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Sarwa Helps UAE Residents Easily Invest In Global Stocks
Sarwa, the UAE-based online investment platform that is democratizing investing in the region, allows anyone to invest small amounts of money in global markets making investing simple and affordable for all investors in the Middle East.
Thanks to modern technology, lucrative investment opportunities are no longer available only to individuals with traditional access to stock markets. These days, there are many apps that let inexperienced and seasoned investors alike sit on a couch and invest their hard-earned money using nothing but a smartphone, and Sarwa is one of them.
The investment platform launched in February 2018 after raising over $1.3 million from regional and global investors during a pre-Series A. “We’re so excited to close this round with the top VCs regionally and internationally that are backing Sarwa in its growth,” said Mark Chahwan, CEO and co-founder of Sarwa, at the time.
Sarwa Founders
Fast-forward to today, and Sarwa has over 25,000 registered users, who use it to invest in international stock markets through a range of class assets. Sarwa caters to everyone regardless of their net worth: the platform has high net worth individuals, mass affluent as well as small retail investors. The same users will soon be able to trade with global shares without paying any commission on their trades.
What separates Sarwa from other investment platforms that are licensed to operate in UAE, such as Wealthface or Stashaway, is its AI-driven hybrid nature and exceptional customer support. The app platform uses artificial intelligence to recommend a specific investment portfolio based on each investor’s preferences and investment priorities while also providing their client base with access to humans when needed.
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“When you start investing with Sarwa, we assess your risk profile and recommend a diversified portfolio that reflects it,” explains Chahwan. “If you are a short-term investor, then your portfolio will inherently be less risky. If you are in a portfolio that has more exposure to stocks, which is considered more growth and more risk, then you are in it for the long-term and the short-term (even if it is a couple of years) won’t have an impact on your long-term strategy.”
In its beta form, access to global stock trading will be provided exclusively to Sarwa Invest customers, but other Sarwa users can enter a waiting list to join when the full product is launched.
News
Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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