The investment platform aims to build a single platform for Arab investors to access local, regional, and global markets.

Thndr is accelerating its regional expansion strategy as it moves beyond Egypt and deeper into Gulf markets. The company is currently in advanced talks with Saudi regulators to obtain a trading license, while also holding discussions with regulators in Dubai and Bahrain.

Why You Should Care

Retail investing across the MENA region remains fragmented. Investors often need separate brokers, accounts, and regulatory approvals to access different Arab markets. Thndr is betting that this can change.

The company’s long-term vision is to create a unified investment platform where Arab investors can seamlessly access local, regional, and global markets through a single app. As more young investors across the region shift toward digital finance and self-directed investing, regional connectivity is becoming increasingly important.

Thndr’s regional push builds on its expansion into the UAE last year, when it became the first remote retail trading member of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). The move allowed users to invest directly in some of the most valuable listed companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the UAE, without requiring a physical presence in the UAE.

Now, the digital investment platform is looking to expand further across the Gulf. In an interview with Asharq Business, Ahmad Hammouda, co-founder & CEO of Thndr, disclosed that Thndr is in advanced-stage discussions to secure a license in Saudi Arabia. He also discloses that the company is engaging with regulators tied to the Dubai and Bahrain exchanges.

Alongside regional expansion, Thndr continues to broaden its product offerings inside Egypt. The company is preparing to launch a gold investment fund and is also working on a real estate investment fund. Both products are part of a wider push toward diversification and risk management.

In his interview, Hammouda emphasized diversification and investing every month as key pillars of risk management. This encourages users to spread investments across multiple asset classes and build more resilient long-term portfolios across different market conditions.

The Ripple

Thndr’s expansion reflects how digital investment platforms in the region are increasingly looking beyond local markets and toward broader cross-border investing opportunities.

For regional exchanges, partnerships with platforms like Thndr can help attract younger retail investors and increase market participation across borders. For users, easier access to multiple Arab markets could gradually lower barriers that have historically limited regional investing.

The move also aligns with broader efforts across Gulf markets to deepen liquidity, modernize trading infrastructure, and increase retail participation through digital-first platforms.

What to Watch

The next milestone will likely be whether Thndr secures regulatory approvals in Saudi Arabia and additional Gulf markets. Expanding beyond Abu Dhabi would move the company closer to its broader vision of creating a unified Arab investment platform.

Attention will also turn to the rollout of Thndr’s upcoming gold and real estate investment funds, which reflect growing demand for diversified investment products tailored to retail investors in the region.