Robo-advisors are rapidly transforming the investment landscape in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offering residents and expatriates access to sophisticated, low-cost wealth management services that were once available only to high-net-worth individuals.
Among the services offered by robo-advisors in the UAE, investors can find Shariah-compliant portfolios, goal-based investing tools, fractional share ownership, and access to international markets that might otherwise be difficult to navigate.
Whether you're a UAE national, expatriate professional, or long-term resident, this article will help you identify the best robo-advisor for your specific investment needs and financial goals.
If you're interested in learning more about robo-advisors, how they work, the services they offer, and whether this form of automated investing suits your needs, check out our article titled “What is a Robo-advisor?”
Platforms operating in the country are supervised by regulators such as the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Note: Most platforms on that list are not true robo-advisors. Only Sarwa and Wahed Invest fit the definition, as they offer fully automated, algorithm-driven portfolio management with risk profiling and rebalancing. In contrast, eToro, Trading 212, and Baraka are primarily DIY investing or trading platforms, even if they offer features like copy trading, themed portfolios, or auto-invest, these tools do not qualify as robo-advice because they do not provide personalised, automated portfolio management.
Comparison table - UAE robo-advisors
Feature
Sarwa
Wahed Invest
eToro (Smart Portfolios)
Trading 212 (AutoInvest)
Baraka
Type
True robo-advisor
True Shariah robo-advisor
Automated themed portfolios (similar to robo-advisor)
DIY automated investing (pies)
DIY investing with auto-invest
Best for
Beginners & long-term investors in the UAE
Muslim investors (Halal)
Social trading & thematic portfolios
Low-cost global investing
Beginners in the UAE
Annual Management Fees
0.40%–0.85%
0.49%–0.99%
No management fee (spreads apply)
0% + 0.15% FX fee
0% trading + optional subscription
Minimum Investment
$500
$500
$100
$1
$50
Shariah-Compliant Option
Yes
Yes (fully)
No
No
Yes (Sharia score only)
Portfolio Rebalancing
Automatic
Automatic
Automatic (managed by eToro team)
Automatic (Pies)
Not fully automated
Asset Types
ETFs (Vanguard, iShares), halal options, crypto
Halal equities, sukuk
Stocks, ETFs, crypto baskets
Stocks, ETFs
US stocks & ETFs
UAE Regulation
DFSA
FSRA (Abu Dhabi)
FSRA (Abu Dhabi)
None (EU-regulated)
DFSA
Local AED Deposits
Yes
Yes (bank transfer)
Yes
No (FX conversion applies)
Yes
Languages
English, Arabic
English, Arabic
English, Arabic
English
English, Arabic
Bonus
Up to AED 500
—
Up to $500
Free fractional share up to €100
Premium perks
Who should choose it?
UAE residents wanting simplicity & regulation
Muslim investors only
Investors who like copying top strategies and traders
Cost-conscious global investors
New investors who want a simple app
Below is our updated review of the leading robo-advisors available to UAE residents.
Sarwa, a UAE-based fintech company founded in 2017, offers a simple, regulated, and user-friendly way to invest globally. Its portfolios are built using well-known ETFs from providers such as Vanguard and iShares, providing investors with broad global exposure through a passive, long-term strategy.
Sarwa offers both standard and Shariah-compliant portfolios, and it relies on automatic rebalancing, goal-based planning, and modern portfolio theory to maintain a consistent risk profile over time.
From a cost perspective, Sarwa is transparent and competitive. Management fees range between 0.40% and 0.85% annually, depending on account size, while the underlying ETFs typically carry low expense ratios. The minimum initial investment amount is US$500, making it accessible for beginners as well as experienced investors.
Funding flexibility is one of Sarwa’s strong points: users can deposit through local bank transfers in AED at no cost and via international transfers or debit card payments. Withdrawals to UAE bank accounts are free on Sarwa’s side and are usually processed within a few business days.
