Frequently Asked Questions

Wahed Invest (Pty) Ltd (“Wahed”) is a robo-advisory platform and an authorised Financial Services Provider (FSP No. 51684) regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)We provide simple, diversified, Shariah-compliant investment portfolios using locally regulated mutual funds, ETFs, and other approved instruments. Wahed automates the investing experience so clients can invest ethically and in line with their risk profile.

All investments are subject to market risk. Capital is not guaranteed and investment values may fluctuate.

To open an account with Wahed South Africa, you must have:

• A valid South African ID
• A South African mobile number
• Proof of bank account in your own name (bank account confirmation or bank statement)
• Be 18 years of age or older

In accordance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA), Wahed is required to verify your identity and may request additional documentation where necessary.

Halal investing refers to investing in a manner consistent with Islamic principles. This means avoiding interest-based instruments and excluding impermissible sectors such as alcohol, gambling, adult entertainment, conventional financial services, and companies with excessive debt.

All portfolios are screened in line with globally recognized Shariah standards, such as those established by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI)

Shariah-compliance determinations are based on current screening standards and may change over time.

Under the FIC Act, we must verify that the bank account used belongs to you. This helps prevent fraud, ensures your withdrawals go to the correct person, and maintains regulatory compliance.

Funds may only be deposited from and withdrawn to a bank account held in your own name.

You can begin investing with as little as R1,000. You may make additional contributions at any time.

Investments are subject to market risk and returns are not guaranteed.

Applicable fees and charges are disclosed in our Client Agreement and related documentation.

No. Wahed is open to anyone who values ethical, transparent, and socially responsible investing. Many clients choose Wahed simply because they prefer ethical investing principles.

You may close your account at any time by emailing zafsupport@wahed.com. Once we receive your request, we will process any remaining balance to your verified bank account and close the account once all trades and settlements are complete.

Processing times are subject to market settlement cycles.

The final withdrawal amount may be affected by market movements.

We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including POPIA.

We only share personal information where required for regulatory, operational, or service-related purposes, and in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

As your Robo advisor, your trust is our most important asset. Please refer to our privacy policy for more details.

For more information, you may contact zafsupport@wahed.com, visit our website, or review the policy on the app during onboarding.

Our Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, process, store, and protect personal information.

Regulatory disclosures, fund information, and portfolio summaries are available in-app prior to investment.

Ethical investing is one that complies with moral principles and values. Unlike traditional investment practices, ethical investing balances profit with social and environmental impact.

Ethical investing does not eliminate investment risk. Portfolio values may increase or decrease depending on market conditions.

Wahed Invest provides automated investment recommendations through a digital platform that constructs diversified model portfolios aligned to your risk profile and investment objectives. Portfolios are designed using established portfolio construction principles and are managed in accordance with your selected risk profile. All investments are subject to market risk and capital is not guaranteed.

Opening an account is simple.

1. To open an account with Wahed, you need to complete a risk assessment questionnaire
2. Then you need to complete the identity verification. This is required so we remain compliant with the regulatory bodies.
3. We will then recommend an optimal portfolio based on the answers you have provided us
4. If you are happy with the portfolio recommended, you may proceed to fund your Wahed account via EFT. Otherwise, you may select your preferred portfolio to proceed
5. We’ll then invest your funds according to your chosen portfolio

You will be able to monitor your performance daily through the platform. You can also download your monthly statements from your app which will have a summary of your portfolio holdings and performance.

Shariah-compliant investing is the practice of trading in investments that are reviewed for permissibility according to Islamic financial ethics, laws and industry practices. Generally, this will mean screening out investments in certain conventional business sectors, as well as reviewing such remaining candidates to ensure they meet established financial thresholds. For more information on how our team ensures investments are reviewed for Shari'ah-compliance click here.

