Zad, a first of its-kind digital investment platform in Kuwait, has announced that it has officially launched, shaking up the investment game in the Kuwaiti market, and beyond.
With the aim of fostering the investment culture and making investment accessible to all, Zad caters to both seasoned investors and market novices. The intelligent user-driven platform simplifies the investment and trading process through self-directed trading, whereby clients can buy or sell any stock or assets they personally choose. It provides the tools, the highest security environment, and numerous support channels for building wealth.
Zad opens up global investment opportunities to its users both in Kuwait and oversees through its trading services. It guarantees access to more than 4,000 stocks and ETFs, while operating in full compliance with Sharia’a principles and under the regulation of Kuwait’s Capital Markets Authority.
Contrary to the current market players, there is no bureaucracy to open an account with and start using Zad. Minimal initial capital, multiple accounts per user, and low-to-no commissions are only a few perks that shape the trading experience that the platform offers.
“In today’s economy, secondary sources of income have become a necessity for survival and growth, and investment is becoming more attractive to the younger generation when compared to what you could earn if you just left your money sitting in a bank”, said Abdulrahman Alkharafi Zad’s CEO of Financial Technology and one of Zad’s Co-Founders. “Traditionally, investment opportunities have not always been accessible. An investor would have needed a huge amount of capital to start trading. Information and knowledge about the stock market was not readily available. Opening brokerage accounts and consulting asset managers could be a long, tedious process,” he stated. “But Zad is here to change that. It simplifies investment, offering a state-of-the-art platform that brings people closer to smart money management and investment”.
On his part, Abdullah Al-Otaibi, Zad’s Co-Founder added: “We are here to bridge a gap in the market. Our main aim is to foster a stronger, more inclusive culture of investment in Kuwait, giving aspiring investors the tools and the means to gain their financial independence. We are offering all investors, regardless of the size their capital or the breadth of their expertise, a smart, safe and digitally-native solution to build strong investment portfolios.’
“Essentially what we strive to do is to make investing in the global stock market smooth. We want Kuwaitis to generate and maintain wealth by owning shares in the world’s most successful companies. Zad aims to create the next generation of investors,” added Abdullah Alansari, Zad’s Co-Founder.
How Zad Came to Be
Zad was born to three young, passionate Kuwaiti financial professionals, driven by a vision of fostering a culture of investment in Kuwait, and backed with at least 45 years of experience between them in their fields. Subsequently, Zad has now become a subsidiary of The Securities House, following the latter’s investment in this first-of-its-kind platform in Kuwait. The investment stemmed in the belief from The Securities House in the importance and necessity of the service Zad is offering the market and all types of investors; keeping pace with the ongoing technological transformation and needs of the investment market with a new, transparent way of investing. After all, the platform serves the needs of the investor, who remains in complete control over his or her portfolio and investments.
The economic hardships and financial insecurities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic drove many to look for investment opportunities, quickly realizing that existing options were far from readily available. That was where the inspiration for Zad came from: starting a trading portfolio ought to be an easy and hassle-free process. Something anyone – regardless of investment background or market know-how – can do securely with as little or as much guidance as they need. Thus, Zad began as a means to answer a need in the market: the need to make investment an accessible concept and viable choice for a broader audience. In 2021, Zad received the financial and logistical backing of financial market stalwart, The Securities House – one of the largest investment houses the region and the largest Sharia-compliant asset manager in Kuwait.
On his part, Yousef Al-Ghanim, Deputy CEO of The Securities House said: “The investment market today is evolving at a rapid pace and that demands new solutions and technologies. Which is why we are delighted be part of the evolution of a brand-new investment solution that was conceived and developed thanks to a talented team of Kuwaiti innovators. This is just the beginning for Zad and we look forward to being a part of that journey.”
The Zad app is now available on all Apple iPhones and Samsung Android devices, bringing financial freedom a step closer to everyone who seeks it out, and holding endless possibilities for a life of enablement and ease.
About Zad
Zad is a first of its-kind digital investment platform in Kuwait, making financial freedom accessible.
Offering trading and robo-advisory services with easy access to international markets, Zad operates in full compliance with Sharia’a principles and under Kuwait’s official regulatory framework.
With an inclusive approach to financial services, Zad caters to both seasoned investors and market novices; providing the tools, the platform and the secure environment for building wealth and investing in a stronger financial future.