Can UAE Residents Survive Without Savings?
Economy In UAE: In the UAE’s current economy, money advisers say living on salaries alone without a safety net is becoming increasingly difficult. Between rent, school fees, utility costs and daily expenses, many residents are realising that just one financial setback can disrupt their stability. With layoffs and pay cuts affecting professionals across sectors, advisers say now is the time to turn emergency savings from a “nice-to-have” into a “must-have.” Experts recommend setting aside enough savings to cover six to nine months of essential expenses and keeping the money in safe, easily accessible accounts. The concept, advisers say, is simple: when life throws a financial curveball, your savings should absorb the shock- not your investments or future security.
Financial experts say you don’t need to build an emergency fund in a day – the key is consistency, discipline, and budgeting. Advisors suggest starting by closely tracking monthly spending to get a clear picture of where the money is going. Once spending patterns become clearer, individuals should focus on gradually building up savings that can cover at least three to six months of living expenses.
Experts also say it’s important to keep emergency savings separate from longer-term investments so that the money is available quickly in case of an emergency, without compromising future financial goals.
Many advisers also recommend following a structured budgeting formula:
According to financial experts, even small but regular contributions can eventually create a strong financial safety net.
Emergency savings should act as a financial shock absorber, there to rescue households when life gives them a costly surprise out of nowhere. While most advisers suggest having enough to comfortably cover three to six months of living expenses, freelancers, self-employed professionals and large families may need a longer cushion that can extend to nine or even twelve months. The logic is obvious, the greater the uncertainties in your income, the larger your safety net needs to be. Experts say the true benefit of an emergency fund is not simply weathering a short-term crisis, but also avoiding drastic and irrational decisions such as taking high-interest loans or liquidating long-term investments during times of financial stress.
The 50/30/20 rule is one of the most straightforward and well-known budgeting methods for managing personal finances without the headache. With this method, you split your after-tax income into three buckets – 50% for necessary expenses like rent, groceries, utility bills and insurance, 30% for lifestyle expenses such as eating out, entertainment and travel, and 20% toward financial goals like building emergency savings, repaying debt or making long-term investments. Financial experts say the rule creates a balanced approach to money management by helping people cover everyday costs while steadily building financial security. The theory is simple: be mindful of your spending today while safeguarding your financial future at the same time.
(With Inputs)
Aishwarya is a journalism graduate with over three years of experience thriving in the buzzing corporate media world. She’s got a knack for decoding business news, tracking the twists and turns of the stock market, covering the masala of the entertainment world, and sometimes her stories come with just the right sprinkle of political commentary. She has worked with several organizations, interned at ZEE and gained professional skills at TV9 and News24, And now is learning and writing at NewsX, she’s no stranger to the newsroom hustle. Her storytelling style is fast-paced, creative, and perfectly tailored to connect with both the platform and its audience. Moto: Approaching every story from the reader’s point of view, backing up her insights with solid facts.
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