Wahed screens potential portfolio investment based upon a set of constraints in accordance with best-practice Shariah-compliance standards, reviewed by our Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB). In summary, any portfolio cannot hold investments in any company or fund that:

• Securities issued by companies whose income is derived from any of the following activities: liquor, tobacco, gambling, adult entertainment, weaponry, etc.
• Provides conventional financial services and any other related interest-bearing services.
• Manufactures/sells products or services not approved by our SSB.
• Does not meet certain established financial thresholds.

In order to display our commitment to best practices in the field of Shariah compliance, we have designated Shariyah Review Bureau, a leading Shariah financial advisory firm, as our Shariah advisor. Our Shariah advisor provides the external, independent experts who sit on our SSB and advise Wahed on matters of Shariah-compliance and Islamic financial ethics.

You can see the certificate here.

While some funds within your portfolio do generate dividends, the payout frequency varies by each fund's investment strategy, and any dividends earned are automatically reinvested back into your Wahed account to compound your growth over time.

The securities you own are subject to market risk. Fluctuations in market conditions are common, and when markets are down you may bear some loss. To make sure your portfolios are permitted under Islamic financial ethics, we cannot guarantee returns.

Your expected return depends on your risk profile, asset allocation and the related market performance of those portfolio assets. Users with a conservative profile are expected to earn less and be exposed to less risk than users with an aggressive profile, who will be exposed to more risk in exchange for the possibility of higher returns.

You can view our portfolios' historical performance on our Investing page.

Please note that historical returns are not an indication or guarantee of future results. Any portfolio investments may gain as well as lose value.

Wahed portfolios are designed to manage risk while seeking long-term investment growth. Investment performance will depend on market conditions, asset allocation and your selected risk profile. There is no certainty of performance and investment values may rise or fall.

We charge an Advisory Fee for our services. The Advisory Fee is 1.50% per annum, accrued daily and debited monthly for each of your portfolios. This fee is calculated as a percentage of your account value and covers ongoing portfolio management, monitoring, and advisory services.

The Advisory Fee does not include any charges that may be applied by your bank for deposits or withdrawals, or any external fees charged by third parties.

Full details of all applicable fees are disclosed in the Client Agreement and related documentation.

Wahed’s advisory fee covers all management fees associated with your investment. We do not charge additional fees for deposits or withdrawals, although your bank may apply its usual EFT or transaction charges.

Yes, you can request to close your Wahed account at any time. There are no account closure charges.

No, you will never be charged for an account with a R0 balance.

Fees are taken from your Wahed account. No action is required on your part.

Fees are charged monthly. You will never be charged for having an open account with a R0 balance. Kindly refer to the pricing tab for additional information.

Please log in to your Wahed account > Click on Funding > Add Funds > Fill the amount you wish to deposit.

You will then be able to see all of the receiving bank's details that you'll need.

Once you have this information, you’ll need to initiate the transfer through your bank by making an electronic funds transfer (EFT) directly from your personal bank account.

On your app dashboard, select the account you want to add funds to> click on add funds>Fill the amount you wish to invest and select if the deposit would be recurring or one-off> Select funding method> Click Submit.

On your app dashboard, click on transfer and withdraw funds> Withdraw funds> Select the account you want to withdraw from> Select either partial or full withdrawal> if partial, select the amount you wish to liquidate> click on submit a withdrawal request.

Debit orders can be a great way for you to start saving automatically.
Simply log in to your account, select the account you wish to fund and the frequency of the deposit and you're set.
You'll need to have a linked bank account first.
Should you require further assistance, please email us at zafsupport@wahed.com

Yes. A minimum subsequent investment amount of R1,000

The minimum investment amount after withdrawal is R500

The minimum partial withdrawal amount is R500

A partial withdrawal means withdrawing only a portion of your total portfolio value while keeping the rest of your investment in your account. Clients may withdraw up to 95% of their portfolio value through a partial withdrawal.

For example, if your portfolio value is R10,000, you may withdraw up to R9,500 while the remaining portion continues to stay invested in your portfolio.