Sarwa offers several investment plans: conventional, socially responsible, crypto, and halal. Within each investment plan, you can choose an investment strategy that fits your risk appetite, ranging from low risk to high risk. Their user-friendly mobile app and web platform make it easy to track your progress, set up recurring monthly investments starting from $100, and adjust your investment goals.
Sarwa is ideal for UAE residents who value the ability to speak with local advisors and prefer keeping their investments within a UAE-regulated entity. It's also particularly suitable for expatriates who appreciate the bilingual support and local customer service, as well as investors seeking both conventional and Islamic investment options.
Wahed is a US-based halal digital investment platform founded in 2015, which expanded to the UAE in 2023. It offers investors a fully Shariah-compliant way to build long-term wealth. All portfolios are supervised by a dedicated Shariah committee of respected Islamic scholars, ensuring strict compliance with Islamic investment principles, including the exclusion of interest-based institutions, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, and other prohibited sectors.
Opening an account is simple: complete a short risk-assessment questionnaire, review the recommended portfolio, submit the required registration forms, and fund your account. You can only deposit and withdraw funds via a bank transfer, and the minimum investment is $500.
Portfolios are globally diversified, Shariah-compliant, and passively managed across equities, sukuk, and other halal assets. They are optimized using principles similar to Modern Portfolio Theory and rebalanced whenever your risk profile changes, when you add or withdraw funds, or when market conditions shift.
Wahed charges an annual management fee of 0.99% for portfolios under $250,000 and 0.49% for larger accounts. The platform is regulated by major authorities, including the FCA (UK), FSRA (Abu Dhabi), and the SEC (US).
Fees: Zero commission, 1% on crypto assets included in Smart Portfolios
Minimum balance: $100
Supported languages: English and Arabic
Regulation: CySEC, FCA, and ASIC
eToro was founded in 2007 and has since expanded to serve over 35 million users worldwide, and it has established a strong presence in the UAE. Through its Abu Dhabi entity, eToro is regulated by the FSRA under ADGM, giving traders access to both international markets and locally listed UAE stocks on the ADX.
The platform’s Smart Portfolios serve as its robo-advisor offering, which provides fully managed, theme-based portfolios that cover global equities, technology, crypto baskets, and sector-focused strategies, all rebalanced and maintained by eToro’s investment team.
They come in three categories: Top Trader Portfolios, which group high-performing investors; Thematic Market Portfolios, which focus on specific sectors, regions, or investment themes; and Partner Portfolios, built and managed in collaboration with leading financial institutions and fintech companies.
eToro does not charge management fees for its Smart Portfolios, but it does charge spreads on the underlying financial transactions within the portfolio. Investors may also incur other fees, such as a 1% buy/sell fee for cryptocurrencies if the portfolio contains crypto assets.
Fees: Zero commission on stocks and ETFs; 0.15% currency conversion fee.
Minimum balance: $1
Supported languages: English
Regulation: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and BaFin
Trading 212 is a popular commission-free trading platform among UAE residents who want European-regulated access to global markets.
The platform supports more than 10,000 stocks and ETFs across US, UK and European exchanges, and its signature AutoInvest “Pies” feature allows users to build diversified, long-term portfolios that rebalance automatically. Pies let investors choose the assets they want, assign target weightings, set recurring contributions and benefit from fractional shares, making it easy to follow a disciplined investing strategy even with smaller amounts.
AutoInvest Pies are built for passive investors: each pie contains a customized mix of stocks or ETFs, and Trading 212 automatically invests new contributions according to your target weights and rebalances the portfolio when allocations move off-track. You can create your own pie from scratch or browse ready-made community pies to replicate diversified strategies with one click.
While deposits in AED are not supported directly, Trading 212 converts them into USD, GBP, or EUR at a 0.15% FX fee, which is the main cost UAE users encounter. Card deposits are typically instant, bank transfers take one to three business days, and withdrawals are free, returning to the original payment method within roughly five business days. There are no commissions on stock or ETF trades and no withdrawal, inactivity, or account maintenance fees.
