6 October 2026
Gross credit at banks in the UAE rose by AED 72.4 billion in August 2026, or 2.6% in one month, to AED 2,871.4 billion, according to the Monetary and Banking Developments report for August published by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) on 5 October 2026. Lending to individuals grew fastest: up 5.6%, or AED 34.4 billion. Corporate credit added 2.4% (AED 22.8 billion), deposits rose 0.7% to AED 3,534.8 billion, and gross bank assets increased 1.3% to AED 5,741.3 billion.
UAE banks in August 2026: key figures
The table shows balances at the end of August 2026 and the change during the month, as published in the CBUAE report and reported by Gulf News and Economy Middle East.
| Indicator | End of August 2026 | Change in August |
|---|---|---|
| Gross credit | AED 2,871.4 billion | +2.6%, +AED 72.4 billion |
| Domestic credit | AED 2,268.8 billion | +2.8% |
| Foreign credit | AED 602.6 billion | +1.6% |
| Credit to individuals | not published | +5.6%, +AED 34.4 billion |
| Corporate credit | not published | +2.4%, +AED 22.8 billion |
| Credit to government | not published | +2.8%, +AED 7.2 billion |
| Total deposits | AED 3,534.8 billion | +0.7% |
| Resident deposits | AED 3,229.3 billion | +1.0% |
| Gross bank assets | AED 5,741.3 billion | +1.3% |
| Monetary base | AED 825.9 billion | +4.2% |
Where the AED 72.4 billion went
Most of the growth came from lending inside the country. Domestic credit rose 2.8% to AED 2,268.8 billion and contributed 2.2 percentage points to the growth of gross credit. Foreign credit, lending by UAE banks to borrowers abroad, rose 1.6% to AED 602.6 billion and added 0.3 points.
Within domestic credit, the CBUAE names three drivers:
- Individuals: +5.6%, or AED 34.4 billion, 1.6 percentage points of domestic credit growth. This is the largest contribution of any borrower group in August.
- Companies: +2.4%, or AED 22.8 billion, 1 percentage point. Corporate lending grew at less than half the pace of lending to individuals.
- Government: +2.8%, or AED 7.2 billion, 0.3 percentage points.
Individuals borrowed more in money terms than companies, although their loan book is smaller. From the published percentages, our estimate puts credit to individuals at roughly AED 0.6 trillion at the start of August, against a corporate book close to AED 1 trillion. Percentages in the report are rounded, so both figures are approximate.
Lending growth has accelerated since May
Monthly growth in gross credit has picked up three months in a row, based on the CBUAE reports for each month:
- May 2026: +0.5%, AED 12.3 billion;
- June 2026: +0.9%, AED 24.7 billion;
- July 2026: +1.5%, AED 41.2 billion;
- August 2026: +2.6%, AED 72.4 billion.
Lending to individuals followed the same pattern. It added AED 6.8 billion in June, AED 13.9 billion in July and AED 34.4 billion in August. Its contribution to domestic credit growth went from 0.3 to 0.6 and then to 1.6 percentage points. We covered the July figures in our analysis of UAE bank assets and credit to individuals in July 2026.
The report does not split credit to individuals by product, emirate or nationality. Personal loans, mortgages, car loans and credit cards are all inside the same line, so the August jump cannot be attributed to any single product on the basis of this data.
Deposits grew more slowly than credit
Total deposits rose 0.7%, from AED 3,509.8 billion at the end of July to AED 3,534.8 billion at the end of August, an increase of AED 25.0 billion. Credit grew almost three times as much in money terms.
- Resident deposits rose 1.0% to AED 3,229.3 billion.
- Private-sector deposits rose 0.7% to AED 2,361.5 billion and government-sector deposits rose 3.5% to AED 461.1 billion. Each group contributed 0.5 percentage points to growth.
- Deposits of government-related entities stood at AED 344.9 billion, and deposits of other financial corporations rose 0.8% to AED 61.8 billion.
- Non-resident deposits stood at AED 305.5 billion. In July they were AED 311.4 billion, so by our calculation they fell by about AED 5.9 billion during the month.