You can only withdraw funds through bank transfers

Our custodian may charge you for withdrawals, these fees do not go to Wahed.

2-3 business days from receiving your deposit.

Withdrawals typically take between 3–5 business days to reflect in your bank account. This timeframe depends on trade settlement cycles and normal banking processing times.

No, there is no lock-up period. You can request to withdraw all your funds at any time.However, the withdrawal process may be between 3 to 5 business days depending on the date of your withdrawal and bank. This is mainly due to a period for clearing and settlement of trades once your withdrawal request has been processed.

No, you may only transfer funds from an account that bears your name. Transferring funds from an account under a different name will cause the funds to be rejected.

No, you may only withdraw funds to an account that bears your name.

If you invest less than the minimum amount of R1,000 the account status will be “Active (Insufficient Funds).” There will be no trades or securities allocated until you fund at least R1,000 into your Wahed account.

We only accept funds in South African Rand

In case of any queries or concerns regarding your account, you may reach us by sending an email at zafsupport@wahed.com through your registered email. We will get back to you at our earliest.

When you make a partial withdrawal, up to 95% of your portfolio value can be withdrawn while the remaining portion stays invested in your account. This remaining balance continues to be invested according to your selected portfolio allocation.

If you wish to withdraw your entire investment, you may instead request a full withdrawal (full liquidation) of your portfolio.

Your bank may charge you for transfers, this fee does not go to Wahed.

A minimum investment of R1,000 is required for you to activate your account and start investing with Wahed

All customers have access to our customer support team that will happily answer any questions regarding your account. However, we cannot alter anything with you over the telephone or in-person regarding your investments or your recommended allocation – this can only be done through the Wahed App. Furthermore, we cannot provide any financial advice or planning through our customer support team.

Your investments are held in a brokerage account in your name with AOS (Automated Outsourcing Services, FSP Number: 650), our licensed broker-custodian in South Africa. AOS is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), which means that they must follow strict rules to protect your investments. They act as a secure vault for your investments by handling all the technical work, such as buying and selling assets, processing transactions, and keeping your investments safe. AOS has the proper systems, controls, and expertise to securely hold your investments while ensuring full compliance with South African financial laws and regulatory standards.

Yes, you can open multiple accounts all from one dashboard.

Once your first account is active and funded, you'll see a button on the dashboard that allows you to add new accounts under that same email.

Yes. As your financial situation changes, it is important to keep us informed so we can determine whether to update our investment recommendations for you. Keeping your information up-to-date (e.g. address, name change, employment information) ensures we are providing the most relevant and personalized financial recommendations for your current financial situation.

Yes, it is important to keep your information up-to-date. Keeping your information up-to-date (e.g. address, name change, employment information) ensures we are providing the most relevant and personalized financial recommendations for your current financial situation.

We do not currently offer any tax planning advice or services.

Wahed Invest services are only available to accounts opened through Wahed. In order to provide our services, Wahed Invest must have the ability to electronically place trades for all of its accounts.

You can see every transaction that has taken place on your account by logging into the Wahed app. We track the flow of every rand for every Wahed account.

If you wish to change your portfolio, here's how you can do it:

Log in to the app and go to the main menu
Go to your Account Details screen
Under 'My investment account' tap on your account type
Tap on 'Change my portfolio' at the bottom of the screen
This will allow you to retake the questionnaire or simply browse through our portfolios and/or change your allocation

If your account is active and funded, your positions will be adjusted within the next 1 to 3 business days.

If you haven't funded your account yet, the new portfolio will be updated immediately.

You can only change your portfolio once every three months.

To generate a statement of accounts, you must log in to your account via the app. From your Dashboard, scroll down until you see statements under Activity.

When creating a password during signup, please ensure that the following conditions are met:

Length is at least 8 characters
Must contain both an uppercase and lowercase letter ('A' and 'a' or 'B' and 'b')
Must contain a number (any number from 0 to 9)
Must contain a special character such as !,@,#,$,%,^,&,*