{
  "id": 8279160,
  "title": "UAE cost of living: Will rate hikes throw your finances off track?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/uae-cost-of-living-will-rate-hikes-throw-your-finances-off-track",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-18T15:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/your-money/uae-cost-of-living-will-rate-hikes-throw-your-finances-off-track-1.500678304"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai's residents have been grappling with stretched budgets this year, similar to the rest of the world. Now, a further challenge looms as the UAE Central Bank has increased its base rate by 25 basis points to 3.9%, following the US Federal Reserve's hike. This move, prompted by geopolitical events, means most UAE residents will see their costs climb gradually, rather than all at once. Homeowners with variable-rate mortgages or personal loans tied to the Emirates Interbank Offered Rate (Eibor) should brace themselves for higher payments when their rates are next reviewed. Although landlords may face pressure due to higher borrowing costs, they may not immediately pass these on to renters. Business owners relying on credit lines will also feel the impact, potentially leading to higher prices for goods and services. Rising costs have already been felt in everyday life, with grocery bills doubling over the past three months for a homemaker, forcing her to cut back on discretionary spending. Economists warn that the real impact of this rate hike could take months to fully materialize as households adjust their budgets.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Residents across the UAE have spent much of this year watching their monthly budgets stretch thinner, much like the rest of the world. People were just about coming to terms with the repercussions of the geopolitical conflict in the region, but will now have to brace themselves to make adjustments again as borrowing costs are likely to rise. Why the interest rate hike? The UAE Central Bank…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}