CUSP Launches in UAE, Disrupts Wealth Management with $25 Entry Point

CUSP has officially launched in the UAE, stepping into a crowded wealth management space with a promise that sounds simple but is oddly rare here: professional investing tools without eye-watering minimums. The Dubai Financial Services Authority-regulated platform blends AI-driven portfolio building with access to human advisers, all for a 0.75% annual management fee. The headline number, though, is the entry point. Investors can start with just $25, which feels like a clear jab at the old model where six figures were the price of admission.

I remember chatting with early-stage founders at a meetup in Dubai a few years back, all of them cash-conscious and keen to invest sensibly, yet locked out of anything “serious” by high thresholds. This is why CUSP’s approach stands out. For years, wealth management in the UAE has been a bit of a closed shop, often demanding $200,000 or more and fees north of 2%. CUSP is clearly trying to flip that script, making the case that sophistication doesn’t have to be exclusive. And believe it or not, you even get access to things like direct indexing, a strategy normally reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

Ramesh Murthy, CUSP’s Senior Executive Officer, has spoken about challenging that status quo, pointing to his three decades in banking and finance as proof that the industry needed a rethink. His argument is straightforward: technology can lower costs while keeping institutional-grade portfolio construction intact. That means optimised, risk-adjusted portfolios overseen by licensed advisers, rather than a hands-off robo-model. I’m not a fan of buzzwords, but this hybrid setup actually feels spot on for the region.

There are other practical touches too. The platform gives users access to US-listed stocks and ETFs, subject to eligibility, and includes Shariah-compliant investment options backed by a supervisory board and an official fatwa. Support is available in both English and Arabic, which sounds obvious but is often a bit of a faff in reality. Accounts are opened fully through the app, on iOS and Android, with no paper trails to wrestle with.

All of this lands neatly within the UAE’s wider push to position itself as a global digital finance hub. DFSA oversight brings a level of comfort, especially for first-time investors who might be testing the waters. From an Arageek perspective, stories like this are definately worth watching. I reckon platforms lowering the barrier while keeping regulation tight could quietly reshape how a whole generation in the MENA region thinks about building wealth. Early days, sure, but it’s a move many will be chuffed to bits about.

🚀 Got exciting news to share?

If you're a startup founder, VC, or PR agency with big updates—funding rounds, product launches 📢, or company milestones 🎉 — AraGeek English wants to hear from you!

✉️ Send Us Your Story 👇

https://en.arageek.com/send-us-your-story-or-a-news-tip