Why I Have Decided to Save with The UAE National Bonds

August 6, 2026 - By Dii

If you live and work in the UAE, you have probably heard about National Bonds.

Maybe you’ve seen announcements about someone winning a cash prize or a luxury car. Maybe you’ve heard stories from friends who have been saving regularly through the program. Or perhaps you’ve simply been looking for a simple way to put some money aside without feeling like you’re sacrificing too much every month.

That was exactly how I started looking at National Bonds.

As someone living and working in Dubai, I wanted to develop a more disciplined savings habit. I didn’t want to wait until I had a large amount of money before starting. I wanted to begin with something manageable and gradually build it over time.

And eventually, I decided to try UAE National Bonds.

This article is based on my personal experience and the product information available when I originally wrote it. National Bonds’ products, expected profit rates, prizes, eligibility rules, fees, and terms can change, so always check the company’s official website before making a financial decision.

First, What Is UAE National Bonds?

National Bonds Corporation is a UAE savings and investment company established in March 2006. According to its official website, it provides Shariah-compliant savings and investment products for UAE nationals, residents, non-residents, and corporations. It is wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD).

National Bonds describes its approach as a Shariah-compliant, Mudaraba-based savings scheme designed to encourage disciplined and regular saving.

For readers who may not be familiar with the term, Shariah refers to Islamic principles and rules derived from Islamic sources.

What attracted me was the idea of saving consistently instead of simply keeping whatever money happened to be left over at the end of the month.

The concept was simple:

Pay yourself first. Save regularly. Build your financial safety net over time.

What Are the Potential Benefits?

National Bonds offers several savings and investment products, and the available features vary by product.

Some of the benefits promoted by the company include:

Regular and disciplined saving
Expected profit opportunities
Access to different savings plans
Participation in rewards and prize draws, subject to eligibility
Digital account management through its mobile application
Options designed for different financial goals

The company currently lists products including Saving Bonds, myPlan, The Global Savings Club, Accelerator Saving Plans, My Million, My Education Plan, USD Certificates, Term Sukuk, Tejouri, and others.

Keep in mind that expected profit is not the same thing as a guaranteed return, and product terms can change.

What Products Can You Choose?

When I originally wrote this article, National Bonds offered a number of different programs. Some of the names and conditions have since changed, so consider the following section a snapshot of the products I was looking at rather than a current product comparison.

For the latest offerings, always check the official product list.

Saving Bonds

Saving Bonds allow customers to start saving with relatively small amounts. The current official product page states that they are available in AED 10 units and can be started from AED 100.

This appealed to me because I didn’t need to wait until I had thousands of dirhams available.

The Global Savings Club

This is designed around employee savings and provides a more structured way to build savings while also participating in rewards programs.

Accelerator Savings Plans

These are designed for people who want to fast-track their savings through regular contributions and cumulative growth. Current National Bonds materials advertise anticipated returns for these plans, subject to their specific terms and conditions.

myPlan

This is one of the products that I personally chose.

National Bonds describes myPlan as a regular monthly savings service where you decide how much to save and when the money should be transferred. Current information says it can start from AED 100 per month and can use direct debit for automatic monthly deductions.

Other Products

National Bonds currently also lists options such as:

My Million
My Education Plan
USD Certificates
Term Sukuk
Tejouri
Eyaali Junior Savings Plans
Gift Vouchers
EIBOR Plus
Other Booster plans

The availability, expected profit, minimum investment, holding period, and eligibility requirements vary.

Because these details change, I wouldn’t recommend relying on the figures from an old blog post when deciding which product to use today.

Which Programs Did I Choose?

For me, I decided to save through Saving Bonds and myPlan.

With Saving Bonds, I chose to have AED 200 deducted from my salary every month through my salary arrangement. This meant that I received AED 200 less in my bank account, but that money was automatically going toward my savings.

At first, it felt like a small amount.

But that’s exactly what I liked about it.

I didn’t have to think about whether I wanted to save AED 200 at the end of the month.

It was already done.

For myPlan, I chose to save AED 500 on the first day of every month through my bank account.

There was even one occasion when I forgot to put enough money into the account for the scheduled deduction. At the time, I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t charged a penalty or late-payment fee.

My experience may not apply to everyone, though, and current terms should always be checked before assuming a fee will or won’t apply.

National Bonds’ current myPlan information confirms that the service is designed around automatic monthly deductions.

What Did I Like About Saving With UAE National Bonds?

1. The Service Was Accessible

One thing I liked was how easy it was to get information.

The National Bonds website provides information about its products and allows customers to apply online. The company also provides an e-National Bonds app for managing savings.

For someone like me who doesn’t want to spend hours visiting an office just to ask a simple question, having online access was convenient.

2. I Could Start With a Manageable Amount

I didn’t need to start with a huge amount of money.

That’s important because many people think that saving is only possible when they have a lot of extra money.

I disagree.

Even a small, regular amount can help develop the habit of saving.

AED 100 may not sound like much.

AED 200 may not sound like much.

But saving consistently over several years can create a meaningful financial cushion.

The current Saving Bonds program still promotes starting from AED 100.

3. Automatic Saving Made Life Easier

This was probably one of my favorite features.

When the money is automatically deducted, you don’t have to rely on your memory or motivation every month.

You simply set up the arrangement and make sure there are sufficient funds available.

National Bonds currently describes myPlan as a “pay yourself first” service with automatic monthly transfers.

