The same monthly amount, three fee levels, three very different outcomes, all in dirhams.
A savings plan is a long-term, unit-linked investment plan sold by advisers in the UAE: a fixed amount paid every month for 10 to 25 years, with fees taken at several layers along the way. This shows what those fees really cost over the full term.
A zero-fee version of this plan reaches AED 1,620,143; at 4.0%/yr drag you keep AED 892,016, so 45% of the pot goes to charges and lost growth.
| Scenario | Annual drag | You pay in | Value at term | Growth you keep | Lost to fees | % of pot lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy contractual plan | 4.0% | AED 600k | AED 892k | AED 292k | AED 728k | 45% |
| Current UAE plan | 2.5% | AED 600k | AED 1.11M | AED 506k | AED 514k | 32% |
| DIY index portfolio | 0.5% | AED 600k | AED 1.50M | AED 898k | AED 122k | 8% |
| Zero-fee benchmark | 0.0% | AED 600k | AED 1.62M | AED 1.02M | – | – |
Fee levels are indicative, as of July 2026; drag the sliders to match your own plan's illustration.
A SIP, short for systematic investment plan, simply means investing a fixed amount every month yourself into low-cost funds. Set a monthly target below and see what it could grow into.
AED 1,500/month at 7.0%/yr becomes AED 259,627 in 10 years, before any product fees.
Fee-drag presets are indicative composites, as of July 2026, of published charge structures for plans widely sold to UAE residents. Legacy preset (~4%/yr): Vista/Premier-type structures stacking an initial-unit charge of about 4%/yr on the first 18–24 months of premiums for the full term, a plan management charge of roughly 1–1.5%/yr, a fixed monthly policy fee, and mirror-fund TERs of 1–2%+. Current preset (~2.5%/yr): post-BOD-49 plan structures (UAE Insurance Authority Board of Directors' Decision No. (49) of 2019, effective October 2020, now administered by the Central Bank of the UAE). DIY preset (~0.5%/yr): a low-cost broker plus global index ETFs. Your own plan's illustration states its exact reduction in yield; set the sliders to that figure.
This page is an educational illustration only and is not financial, legal or tax advice, and not a recommendation to buy, hold or surrender any product. Fee levels shown are indicative composites as of July 2026; individual plans vary widely. Product names are referenced for identification only. Always verify charges, surrender values and terms with your provider and consult the CBUAE rulebook or a licensed adviser before acting.
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