Skyro and SICO Partner to Democratise GCC Retail Investment Access

Editorial Team

Last updated 15-12-2025

3 min

Skyro UAE partners with SICO to enhance digital investment access for GCC retail clients.

The deal aims to simplify access to investment options like money market funds and bonds.

Emphasis is on secure, regulated digital pathways aligning with regional economic goals.

Skyro and SICO's partnership strives to democratise opportunities traditionally for institutional investors.

Successful implementation could boost retail investor confidence and participation across the GCC.

Skyro UAE has taken a notable step forward after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with SICO during Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025. The agreement, sealed by Skyro Co‑Founder and Co‑CEO Arsen Liametov and SICO’s Group Deputy CEO Ali Marshad, brings the two sides together to explore easier digital access to investment products for retail clients across the GCC. I’ve seen similar efforts pop up around the region lately, and this one feels spot on for the current push toward wider financial inclusion.

The partnership will look into ways of offering individuals a smoother route to options like money market funds, bonds, sukuk and even fractional investment tools—areas that, let’s be honest, often felt like a bit of a faff for everyday users. What stands out here is the emphasis on regulated, digital pathways, which ties neatly into the region’s economic transformation plans. At Arageek we often hear founders talk about how access, not awareness, is the main barrier for many first‑time investors, and this move seems to nudge things in the right direction.

Skyro GCC’s CEO Roberto Mancone highlighted that working with established asset managers such as SICO strengthens Skyro’s ability to deliver transparent and efficient investment products to individuals across the Gulf. He noted that the aim is to democratise opportunities previously kept largely for institutional players, while maintaining alignment with regulators to ensure a secure environment for retail participation. I reckon that regulatory piece will make or break initiatives like this.

On the flip side, SICO’s Group Deputy CEO Ali Marshad said the institution has long focused on delivering high‑quality investment solutions across several asset classes. According to him, teaming up with Skyro allows SICO to extend these offerings to a broader audience by opening digital access to products traditionally reserved for private or institutional investors. And believe it or not, this neatly supports the wider regional ambition of boosting investor participation and deepening capital markets.

Skyro itself sits under Breeze Ventures and is headquartered in Bahrain, with operations already running in the Philippines. The company positions its work around making lending, saving and investing more accessible across emerging markets. SICO, on the other hand, operates with a wholesale banking licence from the Central Bank of Bahrain and manages around USD 8 billion in assets. With subsidiaries in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, its reach spans brokerage, investment banking and market making, backed by a research team covering more than 90 percent of the region’s major equities. It’s quite a mix of expertise coming together, even if coordinating between teams like these can be… well, a little tricky sometimes.

Still, both sides appear chuffed to bits about the potential. If the collaboration moves from MoU to practical rollout, it could give retail investors across the GCC more room to manoeuvre—and more importantly, more confidence to join markets that once felt out of reach.

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