New research from HSBC reveals that UAE investors are among the world’s most enthusiastic adopters of artificial intelligence, leveraging AI-powered tools to research opportunities, analyse markets and generate investment ideas. Yet despite their strong embrace of technology, investors continue to place their greatest trust in professional financial advisers when making final investment decisions.
According to HSBC’s The Human-AI Advantage report, which surveyed 9,993 affluent and high-net-worth individuals across 10 markets, including 703 respondents in the UAE, the country ranks among the global leaders in AI adoption. The findings highlight the emergence of a hybrid investment model in which AI enhances discovery and analysis, while human advisers provide context, validation and accountability before investors commit to action.
The research comes as HSBC expands the use of AI within its wealth management business through initiatives such as Wealth Intelligence, a large language model-powered platform that draws on more than 10,000 data sources, including HSBC research and external news feeds. The platform is designed to help Relationship Managers access relevant insights more quickly and deliver more personalised guidance to clients.
The UAE’s strong performance reflects the nation’s broader commitment to AI innovation. The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority underscore the country’s ambition to position AI at the heart of economic growth and digital transformation.
UAE Among Global Leaders in AI Adoption
The UAE recorded the joint-highest overall AI adoption rate among all markets surveyed, matching India at 98%, significantly ahead of the UK (76%) and the US (75%). More than four in five UAE investors (83%) use AI specifically for financial and investment purposes, compared with a global average of 73%.
Investors primarily rely on AI for research and analysis (78%) and investment strategy support (61%), one of the highest rates globally. They also report that AI helps boost confidence when discussing investment options with advisers, comparing opportunities and reducing emotional bias in decision-making.
AI Encourages More Calculated Risk-Taking
AI is having a notable impact on investor confidence and risk appetite in the UAE. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents say AI enables them to take better-calculated investment risks, placing the UAE second only to India (64%) and well above the global average of 49%.
Investors also estimate that AI contributed an average of 36% of their investment returns over the past year, exceeding the global average of 33%.
Human Expertise Remains Essential
Despite growing confidence in AI, investors continue to value human expertise when making important financial decisions. More than half of UAE respondents (56%) favour a hybrid model that combines AI capabilities with professional advice, compared with a global average of 50%.
The preferred approach among UAE investors is to use AI to identify and assess opportunities before seeking confirmation from a financial adviser. Nearly four in ten respondents (39%) selected this workflow, one of the highest rates across all markets surveyed.
Financial professionals and institutions remain the leading source of investment ideas and the most influential factor in final decision-making. While 34% of investors cite professional advisers as their strongest influence when making investment decisions, only 13% say the same about AI tools.
Investors particularly value advisers for their ability to identify potential inaccuracies in AI-generated information, provide human judgement and emotional reassurance, and help keep long-term financial goals on track.
Confidence from AI, Conviction from Advisers
The study also found that AI is influencing investors beyond their financial portfolios. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of UAE respondents say AI has improved their overall quality of life, significantly higher than the global average of 63%.
Many respondents also believe AI has expanded their professional opportunities, encouraged them to reassess career or business paths, and increased their confidence to pursue higher-risk, higher-reward opportunities.
However, the findings suggest that while AI strengthens confidence and broadens possibilities, investors still rely on trusted advisers to provide the conviction needed to make major financial decisions. As AI adoption continues to accelerate across the UAE, the future of wealth management is increasingly defined not by a choice between technology and human expertise, but by the combination of both.
