I have to admit it – when I saw a recent news headline in this newspaper that read Six strategies to get children excited about investing, I felt my heart sink a little. Many parents ruefully acknowledge that kids grow up quick but in these hyper-connected times it seems that the window for childlike innocence shrinks with each digital leap forward.
A vision of youngsters glued to their devices as they play with stocks and bonds, build an investment portfolio or wrestle with the tedium of concepts like inflation or dividends struck me as profoundly dispiriting. Is there nothing our market economy cannot reach?
Nevertheless, it got me thinking about my own financial education, which was as far removed from playing the stock market as one can imagine. “Put 10 per cent of your money in a savings account” was about the height of it. So, when I contrast this with the financial nous required for getting by in an increasingly complex and uncertain world, the idea of teaching kids the fundamentals of investing suddenly seemed less like a drab imposition than an important form of empowerment.
This is not to disparage the valuable, time-worn financial habits that were instilled in me as I grew up. Saving, setting something aside for a rainy day, understanding the difference between using credit and racking up debt – all of this was and is sage advice. But the world has moved on, and there is now a chasm between the wisdom that held true in the 1980s and the kind of knowledge young people will need for the 21st century.
We live in times where even seemingly safe choices look less certain than before. High inflation and a cost-of-living crisis across several countries have eroded the value of many people’s cash savings, particularly those held in accounts whose modest rate of return cannot keep pace with rising prices. Keeping a few thousand aside may be a sensible short-term move, but the damage inflation wreaks on the value of those sums over the years means today’s children must be taught a shrewder approach. Even property, once the great repository for personal wealth, seems less secure – something that many insurance companies faced with increasing climate-damage pay-outs could attest to.
Although I’m still not persuaded that children should be 'excited' about investing, leaving them in the dark doesn’t do them any favours either
I came to investing late in life. As someone averse to taking financial risks, the stock market seemed like the last place to be. However, a two-day introductory course in passive investing in Dubai a few years ago changed all of that. Once the mystery had been stripped from identifying reliable index funds and long-term government bonds to anchor a modest but growing portfolio, I was left wondering – why wasn’t I taught this before?
Admittedly, when I was growing up, the technology, companies and markets required for such an approach simply weren’t there. Now, however, stocks, bonds and cryptocurrency can be bought and sold on your phone. Some see this as the democratisation of trading which cuts out the expensive middleman; more sceptical observers describe it as gamification, which can have serious financial implications – this is real money being traded, not tokens in a game. The fact is this: investing is as accessible as never before and, in the same way that tech-savvy children are taught by schools and parents to use the internet effectively but safely, the same should apply to online investing.
As in so many other areas of life, a child’s background plays an important part in their exposure to sound financial ideas. Research from the OECD, which defines financial literacy as “a core life skill for participating in modern society”, has found that “families with high socio-economic status are providing students better opportunities to acquire financial literacy skills than socio-economically disadvantaged families”. If education is rightly regarded as a pathway for working-class kids to get on and succeed in life, then providing them with the right knowledge for 21st-century finances should be a no-brainer.
There is a right way and wrong way of doing this. Emphasising the returns and rewards of investing over the real dangers that exist in playing the market should be paramount. A solid grasp of the ground rules is essential: no get-rich-quick scheme is worth the time and money; don’t forget about taxes; read and understand the small print; and – most importantly – if something is too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
There’s more to life than money – but knowing how to wisely invest what you have can lead to independence, options, mobility and security. It can also go a long way towards making your life and the lives of your loved ones better. Money – having it, keeping it, growing it – is an inescapable reality of life for almost everyone. Although I’m still not persuaded that children should be “excited” about investing, leaving them in the dark doesn’t do them any favours either.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
SUNDAY'S ABU DHABI T10 MATCHES
Northern Warriors v Team Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangla Tigers v Karnataka Tuskers, 5.45pm
Qalandars v Maratha Arabians, 8pm
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Results
Men's finals
45kg:Duc Le Hoang (VIE) beat Zolfi Amirhossein (IRI) points 29-28. 48kg: Naruephon Chittra (THA) beat Joseph Vanlalhruaia (IND) TKO round 2.
51kg: Sakchai Chamchit (THA) beat Salam Al Suwaid (IRQ) TKO round 1. 54kg: Veerasak Senanue (THA) beat Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) 30-25.
57kg: Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) RSC round 3. 60kg: Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 30-27.
63.5kg: Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE) 29-28. 67kg: Narin Wonglakhon (THA) beat Mohammed Mardi (UAE) 29-28.
71kg: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) w/o Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ). 75kg: Youssef Abboud (LBN) w/o Ayoob Saki (IRI).
81kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Khaled Tarraf (LBN) 29-28. 86kg: Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Emil Umayev (KAZ) 30-27.
91kg: Hamid Reza Kordabadi (IRI) beat Mohamad Osaily (LBN) RSC round 1. 91-plus kg: Mohammadrezapoor Shirmohammad (IRI) beat Abdulla Hasan (IRQ) 30-27.
Women's finals
45kg: Somruethai Siripathum (THA) beat Ha Huu Huynh (VIE) 30-27. 48kg: Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Colleen Saddi (PHI) 30-27.
51kg: Wansawang Srila Or (THA) beat Thuy Phuong Trieu (VIE) 29-28. 54kg: Ruchira Wongsriwo (THA) beat Zeinab Khatoun (LBN) 30-26.
57kg: Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Zahra Nasiri Bargh (IRI) 30-27. 60kg: Kaewrudee Kamtakrapoom (THA) beat Sedigheh Hajivand (IRI) TKO round 2.
63.5kg: Nadiya Moghaddam (IRI) w/o Reem Al Issa (JOR).
ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)
LIVERPOOL%20TOP%20SCORERS
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