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⚡ Quick Answer
Wahed Invest is Malaysia’s leading Shariah-compliant robo-advisor — a solid choice for Muslim investors who want passive, halal investing without doing it themselves. Fees run at 0.49–0.79% per annum with a RM100 minimum. It’s not the highest-performing robo-advisor in Malaysia, but it’s the most credible option for those who require strict halal compliance. Non-Muslim investors focused on maximum returns may find StashAway or Versa more competitive.
What Is Wahed Invest?
Wahed Invest is a US-founded halal robo-advisory platform that launched in Malaysia in 2019. It is licensed and regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) as a Registered Digital Investment Manager (RDIM) — the same regulatory category as StashAway and Versa.
What makes Wahed different from every other Malaysian robo-advisor: its portfolios are certified Shariah-compliant by an independent Shariah supervisory board. That means no investments in conventional banking, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons, or pork-related industries. Every fund and stock selection goes through a rigorous Shariah screening process before inclusion.
The platform currently serves over 300,000 clients globally across the US, UK, UAE, and Southeast Asia. In Malaysia, it occupies a distinct niche as the go-to option for faith-conscious investors who don’t want to compromise on Shariah compliance.
How Does Wahed Invest Work?
The process mirrors other robo-advisors:
- Sign up — download the app, complete eKYC with your MyKad
- Risk assessment — answer questions about your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance
- Portfolio recommendation — Wahed recommends a preset halal portfolio based on your profile
- Fund your account — deposit via FPX (minimum RM100)
- Automatic rebalancing — Wahed manages the portfolio and rebalances when allocations drift
You don’t pick individual stocks or funds. Wahed handles all portfolio management — that’s the point of a robo-advisor. Withdrawals are processed within 3–5 business days and credited to your bank account. There’s no lock-in period.
Wahed Invest Portfolios Available in Malaysia
Wahed offers five portfolio options ranging from very conservative to aggressive. Each portfolio holds a mix of:
- Global Islamic equity ETFs — Shariah-screened stocks from global markets (US, Europe, emerging markets)
- Sukuk (Islamic bonds) — fixed-income alternative to conventional bonds
- Islamic REITs — Shariah-compliant real estate investment trusts
- Gold — physical gold allocation available in selected portfolios
| Portfolio | Risk Level | Equity % | Sukuk % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very Conservative | 1/5 | 5% | 95% |
| Conservative | 2/5 | 20% | 80% |
| Moderate | 3/5 | 40% | 60% |
| Moderately Aggressive | 4/5 | 60% | 40% |
| Aggressive | 5/5 | 90% | 10% |
The equity component primarily tracks global Islamic equity indices — covering halal-compliant stocks from developed and emerging markets. The Shariah supervisory board reviews holdings quarterly to ensure ongoing compliance.
Fees and Minimum Investment
Wahed’s fee structure is transparent:
- Management fee: 0.49% p.a. for portfolios above RM50,000 / 0.79% p.a. for portfolios below RM50,000
- Underlying fund fees: approximately 0.2–0.5% p.a. built into the ETFs (not a separate charge)
- No trading commission, no withdrawal fee, no account maintenance fee
- Minimum initial investment: RM100
- Minimum top-up: RM10
At 0.79% p.a. for smaller portfolios, Wahed is slightly more expensive than StashAway (0.2–0.8% on a sliding scale). However, for a Shariah-certified portfolio with active rebalancing and a Shariah supervisory board, this is competitive pricing in the halal investment space.
Wahed periodically runs promotions offering fee waivers for new accounts or the first RM10,000 invested — check the app when you sign up.
Performance: How Has Wahed Done?
Wahed doesn’t publish standardised performance data in the same format as a unit trust fund — returns vary by portfolio and entry timing. Based on available data and user reports over the 2020–2025 period:
- Aggressive portfolio: annualised returns of approximately 7–11% p.a., driven by US and global equity market performance
- Moderate portfolio: approximately 5–7% p.a.
- Conservative portfolio: approximately 2.5–4% p.a. with lower volatility
These figures are not guaranteed and will fluctuate with global market conditions. Islamic equity indices have generally performed close to — but slightly behind — conventional indices over the past five years, partly because they exclude conventional banking stocks, which have been strong performers in that period.
