Sarwa is a reputable low fee broker offering zero commission stock and ETF trading, cryptocurrency trading and robo-advisory services. Established in 2017, it is regulated by the DFSA and FSRA and considered safe.
Review Summary:
- Auto invest options with low fees
- Access to zero commission stock and ETF trading
- Regulation by the DFSA and FSRA
- Low minimum deposits
Sarwa is a low fees broker has an auto-invest option, has low minimum deposit requirements, and excellent customer support. The disadvantages of Sarwa are that the educational material provided is minimal and that verification can take a while.
Sarwa Company Overview
Sarwa is a reputable online broker offering robo-advisor services (Sarwa Invest) and brokerage services (Sarwa Trade and Sarwa Crypto) at the same time. It is a great solution for beginner and intermediate traders who want professionals to manage their investments, but also have the option to trade on their own.
Sarwa Invest
Sarwa Invest is an automated trading feature, offering users to invest in different mutual funds (index funds, ETFs) based on their risk exposure profile and the usage of robo-advisor technology. You can choose to auto-deposit monthly, reinvest your dividends, or invest with human advisors.
Users are guided through a five step set-up process where they choose between different investment criteria. Those are evaluated and users preferences are converted into personalised mutual funds portfolios. Those are adjusted based on market fluctuations and performance quarterly.
Sarwa Trade
Sarwa Trade is a generic trading platform that allows users zero commission trades on a wide range of different stocks and ETFs. The platform is intuitive, easy to use and offers simple trading features. It enables users to buy fractional shares and there is no minimum deposit required to open a Sarwa Trade account. AED account transfers are free of charge. The minimum trade is $1.
Sarwa Crypto
Sarwa Crypto enables users access the most trusted cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash using advanced market, stop and limit orders. They do not charge any inactivity fees, no transfer fees and no commissions on cryptocurrency trades.
Regulation
Sarwa is regulated by top tier financial regulators for UAE including the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi (FSRA). Sarwa has an Investor Compensation Fund license from the DFSA. This means that the UAE Central Bank will cover your deposits if the company goes bankrupt. The assets you invest in with Sarwa are held in a custodian account at Saxo Capital Markets and are protected by the EU banking and investment directives.
Accounts
Sarwa Trade offers access to a starter account, standard account, premium account and platinum account.
The picture below breaks down the difference between those accounts.
Sarwa Invest Portfolio Types
There are four types of Sarwa investment portfolios: conventional portfolios, socially responsible investing portfolios, Halal portfolios, and crypto portfolios. These portfolios allocate investments in different ways and spread them in US stocks, developed markets, real estate, emerging markets, US bonds, Sukuk, gold, and crypto. You can choose what kind of portfolio to invest in according to your own investment goals and preferences.
- Conventional Portfolios – Contain low-risk ETFs like Blackrock and Vanguard ETFs that cover multiple industries.
- Socially Responsible Investing Portfolios – Contain eco-friendly companies that have a positive social impact.
- Halal Portfolios – Contain Sharia-compliant stocks, indices, commodities, and currencies, that do not profit from interest and do not involve gambling, tobacco, and other Haram companies.
- Crypto Portfolios – Contain cryptocurrency investments like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Sarwa Invest Returns
To date, Sarwa’s investment portfolios generated between 3% and 11% net return yearly. When you open a Sarwa Invest account and deposit money into it, your money will be automatically divided in stocks and other assets according to your chosen portfolio type. From your personal dashboard, you can see how your funds are allocated and what your current realized returns are.
Fees and Minimum Deposits
Sarwa charges advisory fees and ETF fees according to the table below.
| Fee Type | Starter Account | Standard Account | Premium Account | Platinum Account |
| Advisory fee | None | 0,85% | 0,7% | 0,5% |
| ETF fee | 0,25% | 0,1% | 0,15% | 0,15% |
| Minimum deposit | $5 | $2.500 | $50.000 | $100.000 |
Minimum deposits varies based on the type of investment and portfolio.
- Minimum deposit on conventional investments: $5
- Minimum deposit on Halal plan: $500
- Minimum deposit on Crypto portfolios: $2500
Customer Service
Sarwa customer service is responsive, well educated and available in Arabic and English. It is accessible 24/7 by phone, WhatsApp, live chat, email, and social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.
Conclusion
Sarwa is a reputable online broker offering robo-advisory and brokerage services at the same time. Their trading platform is intuitive, easy to use and offers great stock, ETF and crypto trading features.
Based on our review, we recommend Sarwa to beginner and intermediate traders who are looking for “hands of investments” with the option to invest in stocks, ETFs and cryptos on their own.
Disclosure
All trading involves risk. More than 80% of investors lose in spread bet and CFD trading. As these complex instruments allow for the use of leverage, there is a high risk of losing more money than you have deposited. Before attempting to participate in spread bets and CFDs, consider how well you understand them and if you can afford to lose your money.
