UAE economy continues global ascent with robust growth in early 2026 in World Economy News 21/04/2026 The UAE economy maintained its upward trajectory during the first months of 2026, supported by the strength of the financial and banking sector and rising foreign trade and investment indicators, according to official data and local and international reports. The UAE has further reinforced its sustainable leadership at both regional and global levels, establishing itself as a model of stability and flexibility in addressing evolving challenges. According to the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), total banking assets increased by 1.1 percent in February 2026 to exceed AED5.472 trillion, compared to AED5.414 trillion in January. Total credit rose by 1.2 percent to AED2.63 trillion, supported by an increase of AED20.6 billion in domestic credit. Bank deposits grew by 1.9 percent to AED3.4 trillion, with resident deposits rising by 1.7 percent to AED3.098 trillion. The UAE’s financial sector continues to demonstrate strong stability. At the beginning of March, the capital adequacy ratio stood at 17 percent, while the liquidity coverage ratio exceeded 146.6 percent, remaining well above international regulatory standards. UAE banks further strengthened their presence in Forbes’ 2026 list of the world’s best banks, which included leading national institutions such as First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), Emirates Islamic, Emirates NBD and Commercial Bank of Dubai. International rating agencies have reaffirmed the UAE’s sovereign strength. Moody’s maintained its Aa2 rating with a stable outlook following its periodic review on 30th March 2026. In parallel, S&P Global Ratings affirmed the UAE’s sovereign credit rating at AA/A-1+ for both local and foreign currencies, with a stable outlook. S&P noted that the UAE economy is underpinned by strong fiscal and economic resilience, supported by consolidated government net assets estimated at around 184 percent of GDP in 2026, while government liquid assets stand at approximately 210 percent of GDP. The UAE continues to advance its foreign trade strategy under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) programme, which aims to increase non-oil trade to AED4 trillion by 2031. During the first quarter of 2026, agreements were signed with the Philippines, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon. The UAE also achieved notable international rankings, entering for the first time the list of the world’s top ten merchandise exporters, ranking ninth globally according to the World Trade Organisation. The report indicated that the UAE’s total foreign trade reached AED6 trillion in 2025, marking a 15 percent increase compared to 2024. Trade in services exceeded AED1.14 trillion for the first time, while non-oil merchandise trade rose by 27 percent to AED3.8 trillion. Mubadala Investment Company further strengthened the resilience of its investment portfolio, with assets reaching AED1.4 trillion and a cumulative return exceeding 10 percent over five- and ten-year periods. Meanwhile, ADNOC entered the list of the world’s 100 most valuable brands, maintaining its position as the UAE’s most valuable brand for the eighth consecutive year. Its brand value increased by 11 percent to US$21.13 billion, reflecting growth of more than 350 percent since 2017. Dubai also achieved its highest ranking in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), advancing to seventh place, u