Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
As investing becomes increasingly accessible across the UAE, industry experts say financial literacy is becoming just as important as access to financial markets.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the Money Expo exhibition in Abu Dhabi, running from July 8-9 at ADNEC centre, financial professionals said the rapid growth of investing, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for residents, but also highlighting the importance of education, risk awareness, and informed decision-making.
Johnny Giacaman, Chief Marketing Officer at MultiBank Group, said financial literacy remains a global challenge, with many people reaching adulthood without receiving any formal education about investing or personal finance.
He indicated that schools and universities have an important role to play in introducing financial education into their curricula, while employers and financial institutions can complement that through seminars, workshops, and educational initiatives that help people better understand markets before investing.
Giacaman also stressed the importance of regulation alongside education, noting that stronger regulatory oversight in the UAE has helped improve investor protection while encouraging greater awareness of how to identify and avoid fraudulent schemes.
Kamal Hachichou, Senior Account Manager at Equiti Group, agreed that financial education should extend beyond finance professionals.
“Whether someone studies medicine, engineering or another field, everyone should develop a basic understanding of business and finance to make informed financial decisions and reduce exposure to unnecessary risks,” Hachichou told Aletihad.
At the same time, Hachichou believes learning should not rely solely on formal education, noting that people have access to a wealth of online resources, including free courses and educational content powered by AI, making self-learning more accessible than ever.
Sohail Fadlallah, Business Development Manager at Vantage, also believes that financial education should become a regular part of school, university, and workplace learning.
“Young adults are receiving their first credit cards without fully understanding how they work, and they keep spending money without any awareness,” Fadlallah told Aletihad.
The experts agreed that the way UAE residents approach investing has changed significantly over the past few years.
According to Giacaman, the turning point came in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated demand for online investing, digital education, and additional sources of income.
“The rapid adoption of digital services, including e-commerce and online investment platforms, reflected a broader shift in how people manage their finances,” he explained.
Fadlallah said the UAE’s position as an international financial hub has also contributed to growing investor awareness.
He pointed to the expansion of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the increasing number of financial institutions establishing a presence in the country as evidence of the growing investment ecosystem.
He added that residents have also become more aware of investment scams, allowing them to make more informed financial decisions as investor protection mechanisms continue to evolve.
Hachichou said residents are becoming increasingly aware of investment opportunities, but noted that understanding risk remains equally important, with investors needing to give both considerations the same level of attention.
Artificial intelligence is also becoming an increasingly important part of the investment landscape. Giacaman said AI has only recently become widely available to retail investors, but already has the potential to help users analyse information and allowing them to navigate the market safely as investor protection mechanisms continue to evolve.
However, he cautioned that investors must understand which AI tools they are using and verify the information they receive, noting that technology should support decision-making rather than replace it.
“AI is becoming a strategic priority across the financial industry, with investment increasingly directed towards AI-powered education, financial services and large language model technologies,” Giacaman explained.
Giacaman also emphasised that investors need discipline, emotional intelligence and careful research before committing their money.
Hachichou also identified risk management as the single most important skill investors should develop to complement the growing use of technology, noting that AI is an increasingly valuable tool but is still evolving.
