Central Bank of the UAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama met with People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng in Bangkok on October 14, 2026. The bilateral discussions focused on central banking cooperation, financial infrastructure links, and cross-border capital flows. Officials noted that bilateral non-oil merchandise trade reached AED 410 billion in 2025.
The Central Bank of the UAE has issued Circular No. 5/2026, introducing an updated governance and remuneration regime for banks and insurance firms. Regulated institutions must complete an internal gap analysis within 180 days and achieve full compliance within 15 months. The framework mandates stricter controls over risk-linked pay, incentive schemes, and annual compensation disclosures.
National banks in the UAE posted double-digit annual increases across key performance indicators in August 2026, according to Central Bank of the UAE data published by Voice of Emirates. National bank assets rose 13.6% year-on-year to exceed AED 5.15 trillion, while total credit expanded 19.2% to AED 2.663 trillion. Deposits at national banks increased 14.2% to AED 3.181 trillion over the same period.
Cabinet Resolution No. 136 of 2026 establishes updated operational criteria, accounting mandates, and licensing rules for mainland and free-zone commercial entities in the UAE. Entities with an annual gross turnover of AED 50 million or more must submit audited financial statements, while smaller firms must retain digital accounting records for at least five years. Businesses have a 180-day grace period ending on March 30, 2027, to achieve compliance before facing administrative fines.
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