For reference: ASNB’s Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) — available only to Bumiputera — has historically paid 4–6% annual dividends with significantly lower volatility. If you’re Bumiputera, maximising ASB before investing in Wahed is generally the smarter financial move.
Wahed vs StashAway vs Versa: How Do They Compare?
| Feature | Wahed Invest | StashAway | Versa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shariah Compliant | ✅ Fully certified | ❌ No | ❌ No (Versa Cash only) |
| SC Licensed RDIM | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Minimum Investment | RM100 | RM1 | RM1 |
| Management Fee | 0.49–0.79% p.a. | 0.2–0.8% p.a. | 0% (Versa Cash) |
| Gold Allocation | ✅ Selected portfolios | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Auto-Rebalancing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Withdrawal Time | 3–5 business days | 3–5 business days | 1–2 days (Versa Cash) |
| Best For | Halal-conscious investors | Long-term diversified growth | Cash management & low-risk |
If Shariah compliance isn’t a requirement for you, StashAway offers a broader range of portfolio strategies and a more sophisticated allocation engine. Its ERAA (Economic Regime-based Asset Allocation) system actively shifts your portfolio based on macroeconomic conditions — something Wahed doesn’t replicate. Sign up via this link and we both get up to RM30,000 managed free for 6 months.
For ultra-short-term cash parking with quick access, Versa remains strong at 0% management fee on Versa Cash — use referral code 7DP9797J for RM10 on signup.
Pros and Cons of Wahed Invest
Where Wahed excels:
- The only robo-advisor in Malaysia with full Shariah supervisory board certification
- Simple onboarding — pick a risk level, fund your account, leave it to run
- Global diversification within a halal framework
- Gold allocation not available on other Malaysian robo-advisors
- No lock-in period, no withdrawal fee
Where Wahed falls short:
- 0.79% fee for smaller accounts is higher than StashAway’s equivalent
- Less portfolio customisation compared to StashAway’s thematic and sector options
- Performance data is not as transparently published as some competitors
- Customer support response times have drawn complaints — app-based chat can be slow
- No ultra-liquid, low-fee cash management equivalent to Versa Cash
Our Recommendation
If halal investing matters to you, Wahed Invest is the clear choice in Malaysia. No other regulated robo-advisor in the country offers the same level of Shariah certification and oversight. The fee is reasonable, the minimum is accessible at RM100, and the platform delivers on its promise: passive, diversified, halal investing.
Start with the portfolio that matches your actual risk tolerance — not the most aggressive one. Many first-time investors overestimate how comfortable they’ll be watching their portfolio drop 20–30% in a downturn. If you’re investing money you won’t need for at least five years, the Moderately Aggressive or Aggressive portfolio makes sense. For a 2–3 year horizon, stick with Conservative or Moderate.
If Shariah compliance isn’t a factor, StashAway gives you more portfolio options and a more sophisticated allocation engine — worth using alongside Wahed if your goal is maximum portfolio diversification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wahed Invest safe and regulated in Malaysia?
Yes. Wahed Invest is licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) as a Registered Digital Investment Manager. Your investments are held by a licensed custodian — separate from Wahed’s own operations — meaning your money is protected even if Wahed as a company faces financial difficulty.
Is Wahed Invest truly halal?
Yes. Wahed has an independent Shariah Supervisory Board that reviews and certifies all portfolio holdings. Investments are screened to exclude conventional banking, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons, and pork-related businesses. This is the most rigorous halal certification of any robo-advisor operating in Malaysia today.
How much do I need to start investing on Wahed?
The minimum initial investment is RM100, with subsequent top-ups as low as RM10. You can set up auto-invest from your bank account to contribute a fixed amount monthly — a good habit for dollar-cost averaging into the market.
Can I withdraw my money anytime?
Yes. No lock-in period applies. Withdrawal requests are processed within 3–5 business days, with funds credited to your registered bank account. There is no withdrawal fee.
How does Wahed compare to ASB for Bumiputera investors?
ASB (Amanah Saham Bumiputera) is exclusively available to Bumiputera Malaysians and has historically delivered 4–6% annual dividends with very low volatility — effectively a near-guaranteed return backed by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). Wahed targets higher long-term returns through global market exposure but carries more market risk. If you’re Bumiputera, filling your ASB account first before investing in Wahed is the smarter strategy — ASB’s consistent returns and zero management fee are hard to beat as a foundation.
