Market Updates

First Abu Dhabi Bank opens its EOSB Savings Plan to individual investors

Launches public share class for its EOSB Capital Protected Fund. Employer enrolment not required to invest personally.

By Nisha Braganza

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), one of the four approved providers under the UAE EOSB Savings Scheme, has introduced a public share class for its End-of-Service Benefits Fund with Capital Protection. For the first time, UAE residents can invest their personal savings in the same capital protected fund available under the UAE EOSB Savings Scheme without requiring their employer to be enrolled.

Individuals may now invest directly in the fund through FAB or its distribution partners, with no fixed contribution schedule. Investments can be made at any time via direct transfer rather than payroll deduction.

Why is this important

FAB's launch of the public share class is an important milestone for employees, enabling:

• Direct access to official EOSB-grade funds: This is the first time an investment fund established under the UAE EOSB Savings Scheme has been made available as a standalone personal investment product. Until now, participation was only possible through an employer’s enrolment in the scheme. This new option allows individuals to begin investing independently in the same capital protected investment strategy, even before their employer joins.
• Greater investment flexibility: Investments can be made voluntarily with no fixed contribution schedule and without payroll integration.

Beyond its immediate benefits for employees, the launch also represents an important step in the development of the UAE's workplace savings market. It is the first indication that investment products originally developed for the UAE EOSB Savings Scheme may also find wider application as standalone retail investment solutions.

The fund prospectus had not yet been published at the time of this announcement. Additional information, including investment terms, fees and eligibility requirements, will be published once the prospectus becomes available.

Important note

It is important to distinguish this personal investment route from the UAE EOSB Savings Scheme itself. Investing in public share class does not provide access to an employee's End-of-Service Benefits entitlement. Those benefits remain available only through employer enrolment in the UAE EOSB Savings Scheme.