StashAway Launches Shariah-Compliant Portfolio, Leading UAE’s Digital Wealth Revolution

Malaz Madani

Last updated 15-09-2025

3 min

StashAway launches Shariah Global Portfolio, appealing to values-based investors in the UAE.

It features four risk levels with Shariah-compliant global equities, sukuk, and growth sectors.

The platform boasts up to 13,7% annual returns over five years, though not guaranteed.

Low fees, no lock-ins, and simplicity make it attractive for newcomers and seasoned investors.

Despite potential early challenges, the focus on accessibility and local values inspires optimism.

These days, if you ask anyone in the UAE about digital wealth platforms, chances are StashAway will pop up—especially as it’s just rolled out a Shariah Global Portfolio that’s caught a fair bit of attention. Now, for folks who keep an eye on values-based investing, this feels like a step in the right direction. The portfolio is built for both cautious newbies and tried-and-tested investors, offering four different risk levels and a clever mix of global assets.

What’s especially interesting (and, to be honest, spot on for the region) is that this isn’t just a superficial reboot of an old product. All the underlying funds are verified Shariah-compliant, not just by label, but through approval from fund managers and issuers. So you’re looking at a basket with global equities, sukuk (that’s Islamic bonds if you’re not familiar), gold, and a nod to sectors primed for growth like technology and emerging markets. Quite a solid spread, if you ask me.

The numbers aren’t too shabby either: their five-year figures show up to 13.7% annual returns, depending on which risk profile you land on. That said, we all know what past performance means—handy for bragging rights but no crystal ball. Still, for a country where roughly three-quarters of the population is Muslim, the appetite for products like this is clear. The global Islamic finance world is already booming and could reach $7.5 trillion by 2028, so this feels more like catching a train already picking up speed than betting on the weather.

Here’s what I like (and honestly, what a lot of founders in the Arageek community tell me they wish more platforms would do): StashAway’s fees are on the low side—between 0.2 to 0.8 percent yearly—with no lock-in period or minimum to get started. Good news for anyone who finds the usual entry barriers a bit of a faff. Plus, their partnership with Lean means setting up auto-investments should be smooth as butter, so hopefully less time fiddling with paperwork and more focus on long-term goals.

On the flip side, Shariah-compliant digital investing is still pretty new ground for the region—so there’s always the usual teething problems that come with early adoption. But if the S&P 500 Shariah Index is anything to go by (it’s quadrupled in a decade, outpacing even the conventional S&P 500), the long-term view looks promising. I reckon keeping things simple, accessible, and halal is the sort of combination that can win over both the cautious and the curious.

All in all, watching platforms like StashAway make these moves gives me hope. It’s this kind of innovation—rooted in real demand and local values—that energises our whole startup scene. Sure, there’s still a long road ahead, and not every feature is perfect (definately room for tweaks), but as far as trends go, this is one development I’m chuffed to bits to see.

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