The United Arab Emirates has been quietly stacking gold — and in 2025, the pile grew dramatically.
Fresh figures from the Central Bank show the country’s gold reserves soaring nearly 65 percent over the year, closing December at AED 37.9 billion. Twelve months earlier, the tally stood at AED 22.98 billion. The surge underscores a decisive shift toward strengthening reserve buffers with the timeless allure of bullion.
Even month-to-month, the climb was steady. December alone brought a 1.64 percent uptick, lifting holdings from AED 37.29 billion in November to their year-end peak. It was not a sudden spike, but a deliberate accumulation — the kind that signals strategy rather than speculation.
Beyond gold, liquidity across the banking system expanded at a notable pace.
Demand deposits crossed AED 1.264 trillion by the end of December 2025, up sharply from AED 1.109 trillion a year earlier. Savings deposits followed suit, rising to AED 400.51 billion compared to AED 317.49 billion at the close of 2024.
Time deposits — often seen as a barometer of longer-term confidence — also recorded a strong jump. They exceeded AED 1.165 trillion by year-end, up from AED 945.78 billion the previous December.
Taken together, the numbers sketch a portrait of a financial system growing both deeper and more fortified. Gold may glitter most brightly, but the broader expansion in deposits suggests the UAE’s banking sector is entering 2026 with a thicker cushion and a firmer footing.
