The UAE economy sustained its growth momentum in the opening months of 2026, driven by a resilient financial and banking sector alongside rising foreign trade and investment activity, as highlighted by official figures and global reports.
The country has continued to strengthen its position as a sustainable leader regionally and globally, emerging as a benchmark for stability and adaptability amid shifting economic dynamics.
Data from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) showed total banking assets rising by 1.1 percent in February 2026 to surpass AED5.472 trillion, up from AED5.414 trillion in January.
Overall credit expanded by 1.2 percent to AED2.63 trillion, supported by a AED20.6 billion increase in domestic lending. Bank deposits climbed 1.9 percent to AED3.4 trillion, while resident deposits grew 1.7 percent to AED3.098 trillion.
The UAE’s financial sector continues to reflect solid fundamentals. By early March, the capital adequacy ratio stood at 17 percent, while the liquidity coverage ratio exceeded 146.6 percent, comfortably above global regulatory benchmarks.
UAE banks also reinforced their global standing, featuring prominently in Forbes’ 2026 ranking of the world’s best banks, including institutions such as First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), Emirates Islamic, Emirates NBD and Commercial Bank of Dubai.
Global rating agencies have reaffirmed the UAE’s sovereign strength. Moody’s retained its Aa2 rating with a stable outlook following its review on 30 March 2026, while S&P Global Ratings upheld the country’s AA/A-1+ rating for both local and foreign currencies, also with a stable outlook.
S&P highlighted that the UAE’s economic outlook is supported by strong fiscal buffers and resilience, underpinned by consolidated government net assets estimated at around 184 percent of GDP in 2026, alongside liquid assets of approximately 210 percent of GDP.
The UAE continues to expand its foreign trade strategy through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) programme, targeting non-oil trade of AED4 trillion by 2031. In the first quarter of 2026, agreements were signed with the Philippines, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon.
The country also secured a significant global milestone, entering the top ten merchandise exporters worldwide for the first time, ranking ninth according to the World Trade Organisation.
According to the report, total foreign trade reached AED6 trillion in 2025, reflecting a 15 percent year-on-year increase. Trade in services surpassed AED1.14 trillion for the first time, while non-oil merchandise trade surged 27 percent to AED3.8 trillion.
Mubadala Investment Company further enhanced the strength of its portfolio, with total assets reaching AED1.4 trillion and delivering cumulative returns exceeding 10 percent across both five- and ten-year horizons.
ADNOC also advanced its global brand positioning, entering the list of the world’s 100 most valuable brands while retaining its status as the UAE’s most valuable brand for the eighth consecutive year. Its brand value rose 11 percent to US$21.13 billion, marking growth of over 350 percent since 2017.
Dubai reached a new high in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), climbing to seventh place, reinforcing its status as an increasingly influential global financial hub.
