Best UAE Robo-Advisors for Expats 2026

Quick answer

Three robo-advisors currently serve UAE residents: Sarwa, Baraka, and StashAway. Sarwa charges 0.75% all-in for its Core portfolio and requires a $5,000 minimum. Baraka offers 0.75% plus 0.25% currency conversion on international funds and needs AED 3,000. StashAway requires AED 10,000 and charges 0.80% under 100k, falling to 0.60% above that. All three give access to diversified global ETFs through regulated custodians. No single platform dominates every metric; residents should match minimums, fee tiers, and currency handling to their salary currency and risk tolerance.

Sarwa

Fees and minimums

Sarwa runs a single flat fee of 0.75% on all assets under management. There are no custody, withdrawal or performance fees. The platform requires an initial deposit of $5,000 (approximately AED 18,350 at 2026 rates). Rebalancing occurs quarterly or when drift exceeds 5%.

Portfolio construction

Sarwa assigns investors to five risk buckets ranging from Conservative to Aggressive. Each bucket holds 10–12 global ETFs covering US, Europe, Japan, emerging markets, bonds and REITs. Currency risk is hedged on 50% of non-dirham holdings.

Account opening and regulation

Emirates NBD provides custody. Sarwa holds a DFSA license. KYC takes 5–10 minutes via Emirates ID scan and salary certificate upload. Funding works through local bank transfer or Apple Pay.

Baraka

Fees and minimums

Baraka applies 0.75% management plus 0.25% for currency conversion on every non-AED trade. The combined cost rises to 1.0% for foreign denominated funds. Minimum investment is AED 3,000. No inactivity fees.

Portfolio construction

Baraka uses 8–9 global ETFs selected from Vanguard, iShares and State Street. Risk levels span 0–100% equity. Equity allocation increases 10% per age decade down. Age-based glide path reaches 40% fixed income after age 55.

Account opening and regulation

Baraka holds a DFSA license. Custody sits with ADCB. Funding via Apple Pay, bank wire or salary transfer. KYC requires Emirates ID, passport and proof of address dated less than 90 days old.

StashAway

Fees and minimums

StashAway’s tiered structure begins at 0.80% for balances below AED 100,000. It drops to 0.60% once assets exceed 100k. Minimum deposit is AED 10,000. No withdrawal fees or performance fees.

Portfolio construction

StashAway’s ERM model assigns 12–15 global ETFs spanning 12 asset classes. Risk score ranges from 1–10. Score 1 stays 100% cash; score 10 contains 80% equity. Economic regime filters adjust exposure every quarter.

Direct comparison

Fee table

0.75% flat at Sarwa works best for balances under 100k. 0.60% once above 100k makes StashAway cheaper for larger portfolios. Baraka becomes 1.0% effective when foreign funds dominate.

Minimum deposit comparison

AED 3,000 at Baraka fits first-time expats on modest salaries. $5,000 at Sarwa matches mid-level salary earners. AED 10,000 at StashAway requires more initial capital.

Which robo-advisor fits which expat

Low-balance starters

Select Baraka if you earn less than AED 15,000 net per month and want the shallowest minimum.<|eos|>

Got more UAE questions?

Tovi knows current 2026 UAE rules, fees, and processes. Ask anything — visas, banking, housing, schools. Ask Tovi free →