
Gross banks' assets up by 2.4% to $121.6bln at end of December 2024: CBUAE
ABU DHABI – The Central Bank announced the increase in money supply aggregate M1 by 2.3%, from AED 924.8 billion at the end of November 2024 to AED 946.4 billion at the end of December 2024.
The increase was brought about by AED 1.1 billion growth in currency in circulation outside banks and AED 20.6 billion increase in monetary deposits.
The money supply aggregate M2 increased by 1.7%, increasing from AED 2,278.9 billion at the end of November 2024 to AED 2,317.5 billion at the end of December 2024. M2 increased because of an elevated M1, and AED 17.0 billion increase in Quasi-Monetary Deposits.
The money supply aggregate M3 also increased by 0.4%, from AED 2,767.4 billion at the end of November 2024 to AED 2,778.9 billion at the end of December 2024. M3 increased mainly due to the growth in M2, overriding AED 27.1 billion decrease in government deposits.
The monetary base increased by 4.4%, from AED 748.0 billion at the end of November 2024 to AED 780.6 billion at the end of December 2024. The growth in the monetary base was driven by an increase of 0.1% in currency issued, 0.6% in reserve account, 23.7% in banks & OFCs' current accounts & overnight deposits of banks at CBUAE and 4.1% in monetary bills & Islamic certificates of deposit.
Gross banks' assets, including bankers' acceptances, increased by 2.4% from AED 4,451.4 billion at the end of November 2024 to AED 4,560.0 billion at the end of December 2024.
Gross credit also increased by 0.8% from AED 2,163.4 billion at the end of November 2024 to AED 2,181.1 billion at the end of December 2024. Gross credit increased due to an increase in foreign credit by 8.3%, overshadowing the decrease in domestic credit by 0.4%.
Domestic credit declined due to decreases in credit to the public sector (government-related entities) by 2.5%, private sector by 0.2% and non-banking financial institutions by 2.5%. Whereas, credit to the government sector increased by 1.6%.
Banks' deposits increased by 1.5%, from AED 2,804.4 billion at the end of November 2024 to AED 2,847.0 billion at the end of December 2024. The growth in bank deposits was due to increases in resident deposits by 0.5% and non-resident deposits by 13.9%.
Resident deposits grew as a result of increases in government-related entities deposits by 4.2%, private sector deposits by 0.9% and non-banking financial institutions deposits by 16.5%, overshadowing the decrease in government sector deposits by 5.2%.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Post
an hour ago
- Arabian Post
Sharjah Strikes AED5.5bn Real Estate Milestone in May
Sharjah achieved a total real estate trading value of AED 5.5 billion during May 2025, recording 8,415 transactions across the emirate. The total area traded reached 13.2 million square feet, underlining the emirate's advancing market strength. Investors conducted 1,574 outright sales deals, accounting for roughly 18.7 per cent of activity, alongside 381 mortgage registrations totalling AED 1.1 billion—4.5 per cent of the transactions. Additionally, 1,486 initial sale contracts were signed, and 3,619 ownership certificates issued, followed by 1,355 ownership deeds, according to data. These metrics reflect growing confidence in long-term investment within Sharjah's legal framework. Sales operations covered 134 locations, including residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural properties. Land plots constituted 877 deals, tower units 395 and built-in land assets 302. Sharjah City led all zones with 1,426 sales, while Al-Metraq registered 354 transactions, topping overall volumes. Muwailih Commercial followed with 258, Tilal with 135, and Rodhat Al Qarat with 67. ADVERTISEMENT In absolute value terms, Muwailih Commercial led in trading value, generating AED 352.2 million, while Tilal recorded AED 263.2 million. Al-Sajaa Industrial investors transacted AED 140.9 million, and Al-Metraq AED 114.9 million. Suburban and northern districts also contributed notably. The Central Region logged 97 deals, with Industrial 1 leading in volume and Al-Blida highest in value at AED 13.8 million. Khor Fakkan saw 26 transactions; Al Harai Industrial led in activity, Hay Hayawa 4 in value. Kalba registered 24 deals, with Al-Tarif 5 accounting for seven sales and Al Soor 1 holding the highest value at AED 3.5 million. Sharjah's trend mirrors broader national momentum. UAE-wide real estate dealings across the five emirates reached AED 239 billion in the first quarter of 2025, with Sharjah alone recording AED 13.2 billion in Q1—up 31.9 per cent from the same period a year earlier. That figure encompassed nearly 24,600 transactions. Market observers attribute the upswing to enhanced regulations, expanding infrastructure and investor-friendly policies. The introduction of expanded foreign ownership and digital processing platforms has particularly encouraged participation