5 October 2026
Banks in Dubai had more than AED 1 trillion of credit outstanding to UAE residents at the end of July 2026, up 18% year on year and equal to about 46% of all domestic credit in the UAE, according to Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) data reported by Al Bayan on 5 October 2026. Their total loan book grew 21.5% to about AED 1.266 trillion, which means about AED 225 billion of new lending between July 2025 and July 2026. Deposits at Dubai banks passed AED 1.61 trillion, up 13%, with about AED 185 billion of new deposits over the same twelve months.
Dubai banks at the end of July 2026: key figures
The figures below are balances at the end of July 2026 for banks in Dubai, as grouped in the CBUAE statistics by emirate. Changes compare with the end of July 2025.
| Indicator | End of July 2026 | Change or share |
|---|---|---|
| Credit to UAE residents | over AED 1 trillion | +18%, about 46% of UAE domestic credit |
| Total credit | about AED 1.266 trillion | +21.5%, about AED 225 billion |
| Credit to the private sector | over AED 719 billion | about 45% of UAE bank credit to the private sector |
| Credit to individuals | over AED 294 billion | over 48% of UAE bank credit to individuals |
| Deposits | over AED 1.61 trillion | +13%, about AED 185 billion |
| Investments | over AED 385 billion | +23%, over AED 72 billion |
| Total assets | about AED 2.466 trillion | from AED 2.179 trillion a year earlier |
Who borrows from Dubai banks
Residents account for about 80% of all credit extended by Dubai banks. The remaining 20% went to non-resident borrowers. In money terms, our calculation from the reported total puts non-resident lending at roughly AED 250 billion.
Two segments stand out in the CBUAE data:
- Private sector. Credit from Dubai banks to private companies and other private borrowers passed AED 719 billion at the end of July 2026. That is about 45% of all private-sector credit from banks operating in the UAE, which makes Dubai banks the largest lender to the private sector in the country.
- Individuals. Lending to individuals rose to more than AED 294 billion, over 48% of all bank credit to individuals in the UAE. Al Bayan links the demand to personal, housing and consumer finance, but the published data does not split the total by product.
Of the AED 1.266 trillion total, the private sector accounts for about 57% and individuals for about 23% (our calculation). Lending to government and government-related entities is not broken out in the figures published by Al Bayan.
Deposits: AED 185 billion of new money in a year
Deposits at Dubai banks exceeded AED 1.61 trillion at the end of July 2026. The banks added about AED 185 billion of new deposits in twelve months, a 13% increase on July 2025 levels.
Resident deposits make up more than 92% of the total. By depositor type, private-sector deposits are the largest component, followed by government deposits and then deposits of public-sector entities. Al Bayan does not give amounts for each group.
Credit grew faster than deposits over the year: +21.5% against +13%. Dividing the two reported balances, total credit equals about 79% of deposits. This is a simple ratio of two published figures, our calculation, and not a regulatory liquidity ratio.
Assets and investment portfolio
Total assets of Dubai banks rose to about AED 2.466 trillion at the end of July 2026, from AED 2.179 trillion a year earlier, an increase of roughly 13% (our calculation).
Investments grew faster than the balance sheet as a whole. The investment portfolio passed AED 385 billion, up 23% from about AED 313 billion in July 2025, after more than AED 72 billion of new investments. By instrument:
- held-to-maturity securities: over AED 221 billion, the largest part of the portfolio;
- debt securities: over AED 115 billion;
- equities and other investments: over AED 48 billion.
Dubai in the national banking picture
The CBUAE Monetary and Banking Developments report for July 2026 gives the national totals for the same date. We covered it in our analysis of UAE bank assets and credit to individuals in July 2026. Setting the Dubai figures against those totals gives the following shares (our calculation):
- total credit: about AED 1.266 trillion of AED 2,798.9 billion gross credit, roughly 45%;
- credit to residents: over AED 1 trillion of AED 2,206.0 billion domestic credit, about 46%, as stated in the source;
- deposits: over AED 1.61 trillion of AED 3,509.8 billion, roughly 46%;
- assets: about AED 2.466 trillion of AED 5,669.1 billion, roughly 43%.
The comparison is approximate. The emirate figures come from CBUAE statistics by emirate as reported by Al Bayan, the national totals from the monthly CBUAE report, and the two publications round their numbers differently.
What this means for companies in the UAE
The data is banking statistics. It does not change rules, rates, fees or account opening procedures. It does show where a large part of business banking in the country sits: about 45% of private-sector credit in the UAE comes from banks in Dubai.
For a company owner, the practical point is the order of steps. Banks lend to companies they already know: a corporate account with a history of real transactions usually comes before any request for a credit line, trade finance or a business card. Before approaching a bank in Dubai, it helps to have the following ready:
- a valid trade licence and constitutional documents, with the shareholder register up to date;
- passports, Emirates IDs and residence visas of shareholders and authorised signatories;
- evidence of real activity: contracts, invoices, a website, a registered office or warehouse lease;
- a clear explanation of the source of funds and the source of wealth of the shareholders;
- VAT and corporate tax registration details where they apply;
- for financing, account statements and financial statements covering the period the bank asks for.
How Atlant Capital can help
A bank relationship starts with a company that a bank can understand. We handle company setup in the UAE in a free zone or on the mainland, with an activity and structure that fit the way you plan to bank. Our guide to opening a bank account in the UAE explains the documents, compliance checks and timelines, and the bank account opening service covers preparation of the file and the process with the bank, so that the account has the history a lender will look for later.
Conclusion
At the end of July 2026 banks in Dubai had more than AED 1 trillion lent to UAE residents, 18% more than a year earlier and about 46% of domestic credit in the country. Their total credit grew 21.5% to about AED 1.266 trillion, deposits rose 13% to more than AED 1.61 trillion, and assets reached about AED 2.466 trillion. For companies the figures change no rules; they show the scale of the banks they will most likely work with.
Source: Al Bayan.
FAQ
How much have Dubai banks lent to UAE residents?
According to CBUAE data reported by Al Bayan, banks in Dubai had more than AED 1 trillion of credit outstanding to UAE residents at the end of July 2026. That is 18% more than a year earlier and about 46% of all domestic credit in the UAE. Residents account for about 80% of the credit extended by Dubai banks.
How big is the total loan book of Dubai banks?
Total credit extended by banks in Dubai reached about AED 1.266 trillion at the end of July 2026, up 21.5% year on year. Between July 2025 and July 2026 the banks provided about AED 225 billion of new credit to customers in the UAE and abroad.
How much do Dubai banks hold in deposits?
Deposits at Dubai banks exceeded AED 1.61 trillion at the end of July 2026, up 13% from July 2025, with about AED 185 billion of new deposits in a year. Resident deposits make up more than 92% of the total, and private-sector deposits are the largest component.
Do the new figures change anything for companies opening a bank account in Dubai?
No. The figures are banking statistics from the Central Bank of the UAE and do not change account opening rules, fees or documents. Banks still review the trade licence, ownership, source of funds and evidence of real activity before opening an account or considering financing.
