Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst at eToro
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – August 27, 2025
Gold is back in the spotlight after US President Donald Trump moved to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, sparking concerns about central bank independence and boosting haven demand.
Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst at eToro shares: It’s been a stellar year for gold, with the precious metal up 29%, making it one of the best performing assets in 2025 and its best year in 15 years. This builds on the 27% gain we saw in 2024, underpinned by rising investor allocations, uncertainty becoming the new normal, and consistent central bank buying. Owning a slice of the shiny metal is more accessible than ever. Instead of stashing away coins or bars in a vault, investors can now gain exposure via exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Think of gold as a financial security blanket, it’s the asset many turn to when storms are brewing and offers beginner, intermediate and advanced investors a ‘safe haven’ in times of uncertainty. In today’s world of inflation worries, tariffs and geopolitical conflicts all creating uncertainty, gold as a portfolio stabiliser continues to prove its worth.
In its own right, UAE markets are also being seen as something of a ‘safe-haven’ by investors with limited impact from tariffs and support by strong economic fundamentals. eToro’s latest Retail Investor Beat survey shows this in the UAE. Confidence in the local economy and markets is running high, with 85% of investors backing UAE-listed stocks, but almost half (49%) view gold as the most resilient asset in the face of ongoing trade volatility.
This is a clear sign that while local investors in the UAE are bullish on their home markets, they’re not blind to global risk and are allocating to commodities like gold as a form of protection. With over 90% of retail investors expecting trade tensions to impact their portfolios in the coming months, it is no surprise that allocations to defensive assets are rising alongside equities.
So what’s next for gold? The fundamentals point to further upside, supported by incoming Fed rate cuts, a weaker US dollar, and resilient investment demand. With gold already outpacing major equity indices and with central bank buying adding to the momentum, the precious metal is set to remain a key focus for both global and UAE investors as uncertainty remains.
Ultimately, for long-term investors, gold has clearly justified its position in a diversified portfolio. It offers some stability against risk events while providing a reliable longer-term store of value and, importantly, as a portfolio diversifier. Even in the age of digital assets and complex financial products, a bit of that classic yellow metal can provide balance and reassurance.
-ENDS-
Contacts:
About eToro:
eToro is the trading and investing platform that empowers you to invest, share and learn. We were founded in 2007 with the vision of a world where everyone can trade and invest in a simple and transparent way. Today we have over 38 million registered users from 75 countries. We believe there is power in shared knowledge and that we can become more successful by investing together. So we’ve created a collaborative investment community designed to provide you with the tools you need to grow your knowledge and wealth. On eToro, you can hold a range of traditional and innovative assets and choose how you invest: trade directly, invest in a portfolio, or copy other investors. You can visit our media centre here for our latest news.
Disclaimer:
eToro (ME) Limited, is licensed and regulated by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (“ADGM”)’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA“) as an Authorised Person to conduct the Regulated Activities of (a) Dealing in Investments as Principal (Matched), (b) Arranging Deals in Investments, (c) Providing Custody, (d) Arranging Custody and (e) Managing Assets (under Financial Services Permission Number 220073) under the Financial Services and Market Regulations 2015 (“FSMR”). Its registered office and its principal place of business is at Office 207 and 208, 15th Floor Floor, Al Sarab Tower, ADGM Square, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (“UAE”).
This communication is for information and education purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice, a personal recommendation, or an offer of, or solicitation to buy or sell, any financial instruments. This material has been prepared without taking into account any particular recipient’s investment objectives or financial situation and has not been prepared in accordance with the legal and regulatory requirements to promote independent research. Any references to past or future performance of a financial instrument, index or a packaged investment product are not, and should not be taken as, a reliable indicator of future results. eToro makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication.