In a regional first, O Gold, the UAE’s pioneering platform for fractional gold and silver ownership, has partnered with Botim, the flagship AI-powered fintech platform by Astra Tech, to introduce gold investment services within the Botim app. The move positions Botim as the first fintech in the MENA region to offer integrated digital gold investment through its platform.
The collaboration stems from an agreement signed in 2023 and brings together O Gold’s technical expertise in digital precious metals with Botim’s expansive financial ecosystem and user base, now surpassing 8.5 million users in the UAE. Users can begin investing in gold starting at just 0.1 grams, removing traditional financial barriers and making the asset class more accessible than ever.
As part of the integration, Botim users can now buy, sell, and manage digital gold directly from the app. Additionally, investors can take advantage of O Gold’s Gold Earning (Leasing) Program, offering 3% annual returns in grams—aligned with global lease rate benchmarks, which recently hovered around 3.25% per annum in London.
“In this region, gold has always held deep historical, cultural, and economic value. Even with market shifts, the demand continues to grow. With this partnership, we’re making fractional gold investment simple and secure, so anyone can get started. It also reflects our focus on innovation in fintech and our commitment to providing trusted financial services to more than 8 million people who use Botim in the UAE. This is another step in expanding Botim’s financial services and giving people more accessible ways to manage and grow their money with confidence,” — Ahmed Mourad, Chief Operating Officer at Astra Tech, Botim.
The launch of this feature comes at a time when the UAE solidifies its global standing in the gold trade, with exports reaching $53.41 billion in the 2024–2025 period, according to TradeImeX. The integration of gold investment within everyday digital platforms represents a significant leap forward in democratizing access to tangible assets.
The market’s response has been overwhelmingly positive. O Gold has already surpassed 100,000 users in just a few months post-launch, a figure that reflects strong demand for accessible and trusted gold trading platforms. This momentum is further backed by the platform’s recent Shariah-compliance certification from the Center of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE), reinforcing its alignment with ethical finance standards.
“As an Emirati company, our goal at O Gold is to make precious metal ownership simple, accessible, and secure for everyone. Within a few months of O Gold’s launch, we’ve acquired over 100,000 users, a clear validation of the market’s appetite for innovative and trusted gold trading solutions.” — Bandar Alothman, Founder at O Gold.
“Partnering with a platform as widely used as Botim and its integrated payment system allows us to further extend our services and help millions of users start their gold investment journey with just a few taps. This is a game-changer for democratizing access to a timeless asset.”
With this feature now live, the partnership between O Gold and Botim marks a major milestone for fintech innovation in the MENA region, offering users a seamless, secure way to invest in one of the world’s most stable and historically significant assets.
