Total assets in the UAE banking sector rose to Dh4.749 trillion at the end of April 2025, up 0.6% from March, according to the Central Bank of the UAE’s (CBUAE) monthly monetary and banking report.
Bank credit increased 0.9% to Dh2.25 trillion, driven by Dh12.3 billion growth in domestic credit and Dh7.1 billion in foreign credit. Credit to government rose 0.7%, to government-related entities by 1.2%, and to the private sector by 0.6%. Credit to non-banking financial institutions declined 4.3%.
Total bank deposits grew 1% to Dh2.96 trillion. Resident deposits rose marginally to Dh2.68 trillion, while non-resident deposits increased 10.9% to Dh275.6 billion. Within resident deposits, private sector deposits increased by 1.1%, while government sector deposits rose by 0.9%. Deposits from non-banking financial institutions fell 9.2%, and those from government-related entities dropped 6.5%.
The narrow money supply (M1) increased by 2.6% to Dh1.01 trillion, driven by a Dh26.9 billion rise in monetary deposits, which offset a Dh1.2 billion decline in currency in circulation. Broad money (M2) declined 0.1% to Dh2.435 trillion due to a Dh27.8 billion fall in quasi-monetary deposits. The broadest measure (M3) rose 0.2% to Dh2.89 trillion, supported by a Dh6.6 billion increase in government deposits.
The monetary base contracted 1.7% to Dh819 billion, with reserve account balances falling 32% and issued currency down 2.5%. These declines were partially offset by a 159.8% increase in current and overnight deposits held by banks and financial institutions at the central bank, and a 3.1% rise in monetary bills and Islamic certificates of deposit.
Foreign assets held by the central bank increased to Dh937.5 billion. These included Dh403.2 billion in overseas bank balances and deposits, Dh490.1 billion in foreign securities, and Dh44.1 billion in other foreign assets.
The central bank’s balance sheet stood at Dh972.3 billion, comprising liabilities and capital as follows: Dh449.1 billion in current and deposit accounts, Dh279.9 billion in monetary bills and Islamic certificates, Dh165.2 billion in currency in circulation, Dh33.2 billion in other liabilities, and Dh45 billion in capital and reserves. Assets included Dh210.9 billion in cash and bank balances, Dh208 billion in deposits, Dh516.8 billion in investments, Dh0.5 billion in loans and advances, and Dh36.2 billion in other assets.
