CBUAE’s gold reserves surge 13.6 percent to record $11.72 billion in January

Thu Mar 26 2026

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) reported 13.6 percent increase in its gold reserves during January 2026, reaching a new record of AED43.051 billion by the end of the month. This marks a rise from the AED37.902 billion recorded at the end of December 2025, representing a month-on-month increase of AED5.149 billion ($1.4 billion). The growth is even more pronounced on an annual basis, with the bank’s gold reserves surging by more than 75 percent over the past year. This reflects an increase of approximately AED18.48 billion compared to the AED24.571 billion held at the end of January 2025, according to the monthly statistical bulletin issued today.

Savings deposits continue growth

The bulletin also provided a detailed breakdown of the various deposit types within the UAE banking system as of the end of January 2026. Demand deposits were recorded at AED1.255 trillion, showing a slight decrease from the approximately AED1.264 trillion seen at the end of December 2025. In contrast, savings deposits witnessed growth, standing at AED413.568 billion at the end of January 2026 compared to AED400.51 billion at the end of the previous month. Furthermore, time deposits amounted to approximately AED1.186 trillion, rising from the AED1.165 trillion reported at the end of December 2025. These figures indicate a general increase in longer-term liquidity within the banking sector despite a marginal dip in immediate demand-based funds.

Source: https://economymiddleeast.com/