Alfred Gachaga, compliance, risk and fintech executive/HANDOUT
You’ve tamed compound interest, you’re cautious with debt, and you’ve escaped the middle-class trap. So, what do you do with the money now?
After nearly a decade in the UAE, wearing two hats, compliance officer by profession and investor by curiosity (and sheer necessity if I am being honest), I’ve had the rare privilege of sitting on both sides of the table.
I’ve reviewed wealth management products with product managers, looked at terms and conditions with auditors and general consumer protection with regulators in my time here. I have weighed the merits of IPOs, dabbled in corporate bonds and said a hopeful prayer or two over my mutual fund holdings. So, when I say I’ve gotten my hands dirty, I mean it.
And through all this, one truth has stayed stubbornly clear: Most people don’t have an investing problem. They have a "what next?" problem. Allow me to explain.
We save (some better than others, I see you Sanu), we avoid the obvious debt traps (credit cards, we still see you), and we start building a buffer. But then the questions begin: Where do I put my money? Is now the right time? What if I lose it all? Valid fears. But standing still comes with its own risks. Inflation doesn’t rest. Neither should your money.
The UAE, for all its glitz and glitter, is quietly one of the most efficient places to grow wealth, if you know where to look. And no, this isn’t a pitch for some shiny new crypto token or a “secret” real estate deal in the new Palm Jumeirah or the freshwater lagoon townhouses (which are glitzy to be fair). This is about the basics done well.
Let’s start here: Investing doesn’t require brilliance, but it does require a plan.
And in the UAE, your plan can take shape in ways that many ignore:
- Mutual funds: Available through local and international banks, these allow diversification without the need to babysit your investments. From global equity funds to income-generating portfolios, you can access them right from your UAE bank account.
- ADX and DFM are waking up, are you? The UAE’s stock exchanges—ADX and DFM—aren’t the sleepy backwaters they once were. They’re growing fast, maturing well and quietly opening real opportunities for everyday investors. If you’ve been stacking your savings, it might be time to make your money stretch its legs. I’ve dipped in myself, Spinneys, Lulu, some of the new kids on the supermarket block giving Carrefour a proper run. And guess what? They’ve already paid out healthy dividends, faster than I expected. Not saying you should jump in too (this isn’t investment advice, relax), but the market is speaking. The only question is…are you listening?
- Corporate bonds and sukuks: Boring? Maybe. But these bonds pay If you’re after stability with a sprinkle of yield, without riding the stock market rollercoaster, UAE-listed and regional corporate bonds might just be your best-kept secret. Fixed returns, solid names and options in both USD and AED. It’s not flashy, but neither is earning quietly while others panic. Underrated? Absolutely.
- Want property without paint and tenants? Try Reits, which stands for, stands for Real Estate Investment Trust. Real estate exposure without buying a single brick. Reits let you invest in property portfolios—commercial, residential, you name it—without the headaches of ownership. The UAE’s catching on fast: Dubai holdings (yes, the big boys) just listed the first Reit on DFM. It’s property investing, minus the maintenance calls.
Having worked closely with regulators and sales teams alike, I’ll tell you what I tell my clients and my kids:
"Your first job is not to chase returns. It’s to avoid regret."
And you do that by understanding what you're buying, why you're buying it, and whether it fits your real life not just your social media one. The UAE market? It’s no longer just oil and skyscrapers. It’s a financial buffet…stocks, IPOs, bonds, Reits, global mutual funds served up with investor access like few places in the world.
But here’s the thing: most people land in the UAE and sprint straight for the Burj, brunches, beaches and boat parties. Which, don’t get me wrong, is part of the charm. But while you’re out there popping bottles at Cé La Vi or lining up that perfect shot at Aura Skypool, take a moment to pop into the ADX or DFM too.
Why? Because it’s one thing to visit Dubai once. It’s another to make sure you can afford to come back again and again—and maybe even fly business next time. The key? Let your money start working while you play.
In a city built on vision, don’t just be a tourist. Be an investor.
In the weeks to come, I’ll break down each of these tools, not as a financial guru (I’m not), but as someone who’s read the fine print, sat through the product approval meetings, marketing strategies (yeah I know how they will get you) and stayed up nights wondering why a particular ETF in Luxembourg is underperforming and also why my Kitengela tenants haven’t paid up (dammitt, why didn’t I just buy a Reit). So, if you’ve done the saving, this next series is for you.
Because money standing still is money falling behind.
The writer is a Compliance, risk and fintech executive
