Riyadh-based robo-advisor Abyan Capital rolled out a self-directed trading platform that allows Saudi investors to buy shariah-compliant US equities and open high-yield savings accounts, it said in a press release (pdf). The new platform, developed in partnership with California-based brokerage tech firm Alpaca, offers digital onboarding, instant funding channels, and tools to calculate the zakat, purification, and shariah compliance of the listed securities.

What they said: “We identified a significant gap in the Saudi market: no single player was offering shariah-compliant products, intuitive user experiences, and efficient access to US markets all on one platform. We believe we can be that player,” Abyan Capital Co-founder Saleh Alaqeel said.

IN CONTEXT- The move comes amid a sharp rise in Saudi trading activity in US markets. Transactions by Saudi investors jumped 230% in 2Q 2025 to SAR 193.4 bn (USD 51.6 bn), with US equities accounting for almost all cross-border trades, the statement read, citing data from the Capital Market Authority. “Additionally, the US markets accounted for over 98% of all international trading by Saudi investors.”

The two are longstanding partners: Abyan Capital and Alpaca first partnered in 2021, when the Saudi robo-advisor integrated Alpaca’s Broker API to power its automated wealth management app, which launched commercially in late 2022. The platform attracted over 100k downloads within three months, marking Abyan’s entry into digital portfolio management for retail investors.

Opening the gates both ways: Alpaca has recently completed a technical integration with Tadawul-listed e-brokerage Derayah Financial enabling non-resident clients to trade directly in the Saudi market. The collaboration is part of a broader effort to expand cross-border access and digitalize investment services. It follows Derayah’s MoU with Abyan Capital to streamline retail transactions.

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