Investment Tips for Arabs Living Abroad | Top 10 Strategies
Investment tips for Arabs living abroad.When I first moved to London in 2019, I made every rookie mistake in the book. Kept all my money in a checking account for months, convinced I’d figure out investing “later.” Later turned into two years of watching inflation eat away at my savings while I overthought every decision.
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If you’re an Arab living abroad, you’ve probably felt this same paralysis. The investment tips for Arabs living abroad that actually work aren
‘t the ones you’ll find in generic finance blogs—they’re the ones learned through trial and error by people who’ve walked this path.
Let me share what I wish someone had told me when I was staring at my pathetic savings account, wondering how to build real wealth while juggling multiple currencies and countries.
Investment tips for Arabs living abroad.Start With Whatever You’ve Got—Seriously
This is where being an Arab expat actually gives you an advantage. You’re not tied to one economy like most people.
My portfolio looks something like this:
- 40% in my host country (UK stocks and bonds)
- 30% in global ETFs
- 20% in emerging markets including MENA region
- 10% in real estate (REITs mostly, can’t afford London property yet!)
Don’t get me wrong—it took me months to figure out this allocation. I started with just a global ETF and gradually added complexity. The key is understanding what you own, not just copying someone else’s strategy.
Investment tips for Arabs living abroad.Currency Swings Will Mess With Your Head
obody warned me about this one. I’ll be honest—watching your portfolio value swing 15% just because of exchange rates is brutal.
I learned this lesson when the pound crashed after Brexit uncertainty. My investments were doing fine, but converting back to dollars for family remittances became expensive. Now I keep investments in multiple currencies and use Wise for transfers—saves me hundreds annually.
Pro tip: don’t try to time currency movements. I tried that once and lost more than I care to admit. Just diversify and accept that some months will be better than others.
Use Those Tax Breaks—They’re Free Money
In the UK, I max out my ISA allowance every year. In the US, it’d be a 401(k) or IRA. Every country has these tax-advantaged accounts, and they’re basically government-subsidized wealth building.
My brother in Canada didn’t understand RRSPs for three years. Cost him thousands in potential tax savings. Don’t be like my brother.
The paperwork can be annoying, sure. But would you rather fill out forms or pay 20-40% more in taxes? Yeah, thought so.
Don’t Write Off Your Home Country
This might be controversial, but some of the best investment opportunities are back home. I’ve got exposure to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 through regional ETFs, and it’s been one of my better performers.
Real estate in places like Riyadh or Casablanca is still reasonably priced compared to London or New York. My cousin bought an apartment in Amman for what I pay in rent here for six months.
Just be smart about it.
Emergency Fund First—Trust Me on This
Before I started investing properly, I had maybe £500 in savings. Terrible idea for an expat.
Here’s what happens when you don’t have emergency funds: your visa gets delayed, you need expensive legal help, and you’re forced to sell investments at the worst possible time. Been there, done that, got the expensive t-shirt.
I now keep six months of expenses in boring old savings accounts. It’s not exciting, but it lets me sleep at night and take calculated risks elsewhere.
Keep Learning (But Don’t Overthink It
The finance world changes constantly. I spend maybe 30 minutes weekly reading financial news—nothing crazy, just staying informed.
YouTube channels like Ben Felix and podcasts like “Chat with Traders” have taught me more than any formal course. The key is finding sources you trust and sticking with them instead of jumping around.
Islamic Finance Isn’t Just for Religious People
Even if you’re not particularly religious, Islamic finance principles often make sense. I use some Sharia-compliant ETFs because they avoid overleveraged companies and dodgy sectors.
My friend Nadia, who’s not religious at all, prefers sukuk bonds because they’re asset-backed. “It just feels more solid,” she says. Hard to argue with that logic.
Plan for the Unexpected
Expat life is unpredictable. I’ve seen friends forced to leave countries overnight due to visa issues, family emergencies, or job losses.
My investments are structured so I can liquidate quickly if needed. It’s not the most tax-efficient approach, but flexibility matters when you’re living away from home.
Keep some investments that you can access within days, not months. You never know when you’ll need the money.
Stop Trying to Beat the Market
Here’s my most embarrassing confession: I spent my first year trying to pick individual stocks. Tesla, Apple, some random biotech company my WhatsApp group was excited about.
Result? I underperformed a simple index fund by 12%. Twelve percent! That’s money I’ll never get back.
Now I stick mostly to broad market ETFs and let the professionals handle stock picking. It’s boring, but it works. As they say, “time in the market beats timing the market.”
Just Start Already
Look, I’ve made every mistake in this article. Waited too long to start, over-complicated everything, tried to time the market, ignored currency risks. The list goes on.
But here’s the thing—I still came out ahead of people who never started at all. Investment tips for Arabs living abroad boil down to this simple truth: imperfect action beats perfect inaction every time.
Your situation is unique. Your goals are different from mine. But the fundamentals remain the same: start early, diversify broadly, keep costs low, and stay consistent.
The best investment strategy is the one you’ll actually follow. So pick something simple, start small, and adjust as you learn. Your future self will thank you for starting today instead of waiting for tomorrow.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and shouldn’t be considered personalized financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
