Pocketful of Dirhams

How to get your savings on track for a bumper 2021

The coronavirus pandemic came as a surprise to us all, making 2020 one of the most challenging years of our lives. From a financial point of view, it has hurt some but benefited others. For those who lost their jobs or had their incomes reduced, it has made the last 10 months a struggle. For others who managed to retain their salary, movement restrictions offered a chance to build up their savings and rethink how they wanted to live their lives. No matter how your finances were affected, the New Year brings hope for us all, along with new goals and new priorities. So how are you going to save your money in 2021? Is this the year to get your finances in order?

Host Alice Haine is joined by Carol Glynn, a finance coach and chartered accountant at Dubai’s Conscious Finance Coaching, who offers her tips on how to save more money over the next 12 months.

What’s in store for investors in 2021?

For many, 2020 will be a year they would rather forget. Whether the pandemic affected their health, their families or their finances, its effects will be evident for some time to come. Investors across the globe also suffered a rollercoaster ride in 2020, with markets experiencing some wild swings over the course of the year. And while some people managed to save money during the Covid-19 outbreak, others faced job losses or lower incomes. Now, with a vaccine set to return life to some semblance of normality, the question we all want to ask is: what’s in store for investors in 2021? So, is this the year of recovery? Will Joe Biden deliver a boost to the US economy? Will Britain falter when the Brexit transition period ends on December 31?

Host Alice Haine is joined by industry veteran Moukarram Atassi, head of investment management at the National Bank of Fujairah, who offers his take on what is store for investors in 2021.

What’s next for the UK property market?

Like many parts of the world, the UK property market has experienced a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs as it absorbs the effects of Covid-19. While there was a total halt in transactions at the height of the pandemic when the country first went into lockdown, the second half of the year saw mortgage applications and transactions surge on the back of UK finance minister Rishi Sunak’s stamp duty holiday. 

Add in pent-up demand and a desire for more space, along with an expected increase to stamp duty for overseas buyers in April next year, and it’s easy to see why there has been a rise in interest from the Middle East. With British house prices now on their strongest growth run since 2004, with the average home now selling for £253,000 according to Halifax, how long will the house price surge last? What should Middle East investors do to ensure they get the best deal? And what’s driving the increased interest from the region?

Host Alice Haine is joined by Henry Faun, partner and head of Knight Frank's Middle East private office, who offers listeners an insight into what's to come for Britain's property sector in 2021.