Nagham Hassan, Market Analyst at eToro
According to Nagham Hassan, Market Analyst at eToro, the misconception that women sit on the sidelines of financial decision-making is fast becoming outdated. In the UAE, recent Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) data shows that women hold around 1.039 million jobs in the UAE private sector, including more than 72,000 managerial and leadership roles. As more women earn more money, more are taking control of their finances and shaping the economy.
eToro’s latest UAE Retail Investor Beat survey offers a current view of how women are investing their money. The findings challenge the idea that women investors are disengaged or passive. Instead, women in the UAE are taking an active role in building their financial futures.
Money is a long-term business for women
Financial independence is the primary goal for women investors in the UAE, cited by 60% of respondents. This is followed by investing to supplement income (40%) and provide long-term security (39%). Notably, compared to men, women are more likely to invest for long-term security (31% for men) and to generate capital for a future payment (32% for women, 23% for men), demonstrating their forward-looking approach. The survey also found that 71% of women investors in the UAE have been investing for more than three years. Women are also more likely to hold an investment for at least some years (47%) compared to men (43%).
Savings accounts are the most widely held financial products among women investors at 84%, alongside investments such as shares, bonds and funds at 79%, which may point to a preference for balancing capital preservation with market exposure. Interestingly, women are more likely to have a pension (16%) than men (14%), once again demonstrating their long-term approach to finances.
Where women allocate their capital
Within their investment portfolios, cash is king, currently stored by 54% of women investors, and commodities follow closely with almost half (49%) currently invested in this asset class. Among those invested in commodities, gold is currently the most prevalent holding (87%) with 54% of gold investors viewing it as a long-term store of value, and 53% expecting that prices will rise. Silver is the second-most popular commodity investment at 38%, followed by energy commodities like oil (31%) and natural gas (22%). Domestic equities are held by 47%, while alternative investments like real estate accounts for 46%.
On sectors, financial services take the lead at 51% of women currently invested, followed by real estate (42%) and technology (35%). For their future investments, however, female investors are most interested in renewables (43%), communications (41%), and discretionary consumer goods (39%), indicating a desire to continue diversifying their portfolios.
The insight that emerges is that women investors are protecting capital through cash and real estate, while still putting money to work in future-facing sectors such as technology and renewables, as well as taking advantage of recent market opportunities in commodities.
Navigating geopolitical uncertainty
Women in the UAE are attuned to current affairs, strategically positioning their portfolios around recent developments in the region. With 77% of women believing that geopolitical tensions will have an impact on their investment portfolio, nearly one-third (29%) of survey respondents have already adjusted their portfolios in response to tensions in the Middle East, and almost half (48%) plan to do so.
Among those who have adjusted or plan to, most are investing in precious metals (52%) and energy commodities like oil (36%). Just under one-third each are also increasing exposure to global equities outside of affected regions (31%) and are opting to hold more cash or bonds (30%).
The fact that many have not retreated from the market is a sign that this is not a total loss of confidence. Indeed, many are still very confident in the country’s trajectory in particular: 7 in 10 expect the UAE stock market to rise over the next 12 months and 86% are confident in the UAE’s economy right now, reflecting a degree of optimism.
Altogether, women are actively engaged with their financial futures
One thing that stood out to me in the survey was that, while both men and women prioritise trusted parties such as professional financial advisors and online investment platforms for financial advice, women are far more likely to talk to their family, friends or colleagues (71% vs 59% of men) as well. Contrary to stereotypes, money is not a taboo or unapproachable theme of conversation for women.
The survey finds that women are hands-on with their investments. They are adjusting to market conditions as they evolve and staying diversified. Women investors in the UAE are looking ahead with purpose.
The story is not that women are catching up. It is that the old assumptions have not kept pace with how women in the UAE are already growing their wealth in 2026.
