Minimum to qualify
Vault
USD 100,000 in liquid net wealth.
Wahed
USD 500 to activate an account, per Wahed's UAE FAQ. Accounts are in US dollars only.
Comparison
Vault vsWahed.
Wahed is a digital, Sharia-screened investing app: six model portfolios of halal ETFs, sukuk and gold, run from ADGM. Vault is an advisor-led wealth manager with structured planning and private-market access. Here is how the two compare on published terms.
Wahed offers Sharia-compliant model portfolios from a USD 500 minimum, managed entirely through its app. Vault pairs a dedicated CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor with a globally diversified portfolio and private-market access, for clients with USD 100k+ in liquid net wealth.
Side-by-side
How we compare on the things that matter.
| Dimension | Vault | Wahed |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum to qualify | USD 100,000 in liquid net wealth. | USD 500 to activate an account, per Wahed's UAE FAQ. Accounts are in US dollars only. |
| Fee model | One management fee, tiered so the rate falls as the portfolio grows. No transaction fees on the core, no custody fees, no commissions, no retrocessions. | A wrap fee covering management, custody and transactions of 0.99% a year on balances up to USD 250,000 and 0.49% a year above that, charged monthly plus VAT. The expense ratios of the underlying funds are charged on top. |
| Asset custody | Assets custodied with Interactive Brokers in your own name — fully segregated, SIPC + FDIC insured. Vault never takes possession of client funds. | Under Wahed's UAE client agreement, assets are held through ADCB, GTN Middle East Financial Services (DIFC) and Dubai Islamic Bank as custodians. |
| Regulation | FSRA-regulated in ADGM (UAE) and CMA-licensed in Saudi Arabia (licence 25313-20). | Wahed Invest Limited is authorised by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSP 220065, granted 6 April 2023) for managing assets, arranging custody and Islamic financial business. |
| Advisor incentives | Advisors are salaried, with bonuses tied to client outcomes and retention — never to product sales, transaction volume, or in-house fund flows. | Digital-only. Wahed's UAE FAQ states that it does not provide financial advice, planning or tax planning, and that support staff cannot change investments or allocations. |
| Investment access | Globally diversified core via low-cost ETFs and bonds, plus a satellite with curated private-market opportunities, thematic strategies, and direct equity convictions. | Six Sharia-screened model portfolios, from very conservative to very aggressive, holding halal equity ETFs, sukuk, alternative income, REITs and gold. Shariah oversight comes from the Shariyah Review Bureau (Bahrain). No private-market access. |
| Planning model | Structured financial planning around your goals, cash flow, and family — delivered by a dedicated CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor, complimentary as part of the relationship. | Self-serve. The investor chooses a risk level in the app and the portfolio is managed to that model; there is no planning relationship. |
Fee model
Vault
One management fee, tiered so the rate falls as the portfolio grows. No transaction fees on the core, no custody fees, no commissions, no retrocessions.
Wahed
A wrap fee covering management, custody and transactions of 0.99% a year on balances up to USD 250,000 and 0.49% a year above that, charged monthly plus VAT. The expense ratios of the underlying funds are charged on top.
Asset custody
Vault
Assets custodied with Interactive Brokers in your own name — fully segregated, SIPC + FDIC insured. Vault never takes possession of client funds.
Wahed
Under Wahed's UAE client agreement, assets are held through ADCB, GTN Middle East Financial Services (DIFC) and Dubai Islamic Bank as custodians.
Regulation
Vault
FSRA-regulated in ADGM (UAE) and CMA-licensed in Saudi Arabia (licence 25313-20).
Wahed
Wahed Invest Limited is authorised by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSP 220065, granted 6 April 2023) for managing assets, arranging custody and Islamic financial business.
Advisor incentives
Vault
Advisors are salaried, with bonuses tied to client outcomes and retention — never to product sales, transaction volume, or in-house fund flows.
