UAE Banks Defer AED2.3bn in Loans for Over 148,000 Retail Borrowers

A total of 148,681 individual banking customers in the UAE received AED 2.3 billion ($626 million) in loan repayment deferrals by the end of August 2026, according to figures reported by Arabian Business based on Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) data. The retail deferrals formed part of the CBUAE's Financial Institutions Resilience Package (FIRP), which was introduced in March 2026 to reinforce economic resilience and alleviate borrower financial pressures.

In total, the resilience package benefited 155,971 banking customers, delivering AED 15.9 billion ($4.33 billion) in combined support through repayment deferrals as well as waived commissions and fees. Beyond retail clients, the initiative extended AED 2.9 billion ($789 million) in loan deferrals to 6,441 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and AED 10.7 billion ($2.91 billion) in support to 849 private-sector companies.

The figures were reviewed during a meeting held between CBUAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama and chief executive officers of commercial banks operating in the UAE. The review noted continued expansion across the financial sector, with total bank loans rising 18.8 percent year-on-year by the end of August 2026.

Banking sector assets expanded by 12.9 percent compared to the same period in 2025, while total bank deposits grew by 13 percent over the same timeline, according to the central bank's indicators.