Best robo-advisors in Saudi Arabia in 2024 (compared)

Toni Nasr, CFA, FRM

Robo-advisors have become popular in Saudi Arabia as a convenient and cost-effective investment solution. These automated platforms use advanced algorithms and user-friendly interfaces to empower investors to manage their portfolios and achieve their financial goals. However, with a wide array of Robo-advisors available, it can be challenging to determine which one is the best fit for your needs. That's where Robo-Advisor Finder comes in.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a list of the top Robo-advisors in Saudi Arabia for 2024. We considered key factors like fees, investment options, customer service, and user experience when making our picks.

Here’s a quick list of the top Robo-advisors in Saudi Arabia:

  1. Malaa: Best Robo-Advisor Overall
  2. Tamra Capital: the leader in robo-advisory in terms of AUMs
  3. Drahim: Best for low fees
  4. Vault Wealth: Best for high investment amounts ($100k+)
  5. Derayah Smart: Best for low minimum deposit and additional trading services
  6. Sarwa: Best for various investment strategies
  7. Abyan: Best for long-term investments
Comparison of Robo-advisors in Saudi Arabia

Best Robo-advisors in Saudi Arabia

If you're a Saudi investor, there are important considerations when selecting a Robo-advisor:

  • Competitive pricing: Ensure that the fees charged by the Robo-advisor are reasonable and provide value for the investment management services offered.
  • Low minimum deposit requirements: Look for a Robo-advisor that accommodates your budget by offering a minimum deposit requirement that suits your financial capabilities.
  • Availability of Sharia-compliant or Halal portfolios: Ensure that the Robo-advisor offers investments that align with Islamic principles, granting you peace of mind and confidence that your financial decisions align with your religious beliefs.

To determine the best Robo-advisors in Saudi Arabia, we conducted extensive research, evaluating various platforms based on these key characteristics. Here are the results of our thorough investigation.

#1 Malaa

💲Fees: 0.35% per year

💵 Minimum balance: SAR 1,000

🌙 Halal investment available: Yes

Founded in 2021, Malaa Technologies is a Saudi fintech company that specializes in Robo-advisory services. It is licensed and regulated by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) and is committed to providing a platform that is simple, accessible to everyone, and transparent for individuals looking to achieve their savings and investment goals.

Opening an investment account with Malaa is a seamless and convenient process that can be completed entirely online. By answering a few simple questions, their algorithms analyze your profile, considering factors such as age, income, risk tolerance, and more. Based on this analysis, Malaa suggests the most suitable portfolio for you.

Malaa offers a single investment strategy that encompasses four different portfolios, catering to the diverse needs of investors. These portfolios are designed with specific risk levels, ranging from low to high, allowing investors to choose the one that aligns with their risk tolerance. The portfolios allocate investments across four Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): HLAL for US stocks, KSA for Saudi stocks, GLD for gold, and SPSK for bonds. To get started, the minimum investment amount is 1,000 Saudi Riyals for the initial deposit, with subsequent investments requiring a minimum of 50 Saudi Riyals.

Malaa takes pride in being Sharia-compliant, ensuring that its investment products and services align with Islamic principles. The platform has an internal Sharia committee and external auditors to ensure compliance. Additionally, Malaa takes care of calculating Zakat, a religious obligation, on behalf of its users, making the process seamless and hassle-free.

Malaa stands out in the market by offering low fees, with an annual fee of just 0.35%. Furthermore, fees are only deducted at the time of withdrawal, preserving your investment returns and savings. In addition to Robo-advisory, Malaa provides the option to link your bank account to the platform and analyze your expenses. This feature allows you to gain insights into your spending habits and better manage your finances. Moreover, Malaa has plans to offer financing services in the future, expanding its range of financial solutions.

Malaa Homepage

#2 Tamra Capital

💲Fees: 20 riyals per month. For investment > SAR 60,000, annual fee of 0.4%

💵 Minimum balance: 500 SAR

🌙 Halal investment available: Yes

Tamra Capital is a licensed financial services company recognized by the Capital Market Authority.

The company specializes in providing individuals with easy access to both local and international investment funds through a secure, automated platform. This platform is designed to eliminate the complexities and burdens often associated with investing, ensuring precise and efficient operations. Tamra Financial focuses on Shariah-compliant ETFs, catering to investors seeking ethical investment options. It is focused on the UAE.

It is the leader in robo-advisory in terms of AUMs. Data on AUMs and subscribers are published on quarterly basis by Saudi CMA.

Tamra Capital homepage

#3 Drahim

💲Fees: Starting 0.25%

💵 Minimum balance: SAR 1,000

🌙 Halal investment available: Yes

Drahim is a Robo-advisor founded in 2021 that offers a convenient solution to connect all your accounts and investments in one place. It is licensed by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority within the regulatory sandbox and also holds a license from the Saudi Capital Market Authority within the financial technology lab.

