UAE-founded investment platform Sarwa has crossed $1 billion in client assets, becoming the first homegrown fintech company to reach the milestone. This marks a turning point for retail investing in the region.

The company’s trajectory is closely tied to the rise of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), where it participated in the inaugural DIFC FinTech Hive Accelerator in 2017. Sarwa later became the first to graduate from the Dubai Financial Services Authority regulatory sandbox and secured backing from the DIFC FinTech Fund. This highlights how regulatory frameworks and capital support have enabled fintech startups to scale.

The milestone reflects a broader shift in investor behavior across the UAE, where retail participation is rising alongside digital adoption and financial literacy. Once considered a niche segment, retail investing is now emerging as a core driver of growth in the region’s financial ecosystem.

“When we started, many said retail investing would not work in MENA. 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 strong 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,” said Mark Chahwan, Group CEO and co-founder of Sarwa.

“This achievement belongs to our clients. It is their money, their portfolios, and their growth. The speed at which we have reached this point shows how quickly momentum builds once people start investing,” added Jad Sayegh, co-founder and CTO of Sarwa.

From an ecosystem perspective, DIFC continues to position itself as a global fintech hub, enabling startups to scale regionally.

“DIFC has always been committed to creating an environment where fintech innovators like Sarwa can thrive. As an early participant in our DIFC FinTech Hive Accelerator, Sarwa benefited from a platform designed to accelerate growth, alongside the DFSA regulatory sandbox and support from the DIFC FinTech Fund. Reaching $1 billion in client assets reflects Sarwa’s strong strategy and the fundamentals of DIFC as one of the world’s top five fintech hubs. It enables startups to scale across the UAE and the region. We are proud to support their journey as they continue to shape the future of investing,” said Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO, DIFC Innovation Hub.

With the GCC fintech sector projected to grow at a 15% CAGR through 2030, Sarwa’s milestone highlights how retail demand and institutional-grade infrastructure are converging to redefine investing in the region.