Dividing the two published balances, gross credit equals about 81.2% of deposits at the end of August, up from about 79.7% at the end of July (our calculation). The difference between deposits and credit narrowed from about AED 711 billion to about AED 663 billion. This is a simple ratio of two figures from the report, not the regulatory liquidity ratio that banks report to the CBUAE.
Money supply and liquidity at the central bank
The broad money measures grew in step with deposits. M2 rose 0.7% to AED 2,919.9 billion, with corporate deposits up 1.4% and contributing 0.7 percentage points. M3, which adds government deposits at banks and at the CBUAE, also rose 0.7% to AED 3,465.6 billion; government-sector deposits in this measure increased 1.0% to AED 545.7 billion.
The monetary base grew faster, by 4.2% to AED 825.9 billion. Within it, the current accounts and overnight deposits of banks and other financial corporations at the CBUAE rose 66.9% in a month to AED 156.1 billion. Currency issued increased 1.1% to AED 184.0 billion, and currency in circulation outside banks rose 2.1% to AED 162.6 billion.
Gross bank assets increased 1.3% to AED 5,741.3 billion, from AED 5,669.1 billion at the end of July.
What this means for companies in the UAE
The report is banking statistics. It does not change interest rates, fees, lending rules or account opening requirements. It shows that in August banks in the UAE expanded credit faster than in any of the previous three months, and that companies received AED 22.8 billion of new credit.
For a business owner, access to that credit still runs through an operating account with a clear history. Banks review the file of a company before they consider a credit line, trade finance or a corporate card. It helps to have the following ready:
- a valid trade licence, memorandum of association and an up to date shareholder register;
- passports, Emirates IDs and residence visas of shareholders and authorised signatories;
- proof of real activity: contracts, invoices, an office or warehouse lease, a working website;
- a clear explanation of the source of funds and source of wealth of the owners;
- VAT and corporate tax registration details where they apply;
- bank statements and financial statements for the period the bank asks for.
For the breakdown by emirate, our article on Dubai banks passing AED 1 trillion of credit to UAE residents covers the July data for banks in Dubai.
How Atlant Capital can help
We set up companies in UAE free zones and on the mainland through our company setup service, choosing the activity and structure with the future bank relationship in mind. Our guide to opening a bank account in the UAE sets out the documents, compliance checks and timelines, and the bank account opening service covers preparing the file and working through the bank’s review.
Conclusion
In August 2026 gross credit at UAE banks rose by AED 72.4 billion to AED 2,871.4 billion, the third month in a row of faster growth. Individuals added AED 34.4 billion, companies AED 22.8 billion and the government AED 7.2 billion. Deposits grew by AED 25.0 billion to AED 3,534.8 billion, and gross bank assets reached AED 5,741.3 billion. The rules for companies have not changed; the data shows how quickly bank balance sheets in the country are growing.
Source: Gulf News, Economy Middle East.
FAQ
How much did UAE bank lending grow in August 2026?
Gross credit at UAE banks rose by AED 72.4 billion, or 2.6%, in August 2026 to AED 2,871.4 billion, according to the CBUAE Monetary and Banking Developments report published on 5 October 2026. Domestic credit grew 2.8% to AED 2,268.8 billion and foreign credit 1.6% to AED 602.6 billion.
Which borrowers drove the growth in UAE bank credit in August 2026?
Individuals. Credit to individuals rose 5.6%, or AED 34.4 billion, and contributed 1.6 percentage points to domestic credit growth. Corporate credit rose 2.4% (AED 22.8 billion, 1 point) and credit to the government 2.8% (AED 7.2 billion, 0.3 points).
How large are UAE bank deposits and assets?
At the end of August 2026 deposits at UAE banks stood at AED 3,534.8 billion, up 0.7% in a month, of which resident deposits were AED 3,229.3 billion. Gross bank assets rose 1.3% to AED 5,741.3 billion. Gross credit equals about 81% of deposits.
Do the August figures change anything for companies opening a bank account in the UAE?
No. The report is statistics from the Central Bank of the UAE and does not change account opening rules, fees or lending criteria. Banks still review the trade licence, ownership, source of funds and evidence of real activity before opening an account or offering financing.