While Trading 212 is not regulated in the UAE, its European compliance standards, transparent pricing and automated portfolio tools make it a compelling choice for UAE expatriates and internationally oriented investors.
Baraka is a UAE-based investment platform designed for beginners and young investors who want a simple and low-cost way to start building a portfolio. The app offers commission-free access to U.S. stocks, ETFs, and fractional shares, allowing users to begin investing with as little as $1.
Baraka is well-suited for investors who want to build DIY portfolios with recurring contributions, thanks to its Auto-Invest feature, which allows users to schedule weekly or monthly investments into their chosen stocks or ETFs. This makes it easy to follow a disciplined dollar-cost-averaging strategy without having to manually place trades. However, while Baraka supports automated investing, it does not offer full auto-rebalancing like traditional robo-advisors.
Baraka also offers multiple subscription tiers: Standard (free), Premium ($7.99/month) and Premium+ ($16.66/month), each designed to enhance the investor experience. Standard users get access to over 8,400 U.S. stocks and low-commission trades, while Premium members receive additional benefits such as free monthly trades, lower FX fees, free withdrawals, and access to professional research. Premium subscribers enjoy in-depth company analysis from Refinitiv (LSEG).
While it is not a full robo-advisor, Baraka’s Auto-Invest tool, Sharia-score screening, DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan), and extensive research tools make it a compelling choice for UAE residents who value accessibility and transparent fees.
Pros
Very easy to use
Fractional shares
Auto-invest scheduling
Sharia screening
Cons
No full rebalancing
Limited asset universe (US-focused)
Final thoughts
In conclusion, robo-advisors have become a popular option for investors seeking hassle-free and automated investment solutions. As the number of robo-advisors in the UAE continues to grow, selecting the right one can be a challenging task.
In this article, we highlighted some of the top robo-advisors available to UAE investors. When choosing the right platform, it’s important to look beyond fees and minimum deposits and focus on your specific needs.
For instance, we believe that Sarwa is the best overall robo-advisor in the UAE, however, if you require Shariah-compliant investing, Wahed Invest may be another suitable option. If social-trading features appeal to you, eToro stands out. If access to international markets is a priority, Trading 212 could be more compelling given their extensive stock offering. For investors who want to build their own portfolio and commit to monthly auto-investments, Baraka may be a better fit.
Remember that the best robo-advisor is the one that aligns with your investment goals, risk tolerance, and personal preferences. We strongly encourage you to research each platform thoroughly, read its terms and conditions, and understand its fee structures before making any investment decisions.
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any feedback or question.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best robo-advisor in the UAE?
There is no single “best” robo-advisor, it depends entirely on your goals and needs. For strong local presence and customer service, Sarwa is often preferred. If you want social or copy trading features, eToro stands out. For DIY portfolios and auto-invest, Baraka is a popular choice. Muslim investors may consider Wahed for fully Shariah-compliant portfolios, while experienced or international-market-focused investors may prefer Trading212 for its wide asset selection and low-cost structure.
Visit their websites, try them out, and decide for yourself!
Are robo-advisors regulated in the UAE?
Yes. UAE-based robo-advisors are regulated by authorities such as the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), or the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). In addition, several reputable international platforms also accept UAE residents.
How much money do I need to start investing with a robo-advisor in the UAE?
Minimum investment requirements vary by platform. Some robo-advisors let you begin with as little as $1, while others require $100 - $500, depending on the service and portfolio structure.
Are there Shariah-compliant robo-advisors in the UAE?
Yes. Wahed specializes exclusively in Halal investing under the supervision of Islamic scholars. Sarwa also offers Shariah-compliant portfolios alongside its standard investment options.
Does Revolut offer a robo-advisor in the UAE?
Revolut has launched a robo-advisor service in several European countries, providing automatically managed, diversified portfolios based on an investor’s risk profile. However, this service is not yet available in the UAE.
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