CBUAE foreign assets surpass AED 1.084 trillion as January 2026 figures signal economic resilience
DUBAI, UAE — March 25, 2026 — The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced its foreign assets exceeded AED 1.084 trillion ($295.11 billion) by end-January 2026, up from AED 1.058 trillion end-December 2025. The 2.5% month-on-month increase reflects the UAE’s financial strength amid global uncertainties, with the overall balance sheet topping AED 1.119 trillion ($304.7 billion).
Announcement specifics
Foreign assets broke down as AED 285.5 billion in current account balances and deposits with banks abroad, AED 740.9 billion in foreign investments, and AED 58 billion in other foreign assets. Total assets included AED 224.2 billion in cash and bank balances, AED 76.2 billion in deposits, AED 767.6 billion in investments, and AED 51.3 billion in other assets.
The growth aligns with gross banks’ assets rising 1.4% to AED 5,413.6 billion in January 2026. CBUAE’s reserves exceeding AED 1 trillion back a new resilience package, ensuring lender stability with a 119% monetary base cover amid regional geopolitical shifts.
Industry context
The UAE’s robust reserve position contrasts regional volatility, positioning the nation as a safe haven for capital flows in the MENA corridor. For the fintech sector, sustained reserve strength fosters innovation hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which attracted $45 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025—a 50% year-on-year increase. The CBUAE’s balance sheet expansion underpins policy continuity and supports regulatory frameworks for digital banking, open finance initiatives, and cross-border payment infrastructure across the GCC.
The January figures mark consecutive months of reserve growth, reinforcing the UAE’s status as a regional anchor for financial services innovation. With monetary base coverage exceeding 119%, the central bank maintains significant capacity to support liquidity provision and banking sector expansion while navigating Iran-related conflict pressures.
Conclusion
These figures signal sustained economic momentum into 2026, with CBUAE reserves poised to support fintech growth and financial stability. Further monthly data releases will track reserve trends and their impact on the UAE’s evolving digital finance ecosystem amid ongoing geopolitical shifts.
Sources: Zawya, Zawya, Economy Middle East, Alvarez & Marsal, MENA Fintech Association
