Financial News

Empowering UAE’s Women to Achieve Financial Literacy and Inclusion

Published

3 years ago

April 28, 2023

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By Akshay Sardana, VP – Strategy & International Development, The Continental Group

Many studies over the years have established financial literacy as a determinant of socioeconomic conditions. Multi-generational financial literacy and planning have propelled many toward the upper echelons of the world. In contrast, the lack thereof continues to constrain several others in vicious cycles of debts, inevitable dependencies, and monetary uncertainties. As often as not, in the absence of financial literacy, women get the short end of the stick because of certain entrenched gender inequalities and other distinct factors. That explains the UAE’s growing efforts to advance women’s financial literacy. Over the recent months, many apex bodies have orchestrated financial literacy campaigns aimed at empowering women. The Dubai Government-owned National Bonds(1) has been at the forefront of such initiatives, recently partnering with the Arab Women Authority for a program to empower women with financial skills and tools. Such top-down efforts are timely and consequential in light of increasing complexities in financial markets, volatile economic cycles, and the indomitable need for gender equality across all walks of life. Evidence indicates that closing the financial-literacy gaps between men and women could have macroeconomic implications for a nation. The impact corresponds to the timeless quote, “if you empower a woman, you empower a nation.”

The following are the five probable positive outcomes.

Savings for a rainy day

In recent years, especially following the pandemic and subsequent inflationary cycles, people are increasingly provisioning for all possible contingencies. Increased online self-learning platforms and educational videos related to finance can be linked to that spike in interest and intent. Women have expanded their financial horizons, venturing beyond household accounts. Their primary objective is to build a corpus fund — a considerable amount of money kept aside for unforeseen emergencies — whose necessity continues to mount due to concerns of a recession. While the scope for growth is limited in emergency funds, the liquidity they offer can be useful. The ability of people to fend for themselves during large-scale, unprecedented situations is a hallmark of a competitive economy.

Decoupling from dependencies

A study found that, on average, women in the UAE retire with just 69% of the wealth of their male counterparts. Such abject wage disparities can be addressed only through structural changes in the corporate culture. Until then, women must continue to explore ways to secure their long-term financial interests without factoring in spousal or familial support. Decoupling from dependencies is important because women tend to live longer than men, requiring them to hone their financial skills for times ahead. However, savings alone will not suffice. With higher financial literacy, women can effectively plan their retirement by achieving risk-adjusted returns through strategic allocations of specific capital into savings, fixed-income products, equities, and insurance.

Inculcating financial discipline

A few cross-sectional surveys seeking to demystify parental roles in money habits have found that children mostly take after their mothers’ approaches to finance. Such findings place a significant onus on women to enhance their financial literacy. When financial discipline is inculcated early on, the strong foundations will define children’s monetary decision-making and related success. Besides money, women’s financial literacy sets good precedents for children to uphold the virtues of gender equality and the importance of patience and pragmatism in investments. No amount of money can parallel a legacy of financial discipline that mothers can bestow on their progeny.

Dodging curveballs

While there is no denying that women’s societal challenges have witnessed considerable legal recourse in recent years, it’s a long road before one can afford to be complacent. As often as not, women cannot break free from abusive marriages or families due to financial dependencies. In hindsight, about 59% of widows and divorcees wished they had been more involved in long-term financial decisions(3). At times, even seemingly natural circumstances such as childrearing can take their toll on a woman’s finances through career setbacks, etc. Financial literacy will ensure different employment pathways and promise a way out when marital circumstances become untenable.

Market Participation

Wealth creation stagnates when money is restricted to low-risk products such as savings accounts, fixed deposits, bullion, and provident funds. Statistics suggest that women tend to favour such asset classes due to a deep-seated aversion to risk — a by-product of less financial literacy. Some studies also suggest that women often edge out their male peers when participating in equity markets. The reasoning is that women are innately more pragmatic and grounded, which creates successful investors when coupled with high financial literacy. So, UAE policymakers hope to unlock an untapped segment in the financial market by supporting women’s financial education. It’s a righteous pursuit primed for long-term rewards.

Financial

ATHAR+ LAUNCHES 2ND HACK4IMPACT HACKATHON IN ABU DHABI

Published

2 weeks ago

June 3, 2026

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Athar+, Abu Dhabi’s first purpose-driven hub dedicated to accelerating social impact, operated by the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, has launched the second edition of its HACK4IMPACT hackathon, bringing together changemakers to develop practical solutions that address key social priorities and contribute to positive social impact across Abu Dhabi.

Launched in line with the objectives of the UAE’s Year of Family, this edition of the hackathon focuses on addressing family-related challenges through innovative and community-driven approaches. Taking place from 16-18 June 2026 at Athar+, the three-day programme brings together aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals, and community members to develop solutions addressing three family-centred priorities: building stronger family foundations, enhancing financial wellbeing for parents, and supporting families caring for aging parents.

