Comparison

Vault vs Baraka.

Baraka is a Dubai-based self-directed stock app — fractional US shares, subscription tiers, AI prompts, and execution at DriveWealth. Vault is a fee-only fiduciary advisor. Here's how a subscription brokerage compares to a managed wealth relationship.

Baraka is a self-directed brokerage with subscription tiers and clean US-stock access via DriveWealth. There is no fiduciary advice, no human advisor, no financial plan. Vault charges a single flat management fee and delivers a dedicated CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor across the relationship.

Side-by-side

How we compare on the things that matter.

Minimum to qualify

Vault

USD 100,000 in liquid net wealth.

Baraka

No stated minimum balance. Fractional shares from USD 1.

Fee model

Vault

Single flat management fee, decreasing with portfolio size. No transaction fees on the core, no custody fees, no commissions, no retrocessions.

Baraka

Subscription tiers: Standard free (1 free trade/month); Premium USD 7.99/month (12 free trades, 25 AI prompts); Premium+ USD 16.66/month (25 free trades, 50 AI prompts). Sub-USD-5 stocks: USD 1 per trade plus USD 0.002/share. Deposit/FX cost runs 0.60%–0.75% depending on tier and deposit size.

Asset custody

Vault

Assets custodied with Interactive Brokers in your own name — fully segregated, SIPC + FDIC insured. Vault never takes possession of client funds.

Baraka

Trades clear and assets custody at DriveWealth LLC (US), an SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA/SIPC member. Client securities are SIPC-protected to USD 500k (incl. USD 250k cash), with Excess-SIPC up to an aggregate USD 50M.

Regulation

Vault

FSRA-regulated in ADGM (UAE) and CMA-licensed in Saudi Arabia (licence 25313-20).

Baraka

Baraka Financial Limited is authorised and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in DIFC.

Advisor incentives

Vault

Advisors are salaried, with bonuses tied to client outcomes and retention — never to product sales, transaction volume, or in-house fund flows.

Baraka

Execution venue. No human advisor. "Premium" AI prompts provide information, not regulated fiduciary advice.

Investment access

Vault

Globally diversified core via low-cost ETFs and bonds, plus a satellite with curated private-market opportunities, thematic strategies, and direct equity convictions.

Baraka

~5,000+ US stocks and ETFs plus UAE stocks; recent additions include bonds, options and gold. Fractional shares supported.

Cash yield

Vault

SmartCash earns daily interest in AED, USD, EUR, and GBP — no lock-ins, no teaser rates, no minimum balance to earn the headline rate.

Baraka

Uninvested USD sits at DriveWealth, where retail interest accrual is minimal. There is no Vault-equivalent multi-currency cash product.

Planning model

Vault

Structured financial planning around your goals, cash flow, and family — delivered by a dedicated CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor, complimentary as part of the relationship.

Baraka

Self-directed. No financial plan, no dedicated advisor, no fiduciary duty.

Why Vault

A wealth manager built around your interests, not the bank's.

Custody

Held in your name at Interactive Brokers.

Vault never takes possession of client funds. Assets sit in your own account at IBKR — segregated, with SIPC and FDIC protection on the underlying.

Incentives

Advisor incentives aligned with portfolio growth.

Vault advisors are salaried with bonuses tied to client outcomes and retention. No commissions, no kickbacks, no in-house product flows.

Regulation

Regulated in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Vault Wealth Limited is regulated by the FSRA in ADGM. Vault Saudi Limited Company is licensed by the CMA (licence 25313-20).

Entry point

Starts at USD 100,000 in liquid net wealth.

A genuine private-wealth relationship without the seven-figure threshold that defines traditional private banking.

Investment access

Private markets in the satellite.

Beyond the diversified core, Vault clients access curated private-market opportunities, thematic strategies, and direct convictions — the same shelf as larger institutions.

Planning

Structured financial planning by a dedicated advisor.

Goals, cash flow, risk, and family wealth — modelled end-to-end and reviewed continuously with a CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor who knows your name.

Cash

Daily-yielding SmartCash, no lock-ins.

Multi-currency cash earning daily interest in AED, USD, EUR, and GBP. Withdraw anytime — no teaser rates, no minimums, no surprises.

Curious how a fee-only relationship looks next to Baraka?

Book a complimentary discovery session with a Vault advisor. We'll walk through your current setup, model the all-in cost, and show you exactly what a Vault relationship would look like — no obligation.

Sources & disclaimers

Comparison data is taken from each provider's publicly disclosed materials as of May 2026. Bank fee schedules, minimums, and product shelves change frequently — always verify current figures with each institution before deciding. Nothing on this page is a solicitation to switch providers or a representation that Vault is better suited to a particular individual's circumstances. For independent advice tailored to your situation, speak with a regulated wealth advisor.