Emirati Investors Embrace AI: 71% Rely on it to Manage Business

UAE investors are ready to embrace AI for managing their money, but they're not quite ready to ditch human advisors entirely. A new survey shows 73% of UAE investors plan to use AI instead of traditional financial advisors, while 71% trust these technologies to handle their investment portfolios.

The survey, conducted by Abu Dhabi-based wealth management platform Alvia between May and June 2025, polled 509 UAE investors across different ages, investment experience levels, and income brackets. The results reveal a clear appetite for digital solutions, but also highlight some gaps in what's currently available.

High-net-worth investors are leading the charge. About 52% of wealthy participants expressed satisfaction with AI-powered investment tools, compared to just 37% of individual retail investors. This suggests that those with more money to invest are more comfortable letting algorithms handle their portfolios.

But here's where it gets interesting. Despite this enthusiasm for AI, 40% of investors say current digital wealth management platforms don't meet their needs. The technology is there, but the user experience isn't quite hitting the mark yet.

The survey also reveals something important about trust in financial decisions. Around 50% of investors still turn to family members when making investment choices. This shows that personal relationships and emotional comfort remain crucial factors, even as technology advances.

"The most effective solutions are those where AI enhances human advisors rather than replacing them entirely," said Roger Rouhana, CEO of Alvia. He argues that combining technical efficiency with the personal relationships investors value will drive adoption of these platforms.

The UAE's regulatory environment is helping fuel this shift. Advanced frameworks from the Abu Dhabi Global Market and Dubai International Financial Centre, along with the UAE's AI Strategy 2031, are creating conditions for responsible innovation in financial technology.

For wealth management companies, these findings present both an opportunity and a challenge. Investors want smarter, more comprehensive digital solutions, but they're not satisfied with what's currently on offer. The companies that figure out how to blend AI capabilities with human touch points will likely capture the biggest share of this growing market.

The UAE has historically been quick to adopt new technologies, and this trend in wealth management fits that pattern. As AI tools become more sophisticated and user-friendly, we're likely to see more investors comfortable with letting algorithms help manage their money - as long as there's still a human element they can rely on when needed.