Finance and Fintech
Banking
Total bank assets rose 12.5% year on year to AED 5,594 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026. The sector had 62 banks: 24 UAE national banks and 38 branches of foreign banks.1
Finance and insurance made up 13.2% of non-oil GDP in 2025, second to trade, and grew 10.4%.3,4
DIFC and fintech
| DIFC in 2025 | Number |
|---|---|
| Active registered companies | 8,844, up 28% |
| New registrations | 2,525, up 39% |
| Regulated financial firms | 1,052 |
| AI, fintech and innovation firms | 1,677, up 35% |
| Wealth and asset managers | More than 500, including 102 hedge funds |
Source: DIFC: Annual results for 2025 (February 2026)2
Banks on the mainland are licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE. Firms in DIFC are regulated by the DFSA and firms in ADGM by the FSRA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the UAE banking sector?
Bank assets were AED 5,594 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026, across 62 banks: 24 national banks and 38 foreign bank branches.
Sources
- Central Bank of the UAE: Quarterly Economic Review, September 2026
- DIFC: Annual results for 2025 (February 2026)
- The National: UAE GDP hit $517bn in 2025 as non-oil sector grew 6.8% (May 2026)
- Fast Company Middle East: UAE economy grows 6.2% in 2025 as GDP reaches AED 1.9 trillion
Figures checked 21 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.