Emergency fund calculator
If your income stopped tomorrow, how long would your savings last? Add up the costs you can't skip, pick a target, and see the gap and how long it takes to close.
Only what you'd still have to pay if you lost your income: leave out holidays, eating out and shopping.
Cash in a savings or current account you can reach within days. Leave out money already set aside for something else.
Runs on your phone. Nothing you type is uploaded or saved.
Building it, step by step
3 months suits a steady job, no dependants and a partner who also earns. 6 months is a sensible goal for most people. 9 to 12 months if your income is irregular, you're self-employed, your job feels shaky, or several people depend on you.
The full target can take a while. Aim first for one month of essentials, then build up. Even a small amount helps you avoid borrowing for a surprise bill.
Set a standing transfer to a separate savings account on payday, so the money moves before you can spend it.
A separate bank savings account you can reach in a day or two, not shares or gold that may be down just when you need them. Use it only for real emergencies, and refill it after.
The UAE's job-loss insurance pays 60% of your basic salary, capped at AED 10,000 or 20,000 a month, for at most 3 months per claim, after 12 months of subscription. It doesn't pay if you resign or are dismissed for discipline.
Without a fund, emergencies end up on a credit card or a quick loan. See what that costs with our credit card payoff planner.
Sources: US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "An essential guide to building an emergency fund" (start small, save automatically, keep it safe and accessible in a bank or credit union account); MoneyHelper, the UK government-backed money guidance service, via NS&I's emergency fund guide (three to six months of essential outgoings, and that this doesn't need to be your first target); Khaleej Times, "Why UAE residents must build a 6-month emergency fund" (9 May 2026: advisers suggest 3 to 9 months, and at least 6 with more than two dependants). UAE Involuntary Loss of Employment scheme: dubai.ae (60% of the subscription salary, capped at AED 10,000 for basic salaries up to AED 16,000 and AED 20,000 above, up to 3 months per claim, after at least 12 months of subscription; no benefit after resignation or disciplinary dismissal). The "help me choose" suggestion is our simple rule built on that guidance. This is a planning aid, not financial advice.