And I personally like this philosophy.

Save first, then spend what’s left.

4. I Had a Chance to Win Rewards

Another fun part of my experience was the rewards program.

I had actually won prizes from National Bonds several times.

Most of my wins were small—often around AED 50 every few months—but there was one occasion when I won AED 150.

Recently, I was also surprised to receive prizes more frequently.

Now, I’m not saying that anyone should save money simply because they might win a prize.

That’s not how I viewed it.

For me, the savings came first.

The prize draws were simply an extra bonus.

The current rewards program has changed considerably from the one I experienced, and National Bonds currently promotes an AED 36 million rewards program with cash prizes, cars, and other rewards. Eligibility and prize structures are subject to the current terms and conditions.

5. I Could Monitor My Savings Through the App

I also liked being able to monitor my savings digitally.

The mobile application allowed me to check my savings and see information about my account and rewards.

It was especially useful because I’m not exactly the most tech-savvy person! 😂

Having information available without needing to visit a branch made the experience much more convenient.

National Bonds currently promotes its e-National Bonds app as a way to save and manage accounts digitally.

6. I Could Redeem Part of My Savings When Needed

Another feature I appreciated was having the ability to redeem funds when I needed them.

I personally tried this once when I needed access to a small amount of money.

I logged into my account, requested a redemption, received the necessary information, and collected the funds through an available redemption location.

At that time, I redeemed a small amount at Al Ansari Exchange in Dubai Festival Mall, near Marks & Spencer.

The process was straightforward for me.

However, redemption requirements, fees, minimum holding periods, and processing conditions can change. Current National Bonds terms state that specific conditions apply to Savings Sukuk and myPlan, so customers should check the latest terms before making assumptions based on my older experience.

What I Learned From Saving

The biggest lesson I learned wasn’t actually about National Bonds.

It was about my own saving habits.

Before I started, I sometimes thought:

“I’ll save whatever is left after paying all my expenses.”

The problem?

There was rarely much left.

Once I started saving automatically, I realized that I could actually live comfortably without that money.

I simply adjusted.

That’s why I believe that building a savings habit is more important than waiting until you have a large amount of money.

You don’t need to start big.

You just need to start.

Is National Bonds Right for Everyone?

Not necessarily.

This is a personal finance decision, and everyone’s situation is different.

Before opening any savings or investment product, consider your:

Income
Monthly expenses
Emergency fund
Existing debts
Financial goals
Investment horizon
Need for access to your money
Risk tolerance

Also remember that National Bonds is a savings and investment product, not simply a normal bank savings account. Product terms, anticipated profits, fees, holding periods, and redemption conditions can differ.

Read the latest terms and conditions carefully before committing your money.

A Word From the Author

Saving for the future has always been important to me.

When I first started with National Bonds, I wasn’t thinking about becoming rich.

I simply wanted to develop a habit.

A little money here.

A little money there.

Month after month.

Eventually, those small amounts started becoming something meaningful.

At the time, my husband and I were also preparing to become a small family, so building an emergency fund and having money set aside for our future—and eventually our child’s needs—became even more important to us.

But I also learned that saving doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying life.

Money is a tool, not the purpose of life.

We should prepare for tomorrow while still appreciating today.

“Do not save what is left after spending; spend what is left after saving.”
— Warren Buffett

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
— Proverbs 21:5

Looking back, one of the best things I gained from saving with National Bonds was not the occasional prize.

It was the discipline.

Saving AED 200 or AED 500 at a time didn’t make me feel rich overnight.

But it taught me that financial security is built gradually.

Sometimes, we look at our salary and think:

“I don’t earn enough to save.”

But perhaps the better question is:

“How much can I realistically save before I start spending?”

It doesn’t have to be AED 1,000.

It doesn’t have to be AED 500.

It can be AED 100.

It can even be less, depending on your circumstances.

The important thing is creating a habit that you can actually maintain.

For me, automatic saving helped remove the temptation to spend the money before I had a chance to save it.

And that’s something I’m grateful for.

At the same time, I’ve learned that financial planning isn’t only about accumulating money.

It’s about preparing for emergencies.

Preparing for family responsibilities.

Preparing for dreams.

And creating a little peace of mind for the future.

Save for tomorrow—but don’t forget to live today.

Because financial security isn’t about having everything.

Sometimes, it’s simply knowing that you have something set aside when you need it.

Sources

How To Access Your Virtual Pag-IBIG Account – OFW Guide
The Benefits of Investing in Pag-IBIG MP2 Savings Program – OFW Guide
Count your Blessings Instead of Sheep
My First Pregnancy Journey
12 Health Benefits of Gardening

Originally Published: December 30, 2021
Updated: August 2026

3 Comments on “Why I Have Decided to Save with The UAE National Bonds”

Chad says:

March 22, 2022 at 7:28 am

I’ve lived in UAE for years but I never invested in UAE bonds. These are amazing, I wish I knew about them back then.

Sondra Barker says:

March 22, 2022 at 6:10 pm

I’ve never heard of UAE bonds till now!! Thank you so much, I definitely would love to learn more about them.

Gladys R Nava says:

March 24, 2022 at 4:36 pm

What a great blog to read! I am glad to know all these. It’s very interesting! Thanks for sharing

Why I Have Decided to Save with The UAE National Bonds

First, What Is UAE National Bonds?

What Are the Potential Benefits?