Only 10 per cent to 12 per cent of customers are women at our brokerage. That gap isn\u2019t just a statistic \u2013 it\u2019s a missed economic engine.<\/p>\n
Across the Middle East and North Africa, women are launching businesses<\/a>, running households and shaping purchasing decisions<\/a>. Yet, too few are trading and investing \u2013 especially in the financial markets \u2013 where long-term wealth is compounded.<\/p>\n The good news: appetite exists. In Saudi Arabia, the number of women investing on the Tadawul stock market<\/a> surpassed 1.74 million in the second quarter of 2025 \u2013 an all-time high and up sharply year on year, according to figures released by the Capital Market Authority. <\/p>\n That is not a niche; it\u2019s momentum. In the UAE, women invested Dh118 billion ($32.1 billion) in Dubai real estate<\/a> in 2024, representing about a third of all investors, according to the Dubai Land Department. This is evidence that when the asset class feels accessible and tangible, women show up in force.<\/p>\n For comparison, in the mature US market, women\u2019s participation is mainstream, with roughly 62 per cent of US women reporting they own stocks (directly or through funds or retirement) \u2013 about the same rate as men, according to analytics company Gallup. <\/p>\n So, why hasn\u2019t female participation in Mena’s financial markets<\/a> kept pace? <\/p>\n Part of the answer is education and access. Wealth manager UBS\u2019s region-wide study finds many women want to engage, but 71 per cent report low familiarity with investment instruments<\/a> like stocks and bonds, even as 62 per cent say they want more information and seek to become more active investors. <\/p>\n There\u2019s also a uniquely UAE imperative to invest. For expatriates, who make up a large share of the workforce, there is no state pension. Instead, most rely on an end-of-service gratuity<\/a>, a lump sum that\u2019s rarely enough to fund decades of retirement.<\/p>\n The government has begun reform, introducing voluntary end-of-service savings schemes<\/a> that invest contributions. This is welcome progress, but still optional to enrol in.<\/p>\n In other words, for many residents, your retirement depends on the investment portfolio you build for yourself.<\/p>\n If we want more women investing, we should also bust an enduring myth that men are naturally \u201cbetter\u201d at it. In fact, the evidence points the other way.<\/p>\n A large-scale analysis by financial services company Fidelity found that female investors, on average, outperformed their male counterparts by 0.4 percentage points per year, thanks to steadier, long-term behaviour \u2013 lower turnover and fewer panic trades<\/a>. That compounds. <\/p>\n Why it matters<\/b><\/p>\n When women invest, families are more financially resilient, businesses gain patient capital and markets deepen. In a region rapidly diversifying beyond hydrocarbons, activating half the population as long-term investors is not just fair, it\u2019s macro-critical.<\/p>\n How to get started (and stick with it)<\/b>1) Start with purpose, not products<\/b><\/p>\n Write down one primary goal (for instance, \u201cretire at 60 with DhX per month\u201d). Goals anchor behaviour when markets wobble.<\/p>\n 2) Build a safety net first<\/b><\/p>\n Hold three to six months of essential expenses in cash or a money-market fund. This \u201csleep-well\u201d buffer prevents selling investments at the worst time.<\/p>\n 3) Automate a small, steady contribution<\/b><\/p>\n Set a standing monthly transfer into your portfolio (even Dh300 to Dh500). Automation beats motivation.<\/p>\n 4) Keep costs low and diversify<\/b><\/p>\n Make bonds and broad, low-cost funds your core \u2013 regional and global equity index funds or exchange-traded funds, plus a bond fund if you want smoother swings. Add a Shariah-compliant option if that fits your values.<\/p>\n 5) Use dollar-cost averaging<\/b><\/p>\n Invest the same amount on a schedule. You\u2019ll buy more when prices are low and less when they\u2019re high \u2013 no crystal ball required.<\/p>\n 6) Limit trading<\/b><\/p>\n Behaviour \u2013 not brilliance \u2013 drives returns. Fewer, better-researched moves usually beat constant tinkering (and aligns with the performance edge women often show). <\/p>\n 7) Measure what matters<\/b><\/p>\n Track progress against your goal once a quarter. <\/p>\n 8) Learn in community<\/b><\/p>\n Join women-led investing circles<\/a>, webinars or mentorship groups. In the UBS study, demand for approachable education was clear; peer learning removes the intimidation factor. <\/p>\n 9) Leverage workplace schemes<\/b><\/p>\n If your employer offers a DIFC Employer Workplace Savings (Dews)-style<\/a> or voluntary end-of-service savings plan, enrol and contribute. It\u2019s a ready-made, diversified base \u2013 then layer a personal brokerage account on top. <\/p>\n 10) Choose regulated partners<\/b><\/p>\n Use a locally regulated broker, understand fees and opt into investor-protection features.<\/p>\n The momentum in Saudi Arabia\u2019s markets and Dubai\u2019s property data show the desire \u2013 and the capacity \u2013 are already here. <\/p>\n