Since the UAE came under attack from Iran 10 days ago, residents have experienced banking outages, temporary stock market closures and disruptions to digital services. In a country where most transactions are cashless and banking apps are part of daily life, even short interruptions can raise concerns about access to money and the safety of savings.

Financial experts say the key is not to panic, rather to prepare. While the recent disruptions have been unsettling, the UAE’s banking sector remains well-capitalised and tightly regulated, they say, meaning the underlying financial system remains stable.

Instead of making knee-jerk decisions, like moving money overseas or quickly selling off investments, advisers suggest this is a moment to focus on fundamentals. These include keeping a small cash buffer on hand, avoiding emotional reactions in the stock market and ensuring your money is not concentrated in a single bank account or investment.

Periods of uncertainty can also prompt an increase in scams and fraud attempts, making basic protections - including lowering transaction limits and using credit cards rather than debit cards online - more important than ever.

In this newsletter, we break down the practical steps you can take to stay calm, resilient and financially prepared.

Are you changing the way you invest during this conflict? Let us know about it at pf@thenationalnews.com.

It's important not to have a 'knee-jerk reaction' to financial volatility, experts say. Bloomberg
It's important not to have a 'knee-jerk reaction' to financial volatility, experts say. Bloomberg

Personal finance experts are urging people in the UAE to “remain calm” with their money amid the continuing Iran war.

Local banking services were disrupted, two UAE Amazon data centres in the country were struck, and local stock markets were closed for two days, reopening with a dip.

“Against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, global market volatility and cautious investor sentiment, any upset in the financial system can understandably amplify anxiety,” said Sumeet Gill, vice president of investments at insurance brokerage Continental International Group.

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