Getting started with Drahim is straightforward. You begin by defining your investment goals, and based on that, they create a tailored portfolio designed to align with your objectives. Drahim offers 10 portfolios that cater to various risk profiles, ensuring there is an option suitable for every investor. They provide optimal asset allocation based on your chosen portfolio and risk tolerance. Assets are divided into three categories: Sukuk (Islamic bonds), real estate, and stocks (both Saudi and global).

Drahim places great emphasis on ensuring that all financial transactions are in accordance with Islamic principles. They have a specialized committee dedicated to monitoring and reviewing all financial activities to ensure compliance with Sharia regulations. This commitment ensures that your investments align with your ethical and religious beliefs.

In addition to portfolio management, Drahim offers detailed reports on your financial status. This feature provides a comprehensive overview of your finances, including your bank accounts and investments.

The minimum investment amount through the Drahim app is 1,000 Saudi riyals, and for subsequent investments, you can contribute as little as 50 Saudi riyals. Drahim charges management fees starting at 0.25% annually based on the value of the assets under management. The specific fee structure may vary depending on the type of portfolio you choose.

Drahim Homepage

#4 Vault Wealth

💲Fees: from 0.4% per year

💵 Minimum balance: $100k

🌙 Halal investment available: Yes

Vault Wealth is the UAE’s first digitally-enabled private wealth management app designed for HNWIs.

It offers personalized guidance from dedicated financial advisors who prioritize clients’ best interests. Vault provides a suite of investment opportunities, including diversified portfolios of equities and bonds, private market opportunities such as private equity and venture capital, and a high-yield cash management solution.

Why Choose Vault Wealth?

  • Tailored Financial Guidance: Advisors combine financial planning, asset allocation, tax advice, and investment banking expertise.
  • Trusted Custodian: Partnered with Interactive Brokers, ensuring security and protection through SIPC and US FDIC.
  • Diversified Investment Approach: Incorporates global equities, bonds, thematic investing, and private market strategies.
  • High-Yield Cash Management: Offers competitive interest rates on idle cash through SmartCash.
  • Exclusive Private Market Access: Available at lower minimum investments for professional clients.

For investors that would like to invest within the Islamic principles, they have created diversified portfolios with different allocations in shariah compliant equities and sukuk.

Vault Wealth homepage

#5 Derayah Smart 

💲Fees: 1.44% (0.60% excluding ETF fees)

💵 Minimum balance: SAR 500

🌙 Halal investment available: Yes

Derayah is a leading financial services company in Saudi Arabia, licensed by the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA), offering a range of investment and trading services. Among their offerings is Derayah Smart, an automated portfolio management service that provides clients with comprehensive wealth management solutions.

Getting started with Derayah Smart is a straightforward process. You begin by completing a short risk assessment questionnaire focusing on four key factors, including age, salary, profession, and time horizon. Based on your responses, Derayah Smart employs advanced algorithms to propose one of the three portfolio options: conservative, balanced, or growth. Each portfolio consists of different weightings of bonds, stocks, and money market instruments.

Specialized investment advisors continually monitor and adjust your portfolio to optimize performance and adapt to changing market conditions. Moreover, Derayah Smart allows you to separate your investments by opening multiple accounts, each dedicated to a different objective. Moreover, all Derayah Smart portfolios adhere to Islamic principles, investing exclusively in Sharia-compliant assets.

In addition to Derayah Smart, they offer a range of investment and trading services. You can monitor real-time stock prices, create personalized watchlists for stocks, ETFs, and options, and execute orders across multiple global stock exchanges. Their diverse offerings include stocks, forward contracts, ETFs, Forex, fixed income, and commodities.

To begin investing with Derayah Smart, you will need to have a Derayah account. Once you have an account, you can transfer a minimum of 500 SAR to Derayah Smart and start your investment journey. Derayah charges a total of 0.12% per month, equivalent to an annual fee of 1.44%. Of this fee, 0.60% represents Derayah's management fee for providing the service, while the remaining portion covers the expenses associated with the underlying ETFs and fund managers.

Derayah Homepage

#6 Sarwa

💲Fees: Between 0.50% and 0.85% per year (minimum $7 monthly)

💵 Minimum balance: $500

🌙 Halal investment available: Yes

Sarwa, a UAE-based fintech company founded in 2017, offers two distinct investment services: Sarwa Invest and Sarwa Trade. Sarwa Invest is a Robo-advisor that provides a range of low-cost, automated portfolios, while Sarwa Trade is a trading platform for stocks, ETFs and US options. Although Sarwa is not a Saudi Robo-advisor, but they accept Saudi investors and it might be ideal if you are looking for various investment strategies.

With a focus on personalization, Sarwa tailors portfolios to match each investor's specific objectives and risk tolerance. They offer five portfolio options: conventional, socially responsible, Halal, and crypto integration for conventional and sustainable portfolios. Each strategy encompasses 5 to 7 risk levels, spanning from very conservative to growth-oriented.

