UAE-Based Sarwa Becomes First Homegrown Fintech To Reach US$1 Billion in Assets

Sarwa, a UAE-based investing and money management platform with operations across the GCC, has surpassed US$1 billion in client assets under management (AUM), becoming the first homegrown UAE fintech to reach this milestone.

The US$1 billion reflects the fair value of all client holdings, including equities, options, cryptocurrencies, and cash across Sarwa Invest, Sarwa Trade, Sarwa Crypto, and Sarwa Save. 

Achieved amid ongoing global and regional uncertainty, the milestone signals both the resilience of the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s financial infrastructure, as well as growing confidence among individual investors.

“When we started, many said retail investing would not work in MENA,” Mark Chahwan, Group CEO and Co-founder of Sarwa, said. “They thought investors here were different. Crossing $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. Retail investors in this region were underserved. Now, we see not just participation, but a community forming. Investors are building portfolios with performance once thought possible only for institutions.”  

Sarwa’s achievement is underpinned by Abu Dhabi’s rise as a global financial centre and ADGM’s enabling business environment, which supports innovation, investor protection, and sustainable growth. It also points to a broader shift in the UAE and beyond, with retail investors playing a more active role in shaping financial markets and driving demand for diverse investment instruments.

“This milestone belongs to our clients,” said Jad Sayegh, Co-founder and CTO of Sarwa. “It’s their portfolios, their discipline, and their long-term mindset. What we’re seeing now is momentum. Once people start investing, it compounds, not just financially, but behaviourally.”

With the GCC fintech sector projected to grow at a 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030, and only 6% of UAE residents currently invested in financial markets, the country is still in the early stages of its growth trajectory. Sarwa aims to build on this momentum by expanding its offerings and widening access to investing across the region.