A new survey by HSBC and YouGov has revealed that one in four UAE residents are uncertain about their financial future, while nearly one in ten admit to having no financial plan at all.
The study found that 25% of those planning to live or retire abroad lack confidence in their financial readiness, and only 34% said they feel “very confident” about managing their finances after leaving the UAE. Respondents cited challenges such as handling money across multiple countries (28%), insufficient income (18%), and simply “not thinking about it yet” (16%).
To address these concerns, HSBC has launched Future Planner, a first-of-its-kind digital feature within its mobile app designed to help customers visualize their long-term financial goals. The tool allows users to simulate various financial scenarios — from property purchases to retirement plans — and project how these decisions could affect their overall net worth.
“The UAE is one of the world’s most international markets, and our customers’ lives and finances often span countries and currencies,” said Dinesh Sharma, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking for the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye. “The elevated Premier account, including Future Planner, is built to support cross-border banking needs while simplifying the next step in a customer’s wealth journey.”
The upgraded HSBC Premier service focuses on four key areas — wealth, health, travel, and international banking. It offers benefits such as investment management through World Trader, access to health and wellbeing partners, travel privileges including lounge access and concierge services, and seamless cross-border account management.
HSBC also recently opened its first Middle East Wealth Centre in Jumeirah to cater to affluent clients and became an Official Partner of Dubai Opera for the 2025–2026 season — a move reflecting the bank’s growing engagement with the UAE’s cosmopolitan community.
“More people are coming to the UAE to live and work, and many are choosing to stay longer and retire here,” Sharma added. “With enhancements covering wealth, health, travel, and international banking, we believe this upgrade will be particularly valued.”
