

Chocolate Finance’s top-up programme applies to investments within the stated thresholds, subject to its terms and conditions.

The offering has no minimum investment requirements or lock-in periods.

Founder Walter de Oude explained that the UAE offering operates under a different investment structure from its Singapore and Hong Kong businesses.

The UAE business uses the company’s proprietary Chocolate Global Income Fund instead of investing through third-party funds.

According to de Oude, this structure lowers operating costs and allows the company to offer slightly higher returns to customers.

Chocolate Finance said both the company and its fund are licensed and regulated by the UAE’s Capital Market Authority.

The company cautioned that invested capital is at risk and past performance does not indicate future returns.

This article first appeared on Fintech News Singapore 

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Middle East, based on images by Chocolate Finance and benzoix via Magnific