Savings Reality
Your time here is finite, and gratuity won't fund retirement. Check your real emergency cushion, your runway, and what inflation quietly takes from idle cash.
Your numbers
example values — edit to yoursYou have under 2 months of runway. In the UAE a lost job can also mean a visa clock ticking — your first priority isn't investing, it's building a cash cushion of at least 3, ideally 6, months (AED 60,000).
Leaving AED 20,000 in a current account quietly loses about AED 500 a year to inflation — it looks the same but buys less. And remember: gratuity is a leaving bonus, not a pension. If you intend to retire on your own terms, that has to be saved and invested deliberately (a Phase 3 topic in Mizanek).
Basis: Emergency fund sized at 6 months of expenses. Inflation erosion uses a 2.5% long-run assumption on un-invested cash; adjust to your own view. This is education, not investment advice.
Common questions
How much emergency fund do I need in the UAE?
Three to six months of essential expenses in accessible cash — and for expats, closer to six: if a job ends, visa timelines mean you may need to cover rent, schooling and a possible move on short notice.
Can I rely on my gratuity as savings?
No. Gratuity is built on basic salary only, capped at two years' pay, and typically amounts to months — not years — of expenses. Treat it as a bonus, not a retirement plan.
Why is idle cash losing money?
Inflation quietly reduces what your dirhams buy every year, and most UAE current accounts pay near-zero interest. Cash beyond your emergency fund is going backwards in real terms — the calculator shows the drain on your actual numbers.