Mutual Funds
Sarwa
Smart investing for the Middle East
Overall score4.6
Minimum depositN/A
Markets listed3
Managed portfolios
Sarwa vs Wahed Invest
Compare two guided investing options for allocation style, market availability, fees, and Shariah positioning.
By HalalInvestGuide Editorial Research DeskUpdated 2026-05-24Reviewed by HalalInvestGuide Data Operations TeamMethodologyAffiliate disclosure
Our verdict
Choose Wahed if the highest priority is a halal-first platform with broader listed market coverage. Choose Sarwa if you are in a supported Middle East market and want a UAE-oriented managed investing experience with halal portfolio options.
How we evaluated this comparison
Reader decision
We start with the decision a reader is trying to make: choosing a provider, choosing a workflow, or understanding whether two products are even comparable.
Provider data
We compare structured records for Sarwa, Wahed Invest, including category, score, market list, fees, minimums, features, and Shariah disclosure fields.
Shariah workflow
We separate platform availability from halal suitability. The page checks whether the provider helps with screening, certification, purification, or portfolio construction.
User risk
We flag cases where account country, minimum deposit, product type, leverage, staking, lending, or fee structure can change the practical recommendation.
We do not rely on affiliate availability to choose a winner. The comparison starts with the reader's practical decision, then checks platform category, market access, minimums, fees, Shariah disclosure, and workflow fit.
Side-by-side comparison
We start with the practical decision factors readers usually check first: product job, market access, minimums, cost model, Shariah signal, strengths, and watch-outs.
| Criterion | Sarwa | Wahed Invest |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Mutual Funds: Smart investing for the Middle East | Stocks & ETFs: Halal investing made simple |
| Markets | United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia | United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates |
| Minimum deposit | N/A | $100 |
| Fee model | percentage: Management fee: 0.85% per year; No trading fees | percentage: Management fee: 0.99% per year; No trading commissions |
| Shariah signal | Certified by Internal Shariah Board | Certified by AAOIFI, Shariyah Review Bureau |
| Strengths | Halal investment portfolios; Low minimum investment; Automated investing | Easy to use for beginners; Strong Shariah compliance; Good customer support |
| Watch outs | Review country availability, total cost, product restrictions, and Shariah documentation before committing. | Limited investment options compared to conventional brokers; Higher fees than some competitors; No options or futures trading |
Directory score
Sarwa 4.5 vs Wahed 4.5
The score is effectively tied, so the decision should be driven by market access and Shariah positioning.
Listed markets
Sarwa 3 vs Wahed 4
Wahed is listed across more markets in the current directory.
Minimum signal
Sarwa AED 500 vs Wahed $100
Currency and funding route matter; compare in your local account context.
Read review
Stocks & ETFs
Wahed Invest
Halal investing made simple
Overall score4.6
Minimum deposit$100
Markets listed4
Decision Notes
Wahed is more explicitly halal-first. Sarwa can fit supported-market users comparing broader managed portfolio access.
Choose Sarwa if...
Sarwa is a better fit when your main need is mutual funds, minimum deposit is not the main filter, and you want a stronger visible Shariah signal. The practical question is whether its supported markets, product structure, and fee model match how you actually plan to invest.
Skip Sarwa if...
Skip or delay Sarwa if you need a clearly stated account minimum before comparing providers, your country is not among the 3 listed markets, or you cannot verify the current certificate scope on the provider's own materials. Also avoid using any platform feature that introduces leverage, interest, lending, or unclear product exposure unless you have reviewed it separately.
Choose Wahed Invest if...
Wahed Invest is a better fit when your main need is stocks & etfs, the listed minimum deposit of $100 fits your starting amount, and you want a stronger visible Shariah signal. The practical question is whether its supported markets, product structure, and fee model match how you actually plan to invest.
Skip Wahed Invest if...
Skip or delay Wahed Invest if the $100 listed minimum does not fit your starting amount, your country is not among the 4 listed markets, or you cannot verify the current certificate scope on the provider's own materials. Also avoid using any platform feature that introduces leverage, interest, lending, or unclear product exposure unless you have reviewed it separately.
Best choice by situation
Halal-first brand positioning
Wahed InvestWahed is explicitly built around halal investing.
UAE / GCC managed investing
SarwaSarwa is more regionally anchored for supported Middle East users.
Broader listed market access
Wahed InvestWahed appears in more country pages in the current dataset.
How to choose between them
Country access
Sarwa and Wahed Invest should be compared first by where the account can actually be opened and maintained. A platform that scores well globally is still a poor fit if onboarding, deposits, withdrawals, tax documents, or product access are limited in the investor's country.
Portfolio model
Separate managed allocation from research tooling. Some platforms help build or manage a portfolio; others only help decide whether a stock, fund, or product belongs in a separate brokerage account.
Fees
Look beyond the headline minimum. Compare platform fees, fund expense ratios, spreads, subscription tiers, withdrawal costs, currency conversion, and whether a low minimum comes with fewer useful features.
Shariah documentation
The key question is how much of the halal workflow is handled by the platform itself. Check whether screening rules, scholar oversight, holdings review, dividend purification, and update frequency are clearly documented.
Shariah and risk notes
Sarwa
The directory does not treat platform availability as a halal ruling. Investors should review holdings, product terms, leverage, interest exposure, purification needs, and local guidance. The platform has a positive certification signal in the directory, but users should still confirm the current certificate, scope, and product coverage.
Wahed Invest
All investments are screened according to AAOIFI standards The platform has a positive certification signal in the directory, but users should still confirm the current certificate, scope, and product coverage.
FAQ
Is Sarwa or Wahed better for UAE investors?
For UAE-based users, Sarwa may be more practical if onboarding, local funding, and regional account support are the deciding factors. Wahed is stronger when the user wants a halal-first brand and broader listed market coverage.
Is Wahed more halal-focused than Sarwa?
Yes, Wahed is more explicitly positioned as a halal investing platform. Sarwa can still be relevant for halal portfolio access in supported markets, but users should review the exact portfolio and documentation.
Should I choose by score?
No. The directory scores are close. The better decision comes from country access, funding currency, minimum deposit, portfolio model, and Shariah documentation.
Sources and review process
This comparison is based on the platform records maintained by the HalalInvestGuide research desk, including provider category, listed markets, fee fields, minimum deposit fields, Shariah disclosure fields, and review scoring. We do not treat a listing as a fatwa or personal financial advice.
Last checked for this page: 2026-05-24. We re-check comparison pages when a provider changes fees, market access, product scope, Shariah documentation, or minimums.
Cite this page: HalalInvestGuide Editorial Research Desk. “Sarwa vs Wahed Invest.” HalalInvestGuide, updated 2026-05-24.