The UAE Banks Federation has outlined its priorities for the coming year, approving its 2026 strategy at its Annual General Meeting, as the country’s banking sector builds on a period of strong growth and regulatory stability.
Endorsed by the Federation’s board ahead of the meeting, the strategy reflects a broader push to deepen the sector’s role in driving economic expansion and to reinforce the UAE’s position as one of the world’s leading financial centers.
The tone of the AGM made it clear that the sector is entering this next phase from a position of strength. Bank executives highlighted the industry’s resilience in navigating global uncertainty, pointing to its ability to sustain growth while maintaining robust capital adequacy and liquidity levels.
That stability has been underpinned by the regulatory framework shaped by the Central Bank of the UAE, whose oversight continues to play a central role in ensuring financial system resilience. Participants also pointed to the Central Bank’s proactive support measures as a key factor in reinforcing confidence across the sector.
Performance metrics for 2025 reflect that momentum. Total assets of UAE banks reached AED 5.4 trillion, while credit expanded by 17.9 percent and deposits grew by 16.2 percent. The figures reinforce the sector’s standing not just regionally but increasingly globally.
At the same time, the Federation’s strategy signals a shift in emphasis from scale to impact. Discussions at the AGM focused on strengthening the sector’s contribution to economic development, aligning with national strategic objectives, and supporting long-term growth.
Human capital development is emerging as a central pillar in that transition. Emiratisation efforts, in particular, have gained pace, with member banks exceeding their 2025 targets by 160 percent. The focus now is on sustaining that trajectory through targeted training programs and by aligning workforce capabilities with the demands of a rapidly digitizing financial landscape.
Digital transformation itself remains high on the agenda. Banks continue to invest in strengthening digital infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, and improving fraud-detection systems, as the sector adapts to changing customer expectations and technological disruption. These efforts are also closely tied to maintaining trust, an area where the UAE has consistently ranked among the top globally.
Beyond internal transformation, the Federation is also placing greater emphasis on expanding financial inclusion, supporting entrepreneurs and SMEs, and advancing sustainable finance. These priorities are increasingly being integrated into the sector’s broader growth narrative rather than treated as standalone initiatives.
The UAE’s successful bid to host Sibos 2029, the global banking operations conference organized by SWIFT, was also highlighted during the meeting as a reflection of the country’s growing influence within the international financial ecosystem.
Against this backdrop, AbdulAziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of UAE Banks Federation, said, “The decisions and recommendations of the AGM serve as a roadmap for UBF and member banks to focus on the strategic priorities for 2026, supporting the next phase of growth and development of the banking and financial sector, its positive contribution to socio-economic development, and further strengthening the UAE’s position as a global financial and banking hub.”
The direction set out at the AGM points to a sector that is no longer just focused on growth metrics, but on shaping its role within a rapidly evolving global financial landscape. With strong fundamentals already in place, the emphasis for 2026 will be on execution and ensuring that strategic intent translates into measurable economic impact.
With inputs from WAM
