MENA-based social trading platform InvestSky has expanded into Saudi Arabia after receiving a fintech experimental permit from the Capital Market Authority and partnering with anb Capital.
Saudi Arabia’s fintech regulatory sandbox continues to attract regional players seeking access to one of the Middle East’s largest retail investment markets.
InvestSky announced it has secured a Financial Technology Experimental Permit from the Capital Market Authority (CMA), allowing it to operate social trading services within the Kingdom under regulatory supervision. The expansion is accompanied by a strategic partnership with anb Capital, a licensed Saudi investment firm.
A regulated entry into a tightly supervised market
Saudi Arabia’s CMA has taken a structured approach to fintech experimentation, granting sandbox permits that allow companies to test innovative financial services within defined compliance boundaries.
For InvestSky, the permit enables:
- Provision of social trading features tailored to Saudi users
- Access to both local and U.S. equities
- Integration with regulated brokerage infrastructure
By partnering with anb Capital, the platform aligns its technology layer with an established local financial institution, reducing regulatory friction and reinforcing compliance oversight.
Retail participation as policy priority
Saudi authorities have actively promoted broader retail participation in capital markets as part of Vision 2030 economic diversification goals. Increased investor education, digital platforms, and fintech licensing reforms have supported this push.
Retail investors in the Kingdom have historically faced:
- Limited global market access
- Higher minimum account thresholds
- Fewer technology-native investing tools
InvestSky’s model — combining community-driven features with brokerage access — aims to address those gaps.
Funding and regional strategy
The Saudi launch follows a $4 million seed round backed by regional investors, bringing total disclosed funding to $7.4 million. The capital will support regional scaling and product development across MENA.
InvestSky is already regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in the UAE, positioning the company within two of the region’s most structured financial regulatory environments.
For fintech startups, regulatory credibility increasingly determines long-term survival in Middle Eastern markets, where authorities are balancing innovation with systemic risk management.
Social trading under scrutiny
Globally, social trading platforms have faced regulatory attention over:
- Risk disclosure standards
- Copy-trading transparency
- Investor suitability requirements
Saudi regulators are likely to monitor the platform’s onboarding practices, investor education tools, and risk controls during the experimental phase.
Competitive landscape
Saudi Arabia’s retail trading market has become more competitive, with domestic banks, global brokers, and fintech startups expanding digital offerings.
InvestSky’s differentiation rests on:
- Social-first user experience
- Cross-border equity access
- Partnership-led regulatory alignment
The company’s long-term success will depend on sustained user growth, compliance execution, and retention beyond early adopters.
For now, the CMA permit signals institutional openness to fintech experimentation — provided innovation operates within defined guardrails.
