UAE investors rank among the most enthusiastic users of artificial intelligence globally, embracing the technology for financial research and investment analysis — yet continuing to rely on professional advisers when it matters most.
That is the central finding of a new HSBC report titled The Human-AI Advantage, based on a survey of 9,993 affluent and high-net-worth individuals across 10 markets, including 703 investors in the UAE.
The report finds that 98 percent of UAE investors use AI tools in some aspect of their lives, matching India for the highest adoption rate globally and well ahead of the United Kingdom at 76 percent and the United States at 75 percent. Some 83 percent apply AI specifically to finance and investment, above the global average of 73 percent.
UAE investors lean on AI most for analysis and research, cited by 78 percent, and for supporting investment strategies, cited by 61 percent. Beyond research, 63 percent said AI helps them better understand calculated risks, placing the UAE second only to India and significantly ahead of the US at 44 percent and the UK at 39 percent. Investors also attributed 36 percent of their returns over the past 12 months to AI-supported decisions, above the global average of 33 percent.
Despite this confidence, trust in professional advisers has not wavered. Some 56 percent of UAE investors prefer a hybrid model that combines AI tools with expert human guidance, above the global average of 50 percent. Another 39 percent use AI for initial exploration before validating findings with an adviser prior to committing to a decision.
HSBC's Craig Worobec, Head of Wealth and Premier Solutions for UAE and the Middle East, said UAE investors are among the world's most confident AI users yet continue to seek professional guidance before acting.
The findings come as HSBC expands its AI-enabled Wealth Intelligence platform and as the UAE advances its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