Guided through a structured innovation journey, participants will apply design thinking methodologies to explore challenges, validate ideas, develop prototype concepts, and present their solutions to a panel of judges.

High-potential concepts emerging from the hackathon have the opportunity to be considered for further support through Athar+’s incubation ecosystem, enabling participants to continue developing their solutions beyond the event. Through these challenge areas, the initiative aims to advance family wellbeing, strengthen social cohesion, and support the development of solutions that respond to the evolving needs of families in Abu Dhabi.

This initiative aims to strengthen practical innovation skills among participants while identifying high-potential ideas and scalable concepts capable of addressing key social priorities. It also encourages collaboration by bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and expertise. The hackathon provides an accessible entry point for youth and first-time innovators to contribute to solving community challenges through entrepreneurship and social innovation, inspiring them to play an active role in shaping impactful and practical solutions.

His Excellency Salem AlShamsi, Executive Director of Social Incubation and Contracting at Ma’an said: “HACK4IMPACT reflects Athar+’s commitment to empowering innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs to develop practical solutions that address real social priorities and enhance quality of life across our communities. By empowering future talent through Athar+, we are strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional hub for social entrepreneurship while advancing the Authority’s vision of fostering a culture of giving, participation, and measurable social progress.’’

Aligned with the objectives of the UAE’s Year of Family, the initiative also supports broader national efforts to strengthen family wellbeing, social resilience, and community cohesion through collaborative innovation and inclusive engagement.”

Through dedicated workspaces, expert mentorship, professional services, and tailored growth programmes offered by Athar+, participants will be supported in transforming ideas into prototype concepts while gaining access to opportunities within Abu Dhabi’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Financial

Standard Chartered Supports Pakistan’s First Panda Bond Issuance in Chinese Interbank Market

Published

4 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

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Pakistan has successfully completed its inaugural Panda bond issuance in China’s interbank bond market, raising RMB 1.75 billion through a three-year transaction that marks the country’s first direct entry into China’s capital markets.

Standard Chartered (China) Ltd. Co acted as the only foreign bank serving as joint lead underwriter and joint book runner for the transaction, supporting Pakistan in broadening its international financing channels while strengthening financial connectivity between regional capital markets.

The issuance received strong support from multilateral development institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which together guaranteed 95 per cent of the bond’s principal and interest payments. The structure helped attract significant demand from Chinese banks, securities houses, and international financial institutions.

The transaction was reportedly more than five times oversubscribed, allowing Pakistan to price the bond at 2.50 per cent, the tightest end of the indicated pricing range.

Salman Ansari, Global Head, Capital Markets, Standard Chartered, described the issuance as a strategically important transaction that expands Pakistan’s access to global liquidity pools while demonstrating the growing relevance of regional capital markets within the international funding landscape.

The transaction also reflects the broader evolution of the Renminbi within global financial markets, as China continues expanding the role of its currency beyond trade settlement into cross-border financing and sovereign funding structures.

Jerry Zhang, Global Head of Banks & Broker Dealers and Head of Coverage, Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered, said the transaction highlighted the bank’s role in connecting international issuers with China’s domestic capital markets while also reflecting the continued internationalisation of the Renminbi.

The Panda bond market has increasingly attracted a wider range of sovereign, supranational, and institutional issuers in recent years as regional economies explore diversified funding channels and deeper access to Chinese liquidity pools.

Financial

Standard Chartered appoints Michelle Swanepoel as Head of Financing and Securities Services Middle East and Africa

Published

1 month ago

May 7, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Standard Chartered today announced the appointment of Michelle Swanepoel as Head of Financing and Securities Services (FSS), Middle East and Africa. Based in Dubai, she will lead the business across the region effective 1 July 2026. Michelle succeeds Scott Dickinson, who will be retiring from the bank on 30 June after more than 40 years in financial services.

Michelle Swanepoel joined Standard Chartered in September 2017 as the Regional Head of Business Account Management for the Middle East and Africa and was appointed the Regional Head of Securities Services for Africa in May 2019. In September 2024, her role expanded to include Head of Markets for South Africa.

“Michelle has played a strong leadership role in the evolution of post‑trade servicing across Sub‑Saharan Africa, supporting capital market development, regulatory reform, enhanced investor access and market infrastructure, and is a recognised industry subject‑matter expert,” said Margaret Harwood-Jones, Global Head of FSS. “I have every confidence that Michelle will drive further momentum in the region, building on the solid foundation established by Scott.”

Scott Dickinson joined Standard Chartered in 2017 and he has led the Bank’s FSS franchise in MEA since 2019. During his tenure, he oversaw strong growth across the Middle East and Africa franchise, supported expansion into markets including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and helped deliver the Bank’s first Digital Asset Custody capability in the Dubai International Financial Centre.