Markaz announced that its iMarkaz Invest platform now features 24-hour access to eligible U.S. equities and ETFs. This allows clients to monitor and trade as market developments occur, including responses to economic releases and geopolitical events. The feature is designed to better suit the time zones of investors in Kuwait and the GCC.
The update builds on the platform’s existing capabilities for accessing selected markets in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and the United States within a secure, regulated digital environment. Markaz described the enhancement as a significant step that places iMarkaz Invest among select regional platforms offering continuous U.S. market access. The company has emphasized its commitment to technology-driven solutions that maintain institutional standards developed over more than 50 years of operation.
The enhancement positions Markaz and Kuwait as a leader in the GCC wealthtech race, the firm indicated. It forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen digital wealth management while focusing on client needs and investment discipline. Industry data underscore the potential for such innovations amid rising demand for accessible global investment tools.
Salman H. Olayan, senior vice president for strategy, digitization and analytics, said in the statement that the company is “continuously investing in digital capabilities that make global investing more accessible, efficient, and responsive to our clients’ evolving needs.” He pointed to the platform’s ability to deliver fast execution and real-time visibility alongside the new trading window. “The introduction of 24-hour access to eligible U.S. equities and ETFs further strengthens this offering by enabling investors to react to market developments as they happen, regardless of time zone differences,” Olayan added.
A Ken Research report valued the GCC WealthTech market at USD 7.9 billion. The Kuwait WealthTech market reached USD 1.1 billion based on a five-year historical analysis from the same firm. The global WealthTech solutions market stood at USD 8.64 billion in 2025 and is expected to expand at a 15.58 percent compound annual growth rate to USD 23.81 billion by 2032, according to Maximize Market Research figures. This growth trajectory highlights the increasing role of digital platforms in the region’s financial services sector.
Kuwait’s digital economy has advanced with the Central Bank of Kuwait’s 2022 digital banking law prompting greater fintech integration, the U.S. International Trade Administration reported. Banks have focused on digital payments, data analysis and mobile applications as part of this shift. Extended hours trading, such as that now available through iMarkaz Invest, provides added flexibility for investors to respond to news but can involve lower liquidity during off-peak times, according to brokerage analyses from Charles Schwab and the World Economic Forum.
