UAE Economy

UAE 2026.. An Economy That Never Stops

The UAE economy continued its upward trajectory during the first months of 2026, with the financial and banking sector showing increased resilience and foreign trade and investment indicators rising, according to official data and local and international reports.

The UAE economy reinforced its sustainable leadership both regionally and globally, proving itself a model of stability and resilience in the face of various changes and challenges.

The Monetary and Banking Developments Report for February 2026, issued by the Central Bank of the UAE, showed that total banking assets increased by 1.1 percent to exceed AED 5.472 trillion, compared to AED 5.414 trillion in the previous January.

Total credit rose by 1.2 percent to AED 2.63 trillion, supported by a AED 20.6 billion increase in domestic credit. Bank deposits grew by 1.9 percent to AED 3.4 trillion, with resident deposits increasing by 1.7 percent to AED 3.098 trillion.

The UAE financial sector enjoys high levels of stability, with a capital adequacy ratio of 17 percent at the beginning of March and a liquidity coverage ratio exceeding 146.6 percent, surpassing international and regulatory standards.

UAE banks strengthened their presence in Forbes' list of the world's best banks 2026, with several of the country's leading financial institutions, such as First Abu Dhabi Bank, Commercial Bank International, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, and Commercial Bank of Dubai, making the list.

For its part, the Ministry of Finance announced that Moody's Investors Service completed its periodic review of the UAE's credit ratings on March 30, 2026, reassessing the suitability of the current rating, which remained unchanged at Aa2 with a stable outlook. In this context, S&P Global Ratings affirmed the UAE's sovereign credit rating at AA/A-1+ for both local and foreign currencies, with a stable outlook.

The agency explained that the UAE economy is underpinned by high levels of fiscal and economic resilience, supported by consolidated net government assets estimated at approximately 184 percent of GDP in 2026, while government liquid assets are projected to reach around 210 percent of GDP.

The UAE continued to strengthen its foreign trade strategy, implemented under the umbrella of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements program, which aims to increase the value of non-oil trade to AED 4 trillion by 2031.

During the first quarter of 2026, the country signed agreements with the Philippines, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon. The UAE economy has achieved significant international rankings, with the country entering the top ten global exporters of goods for the first time, ranking ninth according to the World Trade Organization report.

The report indicated that the UAE's total foreign trade reached AED 6 trillion in 2025, a 15 percent increase compared to 2024. Trade in services reached AED 1.14 trillion for the first time, while non-oil trade in goods increased by 27 percent to AED 3.8 trillion.

Mubadala Investment Company strengthened its investment portfolio, with assets valued at AED 1.4 trillion and a cumulative return exceeding 10 percent over five and ten years.

ADNOC entered the list of the world’s 100 most valuable brands, maintaining its position as the UAE’s most valuable brand for the eighth consecutive year. Its brand value rose by 11 percent to reach $21.13 billion, representing growth of over 350 percent since 2017.

Dubai achieved its highest ranking ever in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), advancing to seventh place, reflecting its rise as one of the world’s leading financial centers. The UAE also witnessed significant growth in the number of companies registered in the economic register, reaching over 1.45 million by the end of February.

Regarding treasury bonds, the March 2026 auction of UAE dirham-denominated government treasury bonds (T-Bonds) was a resounding success, with a total issuance size of AED 1.1 billion.

The auction witnessed strong demand from participating banks for the tranches of treasury bonds maturing in September 2027 and January 2031, with total bids reaching AED 4.85 billion, representing approximately 4.4 times the issuance size.