Rakbank Adds Trading in 30,000 Global Stocks and ETFs to Its Banking App

The service, called Digital Equities, charges from US$1 per transaction for US equity trades, the bank said. Rakbank plans to add UAE-listed shares in a later phase.

The launch puts the Ras Al Khaimah-based lender in more direct competition with the trading apps and international brokers that have drawn retail investors in the UAE. Customers open an investment account in the same app they use for everyday banking, so they do not need a separate brokerage relationship, and both onboarding and trading are fully digital, according to the bank.

The brokerage technology comes from GTN, a fintech that provides investment and trading infrastructure. GTN handles the market connections and trade execution that link Rakbank's customers to international exchanges.

Digital Equities sits alongside the investment products already offered in the app, which include investment funds, bonds, structured products, precious metals, foreign exchange and digital assets. The bank said the service is live for customers in all segments, from first-time investors to those adding to existing portfolios.

"We believe investing should be as frictionless as everyday banking. Customers increasingly want the ability to manage their finances and grow their wealth through a trusted, all-in-one platform," said Shehzad Hameed, managing director of retail banking at Rakbank.

Damian Bunce, chief executive of GTN Middle East, said his company had been "particularly impressed by the detailed focus on the user experience".

The bank has not said when UAE equities will be added, or what fees will apply to trades outside the US. Those details will determine how far the service can compete with local brokers on home-market trading, where UAE retail investors have traditionally been most active.