from both domestic and international buyers. Sharjah's growing reputation as a smart-living hub—in developments such as Aljada and the forested Masaar and Masaar 2 communities by Arada—is also playing a key role. Aljada, covering 24 million square feet in Muwaileh, and Masaar, with over 1,500 completed smart homes, exemplify the emirate's emphasis on integrated, sustainable neighbourhoods. Arada's newer masterplans also signal ongoing demand for eco-friendly and lifestyle-led residential projects. Abu Dhabi and Dubai continue to lead the national landscape. In Q1, Dubai accounted for AED 193 billion in property transactions, followed by Abu Dhabi at AED 25.3 billion. Yet Sharjah's accelerated growth—near double-digit gains in both value and volumes—shows it emerging as a significant real estate contender. Analysts anticipate momentum to continue. Infrastructure expansion, including roads and metro-linked projects, and investment in tourism and cultural sectors, are expected to sustain demand. Moreover, growing appetite among buyers for mid-range housing and integrated communities supports depth in the market. Mortgage trends also underline confidence. With over AED 1 billion in mortgage transactions in May, financial institutions seem increasingly willing to underwrite purchases, while buyers appear optimistic about long-term value.


Arabian Post
an hour ago
- Arabian Post
GCC Banks Accelerate Toward USD‑Denominated AT1 Sukuk Surge
Sharjah Islamic Bank and Warba Bank have spearheaded a flurry of USD‑denominated Additional Tier 1 sukuk issuances across the Gulf Cooperation Council, as institutions capitalise on narrower spreads, robust investor demand and abundant liquidity to bolster capital under Basel III norms. Sharjah Islamic priced a US$500 million perpetual issuance with a six‑year non‑call period at 6.125%, tightening from initial guidance of 6.5%, after books exceeded US$1 billion. Simultaneously, Kuwait's Warba Bank concluded a US$250 million AT1 sukuk issuance, re‑offering at a 6.25% yield—also tightened from initial guidance of 6.5%. The instrument, based on a perpetual structure with a 5.5‑year non‑call window, follows Warba's major equity move: the acquisition of a 32.75% stake in Gulf Bank from Alghanim Trading and a KWD 436.7 million rights issuance completed in April. Sharjah Islamic Bank's listing on Nasdaq Dubai marks its fifth sukuk issuance, raising its total sukuk portfolio on the exchange to US$2.5 billion. The deal attracted strong interest from regional and international investors, reinforcing Dubai's growing role as a nexus for Islamic capital. The transaction's pricing depth, with a reset spread of 195.6 basis points—125.7 bps tighter than its 2019 equivalent—highlights an improved cost of capital. ADVERTISEMENT Analysts attribute this wave of AT1 issuances to an increasingly mature Islamic fixed‑income market. GCC banks are under pressure to meet Basel III capital thresholds while tapping investor appetite for Sharia‑compliant instruments amid a global shift towards ethical finance. The depth and oversubscription observed signal confidence in GCC financial stability and growth trajectories. Banking insiders view Sharjah Islamic's move as emblematic of a broader trend. Its programme is now a benchmark in AT1 pricing within the Islamic sukuk arena, and the issuance is being seen as a signpost to other regional banks eyeing capital diversification. Global Capital, a financial news provider, has reported that Warba's issuance helped catalyse the broader GCC AT1 market, with Saudi banks preparing similar deals. Warba Bank's issuance was structured via Warba Tier 1 Sukuk Limited, and it is dual‑listed on the London Stock Exchange's International Securities Market and Nasdaq Dubai. The sukuk follows a Mudaraba structure and was syndicated by joint global coordinators and bookrunners including Emirates NBD Capital, Standard Chartered, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and HSBC. The financial backdrop has been supportive: increasing liquidity in global markets, stable benchmark yields in the US, and sustained inflows into Islamic finance vehicles. Sharjah Islamic underscores its confidence in long‑term strategy, stating the issuance supports its capital base aligned with Basel III standards . Meanwhile, Warba's move is synchronised with its stake acquisition in Gulf Bank, reflecting a broader expansion and capital optimisation strategy. Investor sentiment continues to favour GCC issuers. Demand for Sharia‑compliant fixed‑income paper is rising, particularly from European institutional investors and Islamic funds, seeking diversification. Sharjah's issuance was oversubscribed by over two‑times its size, with participation spanning the GCC, Europe and Asia. Gulf markets are responding in kind: Saudi banks are preparing their own AT1 sukuk to finalise in the coming months, encouraged by the positive reception to these pricings.