Wahed
Digital-only. Wahed's UAE FAQ states that it does not provide financial advice, planning or tax planning, and that support staff cannot change investments or allocations.
Investment access
Vault
Globally diversified core via low-cost ETFs and bonds, plus a satellite with curated private-market opportunities, thematic strategies, and direct equity convictions.
Wahed
Six Sharia-screened model portfolios, from very conservative to very aggressive, holding halal equity ETFs, sukuk, alternative income, REITs and gold. Shariah oversight comes from the Shariyah Review Bureau (Bahrain). No private-market access.
Planning model
Vault
Structured financial planning around your goals, cash flow, and family — delivered by a dedicated CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor, complimentary as part of the relationship.
Wahed
Self-serve. The investor chooses a risk level in the app and the portfolio is managed to that model; there is no planning relationship.
Why Vault
A wealth manager built around your interests, not the bank's.
Custody
Held in your name at Interactive Brokers.
Vault never takes possession of client funds. Assets sit in your own account at IBKR — segregated, with SIPC and FDIC protection on the underlying.
Incentives
Advisor incentives aligned with portfolio growth.
Vault advisors are salaried with bonuses tied to client outcomes and retention. No commissions, no kickbacks, no in-house product flows.
Regulation
Regulated in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Vault Wealth Limited is regulated by the FSRA in ADGM. Vault Saudi Limited Company is licensed by the CMA (licence 25313-20).
Entry point
Starts at USD 100,000 in liquid net wealth.
A genuine private-wealth relationship without the seven-figure threshold that defines traditional private banking.
Investment access
Private markets in the satellite.
Beyond the diversified core, Vault clients access curated private-market opportunities, thematic strategies, and direct convictions — the same shelf as larger institutions.
Planning
Structured financial planning by a dedicated advisor.
Goals, cash flow, risk, and family wealth — modelled end-to-end and reviewed continuously with a CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor who knows your name.
Cash
Daily-yielding SmartCash, no lock-ins.
Multi-currency cash earning daily interest in USD, EUR, and GBP. Withdraw anytime — no teaser rates, no minimums, no surprises.
Vault vs Wahed: common questions
Vault: USD 100,000 in liquid net wealth. Wahed: USD 500 to activate an account, per Wahed's UAE FAQ. Accounts are in US dollars only.
Vault: Assets custodied with Interactive Brokers in your own name — fully segregated, SIPC + FDIC insured. Vault never takes possession of client funds. Wahed: Under Wahed's UAE client agreement, assets are held through ADCB, GTN Middle East Financial Services (DIFC) and Dubai Islamic Bank as custodians.
Vault: Advisors are salaried, with bonuses tied to client outcomes and retention — never to product sales, transaction volume, or in-house fund flows. Wahed: Digital-only. Wahed's UAE FAQ states that it does not provide financial advice, planning or tax planning, and that support staff cannot change investments or allocations.
Vault: FSRA-regulated in ADGM (UAE) and CMA-licensed in Saudi Arabia (licence 25313-20). Wahed: Wahed Invest Limited is authorised by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSP 220065, granted 6 April 2023) for managing assets, arranging custody and Islamic financial business.
Vault: Structured financial planning around your goals, cash flow, and family — delivered by a dedicated CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor, complimentary as part of the relationship. Wahed: Self-serve. The investor chooses a risk level in the app and the portfolio is managed to that model; there is no planning relationship.
Curious how a fee-only relationship looksnext to Wahed?
Book a complimentary discovery session with a Vault advisor. We'll walk through your current setup, model the all-in cost, and show you exactly what a Vault relationship would look like — no obligation.
Sources & disclaimers
Comparison data is taken from each provider's publicly disclosed materials as of May 2026. Bank fee schedules, minimums, and product shelves change frequently — always verify current figures with each institution before deciding. Nothing on this page is a solicitation to switch providers or a representation that Vault is better suited to a particular individual's circumstances. For independent advice tailored to your situation, speak with a regulated wealth advisor.