Across the Gulf, low-income migrant workers form the foundation of national economies. They build our cities, keep essential services running and support households and businesses alike. Yet despite their contributions, they remain among the most financially vulnerable communities in the region.
The issue is not simply low wages; it is the lack of access to financial education and services that can help workers build more secure futures.
Many blue-collar workers in the UAE and wider region arrive with little to no exposure to formal financial systems. They often earn modest wages, and a significant portion of that income is sent home to support families abroad. But without basic financial literacy, knowing how to budget, save, avoid scams, or access secure digital tools, even those earnings can fall short of their long-term goals.
Low-income earners who lack financial knowledge are obviously more likely to fall into cycles of debt, be targeted by fraud, or rely on informal financial arrangements that offer little protection. But this is not just an individual risk, it has implications for broader economic resilience and financial stability.
While digital banking and FinTech platforms have accelerated across the region, many migrant workers remain excluded from these services. Why? Because the systems were not built with their realities in mind.
Traditional banking often requires documents that many workers do not have, use interfaces in languages they do not speak, or require processes they may not understand. Cultural and digital literacy barriers further widen the gap, while a lack of trust in formal institutions pushes many to rely on unregulated alternatives.
Even in a country as digitally advanced as the UAE, where smartphone penetration exceeds 99 per cent (according to cyber security company CrowdStrike), the benefits of financial innovation cannot be fully realised without deliberate inclusion.
The solution begins with education. By equipping workers with the knowledge to manage their money, how to budget, set goals, use mobile wallets and spot scams, we unlock tools for economic mobility, not just survival.
Moreover, financial education helps reduce reliance on predatory lending practices and informal saving schemes that can wipe out hard-earned income. It also promotes better long-term planning, including health savings, education for children, and early retirement goals.
At a regional level, this means more resilient households and communities. It also means more stable remittance flows, a key economic driver in countries like India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, which collectively receive billions in remittances from Gulf-based workers annually.
Financial inclusion is more than a policy goal; it is a moral and economic imperative. And financial literacy is its foundation.
We must encourage public-private partnerships that embed financial education into onboarding programmes, workplace benefits, community outreach and mobile apps. Employers, FinTech companies, regulators, and NGOs each have a role to play in this ecosystem.
By taking a human-centred approach to financial design and creating multilingual apps, simple interfaces, and culturally sensitive content, we can ensure that the most underserved members of our workforce are not left behind.
The UAE and other Gulf countries are already investing in digital transformation and financial innovation. To truly lead, these efforts must be inclusive from the ground up.
Because a thriving economy does not just depend on how much people earn, it depends on how well they are empowered to manage it.
Syed Muhammad Ali is chief executive of myZoi
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Rating: 3.5/5
The national orchestra
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Rating: 2/5
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- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
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What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Defence review at a glance
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• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
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• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
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Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
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Rating: 4/5
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THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
COMPANY PROFILE
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The five pillars of Islam
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World Mental Health Day
Key developments
- Singapore summit: Trump and Kim launch charm offensive as meetings begin
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All times UTC 4
Banned items
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Drones
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Animals
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Fireworks/ flares
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Radios or power banks
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Laser pointers
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Glass
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Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
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Sharp objects
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Tomorrow 2021
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The%20specs
Transgender report
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
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Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
COMPANY%20PROFILE
On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
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- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
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- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
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