Arabian Post
2 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Dubai Sets Record with Blockchain-Powered Property Sell-Out
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Land Department's second tokenised property offering was fully subscribed in just one minute and 58 seconds, marking the fastest-ever blockchain-backed real estate transaction globally. The project, made available through the PRYPCO Mint platform, attracted 149 investors across 35 nationalities, while more than 10,700 others joined a waitlist to participate. The speed of uptake underscores growing trust in digital property ownership within the emirate's broader Property Tokenization Initiative. The feature property—a one‑bedroom apartment in Kensington Waters on Mohammed Bin Rashid City—was valued at AED 1.5 million, discounted from an estimated AED 1.875 million. Fractional ownership began at AED 2,000, enabling micro‑investing in prime Dubai real estate. This landmark offering followed an inaugural tokenisation in May 2025, which sold out within 24 hours, suggesting escalating global appetite for fractional property investments. ADVERTISEMENT PRYPCO Mint is jointly operated by the Dubai Land Department and PRYPCO, under a regulatory framework accredited by the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, the UAE Central Bank, and Dubai Future Foundation within the Real Estate Sandbox initiative. The blockchain infrastructure is built by Ctrl Alt on the XRP Ledger and supported by Zand Digital Bank, ensuring tokens align with official title deeds. Market data indicates robust momentum behind this pivot to tokenisation. In May, Dubai recorded total real estate sales of AED 66.8 billion, a 44 per cent increase year-on-year. The surge was driven by a 314 per cent rise in primary sales, with experts citing tokenisation as a catalyst for further growth. Scott Thiel, CEO of Tokinvest, observed that 'tokenisation will not just accompany the next record, we believe, it will help drive it,' signalling strong confidence in the emerging asset class. Dubai's roadmap for tokenised real estate charts transformative ambitions. The DLD estimates that by 2033 tokenised assets could account for 7 per cent of the city's total real estate market—equivalent to roughly US$16 billion. The first offering had drawn 224 investors from over 40 countries, with certificates of ownership now logged on the blockchain to ensure legal validity. Industry insiders have noted the implications across the investment ecosystem. Zaher El Orm, a blockchain advocate in Dubai, commented that the asset 'sold out in less than two minutes … with an average investment of around AED 10,000, a clear demonstration of the market's appetite for on‑chain, fractional property investment,' adding that title certifications were issued within hours. Earlier in the year, DAMAC Group—one of the UAE's major developers—agreed to tokenize its assets worth US$1 billion via the MANTRA platform, reinforcing Dubai's ambition to become a global digital assets hub. This aligns with regulatory updates from VARA in May extending tokenisation frameworks to real-world assets, bolstering transparency and operational efficiency. Dubai Land Department and PRYPCO are now preparing to expand PRYPCO Mint's offerings, encouraging investors to register early. Future phases aim to include international participants and onboard additional developers, scaling the initiative beyond its pilot phase. Tokenisation is reshaping Dubai's real estate landscape. By lowering barriers to entry, increasing liquidity, and embedding ownership in blockchain-secured records, Dubai is forging a path toward a digitally enabled property market that caters to both local and global investors. As the platform extends its reach, tokenised offerings may soon become a mainstream vehicle for property investment.