Dubai -- Almost three-quarters (73 percent) of UAE investors said that they would embrace AI as an alternative to human advisors, while 70.8 percent would trust AI to manage their portfolios, according to a recent survey by Alpheya.

The survey, conducted between May and July 2025, covered 509 UAE-based investors, spanning a diverse mix of age groups, investment experience levels and income brackets, including high-net worth individuals (HNWIs) and retail investors.

Existing digital wealth management platforms fail to meet expectations

The survey revealed that 52 percent of high-net-worth individuals reported satisfaction, the highest percentage of the segments surveyed, compared to just 37 percent of retail investors. The findings also highlight both the opportunity and the challenge facing digital wealth management providers in the UAE.

While investor appetite for smarter, more holistic digital wealth management solutions is rising, existing platforms are failing to meet expectations. A considerable number of investors (40 percent) also reported unmet needs in product offerings, signaling that while investors are ready for digital wealth solutions, the market has yet to deliver the seamless, personalized experience they expect.

As AI-driven solutions gain traction, the findings reaffirm that technology alone cannot replace the human dimension of trust and guidance. Nearly 50 percent of UAE investors turn to family members for investment decisions, underscoring that personal relationships, reassurance and contextual nuance remain core to trust in wealth management.

“The UAE has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of technological innovation, and these findings confirm that investor sentiment is aligned with the country’s forward-looking vision. The most effective solutions will be those where AI augments human advisors rather than replacing them entirely, combining technological efficiency with the personal relationships investors clearly value. As platforms deliver this integration through intuitive experiences, adoption will follow,” said Roger Rouhana, CEO of Alpheya.

UAE to lead the next phase of digital wealth management

The survey results point to a market on the edge of transformation. With strong investor appetite, progressive frameworks in ADGM and DIFC, and national initiatives such as the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 enabling responsible innovation, the country is uniquely positioned to lead the next phase of digital wealth management, reinforcing its positioning as a global tech and financial services hub.

A recent survey by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), revealed a rapid acceleration in AI adoption among financial firms in the center, with 52 percent of firms actively using AI – up from 33 percent in 2024 – with growth particularly pronounced in the adoption of Generative AI (+166 percent).

The findings reflect a significant shift in the market, with most firms now integrating AI in at least one area of their operations, and a clear majority planning further AI deployment, with expected continued adoption over the next 12 months.