Dr Eman AbuKhousa is a professor of information technology and communication at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences in Dubai, the first German university in the emirate. A Palestinian-Jordanian, she is one of a growing number of women building the future generation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) in the UAE. An expert in data science and digital transformation, specialising in data-driven strategies for leadership and decision-making in education and industry, she has taken her professional skills into her personal management of money, mastering the art of planning and strategy. But she says her mother and friends, in addition to the lessons learned in real life, remain key to her relationship with money.

If you had to write a letter to money, what would you say?

Dear Money, you come as a blessing, stay as a test, and leave faster than dessert at a family gathering.

How would you describe your relationship with money?

It's complicated! In our culture, you learn early that money is both a blessing and a test. Wealth is seen as rizq (provision) from the Giver, not something we completely own. That paradox shapes everything: you strive for it, you manage it carefully, but you're always aware it can come and go - and that what truly remains is how you use it, for yourself, your family, and for others.

What lessons about money management did you learn from your mother?

My mother is the best money manager I know - part economist, part philosopher, part magician. She had many sayings about money, but my favourite has always been: “in exile is like a homeland”. And oh, how many times life has proven her right. When you're far from home, money becomes your safety net, your comfort zone, sometimes even your only friend in a strange airport. It doesn't just buy things; in those moments, it buys peace of mind, stability, and a sense of belonging wherever you are.

Who has taught you the most about financial management?

Life itself. As kids, we are masters at not listening to our mothers, especially when they warn us about money. So, I learned the hard way: no textbook prepares you for the pain of overdue debt or a credit card bill after an emotional shopping spree. Experience is the rudest, but also the most effective, teacher.

If you could give your child or younger self one piece of advice about money, what would that be and why?

I would say: learn early that money isn't valuable because you spend it, but because you spend it wisely. The goal isn't to buy more, it's to live free-r. Shoes wear out, trends fade, but choices made with sense, and some restraint, are what turn money into real value.

What has been the most profound experience you've had so far in relation to money?

The most profound moment was when money quite literally saved me; stranded abroad, one decision away from panic, and realising that the cash I had was the only bridge back to safety. Since then, I've understood money differently: it isn't status or luxury, it's security. It taught me that financial independence is not about having more, but about having enough when you need it most.

How do you think living in the UAE has changed your relationship with money?

Living in the UAE has changed how I see money in two ways: it has added new categories to my budget (brunches, valet parking, and the occasional“edition” something I never knew I needed). But more importantly, it has changed my mindset: here, ambition is normal, opportunities are everywhere, and so is the drive to constantly invest in yourself - and in what truly matters - if you want to last.

Who do you speak to about money matters?

Mostly myself. Loudly. In Excel sheets. Sometimes with a trusted circle of friends who pretend to have“dinners” that turn into financial therapy.

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