A new BlackRock report, “Read on Retirement: GCC 2026,” reveals that the UAE has a prime opportunity to bolster its retirement and long-term savings ecosystem. Strengthening these systems would not only enhance individual financial security but also channel domestic savings into long-term investment capital, boosting the liquidity of local capital markets and driving economic diversification.
The study highlights massive demand for structured savings plans, showing that over 90% of both UAE nationals and expatriates view defined contribution savings programmes as attractive, with a vast majority willing to participate. Currently, the UAE’s retirement landscape accommodates a diverse workforce by combining public pensions for nationals with end-of-service benefits for expats, alongside voluntary and employer-sponsored savings.
According to Kashif Riaz, BlackRock’s Head of Middle East Financial Advisory, UAE workers possess high awareness and commitment to future planning. He noted that the primary challenge is a gap in retirement knowledge rather than a lack of willingness to save, signaling a strong opportunity to expand professionally managed workplace savings programmes to improve personal financial outcomes and support long-term economic growth.
Lamiaa Chaabi, BlackRock’s MASS CIO for the Middle East, emphasized that while residents are actively saving, they require better guidance to navigate long-term planning and effectively visualize their financial futures decades down the line. The survey found that both citizens and residents share similar investment behaviors and feel more prepared when supplementing standard benefits with additional savings plans. Chaabi stressed that saving alone is insufficient; funds must be coupled with strategic investing from an early age. She urged collaboration among individuals, employers, and policymakers to build an efficient ecosystem, noting that workplace savings also act as vital tools for talent retention.
The report also shed light on current asset allocation, noting that household savings in the UAE remain heavily concentrated in cash (49%), gold (40%), and real estate (18%). However, momentum is shifting, as 56% of respondents expressed explicit intentions to increase their retirement savings in the near future.
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