Sarwa simplifies the investment process by automating tasks such as dividend reinvestment, portfolio rebalancing, and recurring deposits. They provide three plan options: Standard, Premium, and Platinum. Depending on your plan, you may benefit from various features such as personalized financial advice, low-cost globally diversified portfolios, smart rebalancing, dividend reinvesting, and financial planning services. 

To start investing with Sarwa, a minimum balance of $500 is required, while the annual management fee starts at 0.85% (or $7 monthly) and decreases to 0.50% as your account balance grows. 

Plus, new users get a $50 bonus by using the promo code GHEF9ED9.

You can check our Sarwa review for further insights.

Sarwa Homepage

#7 Abyan

💲Fees: 1.00%

💵 Minimum balance: SAR 1,000

🌙 Halal investment available: Yes

Abyan Capital is a Saudi-based Robo-advisor founded in 2021, aiming to fully automate the investment and savings process. It is licensed by the Saudi Arabian Capital Market Authority and offers a user-friendly solution with a primary focus on empowering individuals to save for the long term and plan for a secure retirement. In a remarkable achievement, Abyan has successfully accumulated over SAR 500 million in assets under management within its first year of operation.

Opening an account with Abyan takes just three minutes, allowing you to begin your investment journey with ease. Based on the information provided during the registration process, Abyan determines the most suitable portfolio for your financial circumstances. They offer three distinct portfolios that invest in various asset classes, both domestically and globally. These asset classes include Saudi and international stocks, real estate, and sukuk (Islamic bonds). Abyan primarily utilizes passive investment instruments, such as Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), to build portfolios that align with your financial goals and risk tolerance, as determined by a comprehensive questionnaire. 

Abyan ensures that all investment products offered on the platform comply with Sharia regulations. The company has an internal Sharia committee dedicated to reviewing and approving the Sharia compliance of its investment offerings, providing peace of mind for clients seeking Sharia-compliant investment options.

The minimum initial investment required by Abyan is 1,000 Saudi riyals, without any minimum requirement for subsequent additional investments. They charge an annual management fee of 1.00% based on your assets under management (AUM), which is deducted on a monthly basis. Finally, you have the flexibility to deposit and withdraw funds from your investment portfolio at any time.

Abyan Homepage

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 Saudi Arabia continues to grow, selecting the right one can be challenging.

In this article, we have provided a list of Saudi Arabia’s best Robo-advisors to help investors narrow down their choices. However, it's important to note that there are many other companies worth considering. We encourage you to review our comprehensive list of Robo-advisors in Saudi Arabia for further options.

In addition to the Robo-advisors listed in this article, there are other Saudi platforms that provide Robo-advisory services or investment management solutions, such as Mod5r and Nakla. Furthermore, there are international Robo-advisors such as SaxoSelect and inbestMe that accept Saudi investors.

When evaluating Robo-advisors, we recommend visiting their websites to learn about their investment strategies and approaches. Additionally, comparing the fees charged, features, and customer experience are essential steps in the selection process.

A reminder that the above should not be construed as investment advice and should be considered information only. Investors should do their own research and due diligence about the services and opportunities best suited for their risk, returns, and impact strategy.

Wishing you successful and informed investments!

FAQs

What is the best Robo-advisor in Saudi Arabia?

The best Robo-advisor in Saudi Arabia can vary depending on your individual preferences, investment goals, and risk tolerance. However, here is a list of Robo-advisors that we think are among the best for Saudi investors:

  • Malaa: Best Robo-Advisor Overall
  • Tamra Capital: the leader in robo-advisory in terms of AUMs
  • Drahim: Best for low fees
  • Vault Wealth: Best for high investment amounts
  • Derayah Smart: Best for low minimum deposit and other trading services
  • Sarwa: Best for various investment strategies
  • Abyan: Best for long-term investments

Are there Sharia-compliant or Halal investment options offered by Robo-advisors?

Yes, many Robo-advisors in Saudi Arabia offer Sharia-compliant or Halal investment options to cater to the needs of investors who seek investments that align with Islamic principles. All the Robo-advisors mentioned in this article offer Sharia-compliant portfolios.

Can I customize my investment portfolio with a Robo-advisor?

The degree of customization may vary between Robo-advisors. Typically, you can select from a range of pre-constructed portfolios based on your risk tolerance, investment goals, and preferences. In addition, some Robo-advisors may offer the option to adjust portfolio allocations based on specific investment preferences or restrictions, or they might suggest personalized strategies.

How much money do I need to invest in a Robo-advisor?

Most Robo-advisors have a very low minimum balance requirement to start investing (you can find Robo-advisors that allow you to start investing starting at SAR500).

Do Robo-advisors beat the market?

No, most Robo-advisors invest in ETFs and work on matching the performance of a particular market benchmark. So, they tend to closely replicate the market's performance rather than beat it.

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