Dubai: National Bonds, the UAE's leading Sharia-compliant savings and investment company, in collaboration with the Knowledge Fund Establishment, has announced an ambitious expansion of its 'Young Investor Programme'. The initiative is set to reach 50 schools across the UAE, engaging 75,000 students over the next three years.
According to Emirates News Agency, the expansion follows positive feedback from the pilot phase, which was initially launched in 11 schools in Dubai. This phase combined theoretical learning with practical financial applications, receiving strong engagement from students, parents, and educators alike. The programme's next steps will involve challenging students to design small investment or business projects based on acquired financial principles, such as savings strategies and safe investment tools.
The most promising student-led projects will undergo feasibility assessments and receive recognition and support. Through these ventures, the programme aims to provide real-world experience in financial literacy, nurturing entrepreneurial and practical skills among students. Recent workshops at National Bonds' headquarters allowed high school participants to explore topics like budgeting, customer service, investment fundamentals, market research, data analysis, and client communication.
A new cohort of Grade 11 and 12 students is also anticipated to join during the upcoming summer break, as the programme evolves to include contemporary topics such as artificial intelligence, digital currencies, and money management. These updates are intended to prepare students for future financial and professional challenges.
Rehab Lootah, Group Deputy CEO of National Bonds, expressed satisfaction with the pilot phase outcomes, highlighting high engagement levels as an indicator of the programme's effectiveness in building financial literacy and confidence. She emphasized the company's commitment to empowering young individuals to make informed financial decisions that will shape their futures.
Ohood Al Ichlah, Director of Strategic Planning and Educational Initiatives at the Knowledge Fund Establishment, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of financial literacy as a cornerstone of future success. She expressed pride in the ongoing collaboration with National Bonds and the potential to inspire more students to take control of their financial futures.
Launched early last year, the Young Investor Programme targets students in Grades 5 and 6, introducing them to financial concepts such as money management, payment systems, loans and debts, savings, investments, Islamic Takaful insurance, and long-term financial planning. With its structured, research-backed curriculum, the initiative aims to instill a savings mindset while equipping youth to navigate financial systems confidently and purposefully.