In a fast-evolving financial landscape, access to global markets remains a significant challenge for investors in the Middle East, according to an update from Alpaca.
Traditional brokerage systems, bogged down by manual processes and lengthy onboarding timelines, have often limited the ability of everyday investors to engage with lucrative opportunities, particularly in the US markets.
Quantl, a Middle Eastern fintech startup, has partnered with Alpaca, a US-based self-clearing broker-dealer, to enhance investment accessibility.
By leveraging Alpaca’s cutting-edge API technology, Quantl is breaking down barriers, offering a seamless, data-driven platform that empowers investors with unprecedented access to US stocks and ETFs.
Quantl’s mission is clear: to provide a systematic, accessible, and emotionally neutral investment platform tailored to the needs of Middle Eastern investors.
As Shamaz, Quantl’s founder, explains:
“Instead of investing or managing the fund manually, we came up with a systematic investment platform where all decision-making… is backed up with data.”
This approach addresses a critical gap in the region, where opening a brokerage account can involve cumbersome Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, back-and-forth communications, and document collection that can take days.
By integrating Alpaca’s Broker API, Quantl has slashed onboarding times from days to mere minutes, making it easier for investors to dive into the US markets without delay.
The partnership with Alpaca, a developer-first platform known for its robust infrastructure, enables Quantl to offer fractional share trading starting at $1.
This feature is a game-changer for retail investors, allowing them to invest in high-priced US stocks and ETFs without needing substantial capital.
Additionally, Quantl provides pre-made “stock baskets” aligned with diverse investment strategies, such as gold, oil, or the S&P 500, catering to varying risk appetites and financial goals.
These baskets simplify the investment process, making it beginner-friendly while removing emotional bias from decision-making.
As Shamaz notes:
“Alpaca provided us a way to offer [US assets] to our clients… without having to open a CFD position or futures contract, which are much more complicated products.”
The Middle East’s investment landscape has traditionally favored complex instruments like contracts for difference (CFDs), futures, and forex, which can be daunting for novice traders.
Quantl’s mobile-first platform, powered by Alpaca’s API, offers a user-friendly alternative, enabling investors to engage with US markets without the steep learning curve associated with derivatives.
The platform’s data-driven approach also fosters trust, providing transparency and confidence in expected returns, which is crucial for investors accustomed to relying on wealth managers.
By offering real-time market access and clear, developer-friendly documentation, Alpaca has helped Quantl create a platform that resonates with both novice and sophisticated traders.
Looking ahead, Quantl aims to expand its offerings beyond US markets to include the UK, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul).
This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to position the Kingdom as a global financial hub.
The partnership with Alpaca also opens the door to advanced features like options trading, a growing interest among Middle Eastern investors familiar with CFDs and futures.
Yoshi Yokokawa, CEO and Co-Founder of Alpaca:
“We’re proud to have collaborated on building a solution that simplifies investing, empowers investors with a data-driven approach, and removes barriers for individuals seeking to engage with US assets.”
Quantl’s collaboration with Alpaca is a testament to the transformative power of fintech in democratizing investment opportunities.
By combining Alpaca’s scalable infrastructure with Quantl’s regional expertise, the partnership is paving the way for a new era of financial inclusion in the Middle East.
As the region’s fintech ecosystem continues to grow, platforms like Quantl are not only empowering individual investors but also redefining how global markets are accessed, one data-driven decision at a time.