The Central Bank of the UAE announced key outcomes from its proactive support package aimed at strengthening the resilience of financial institutions and supporting affected borrowers. Moreover, the central bank said total facilities provided under the programme reached AED 6.2 billion, including loan deferments, interest relief and fee waivers.
The CBUAE said the programme supported 65,379 beneficiaries. Additionally, the total included 60,559 individuals, 4,335 small and medium-sized enterprises, and 485 corporates.
Priority sectors receiving support included hospitality (173 companies), transport (361 companies), and entertainment (134 companies). Furthermore, the central bank said affected establishments may continue coordinating with banks during the specified period.
The CBUAE also reported continued growth in the banking sector between 1 March 2026 and 1 May 2026. Assets rose 2.1%, while loans increased 3.2% and deposits grew 1.9%. Moreover, the monetary base cover ratio reached 115.3%.
Support Measures and Eligibility Criteria
The central bank said support mechanisms include repayment deferrals of up to 6 months without classification as a default. Additionally, the package provides for the suspension of interest and fees on affected facilities, alongside continued credit financing for priority economic sectors.
Eligibility criteria allow establishments impacted by economic disruptions to apply for deferred instalments. Moreover, hospitality, transport and other affected sectors receive priority in implementation.
Eligible beneficiaries include corporates, SMEs and individuals. Furthermore, the CBUAE said no minimum loan size is required to access the support package.
