
UAE Gold Reserves Climb 7% in January as Bank Deposits and Reserves Strengthen
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) reported a robust start to 2025, with gold reserves rising by 7% in January to reach AED24.571 billion—up AED1.59 billion from AED22.981 billion in December 2024.
According to the CBUAE's Monthly Statistical Bulletin for January, released today, the country's financial indicators showed steady growth across key deposit categories and net international reserves.
Demand deposits crossed the AED1 trillion mark, increasing to over AED1.116 trillion at the end of January from AED1.109 trillion the previous month. Of this, AED834.9 billion was held in local currency and AED281.5 billion in foreign currencies, reflecting continued confidence in the banking system.
Savings deposits also saw a modest rise, reaching AED322.281 billion compared to AED317.48 billion in December. Local currency accounted for approximately AED270.79 billion, while foreign currency savings totaled AED51.48 billion.
Fixed-term deposits stood at AED926.22 billion at the end of January, with AED552.47 billion in dirhams and AED373.74 billion in foreign currencies, highlighting a strong mix of domestic and international holdings.
The report also noted a rise in the UAE banking sector's net international reserves, which climbed to AED1.466 trillion in January—an increase of AED20 billion from AED1.446 trillion in December.
These figures underscore the resilience and stability of the UAE's financial sector amid global economic uncertainties, reinforcing investor confidence and strengthening the country's monetary position.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
Hashtags

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


Fintech News ME
2 days ago
- Fintech News ME
AED 2 Billion in Open Finance Payments Tracked in UAE
Lean Technologies, a financial infrastructure provider in MENA has published a comprehensive whitepaper detailing how Open Finance is redefining payments in the UAE. Titled The Dawn of Open Finance – Payments, the report serves as a reference for fintech companies, digital platforms, financial institutions and policymakers seeking to understand how regulatory frameworks and new technologies are coming together to reshape payment systems in the country. The whitepaper outlines the foundational components of Open Finance in the UAE, with a particular focus on payments. It explains how account-to-account payments are becoming a viable alternative to traditional card-based transactions, supported by regulatory infrastructure developed by the Central Bank of the UAE. These payments are initiated and authorised through licensed third party providers using regulated APIs, enabling users to make real-time transfers directly from their bank accounts. Key elements of the UAE's Open Finance model include AlTareq, a centralised user interface standard that ensures a consistent payment experience, and Aani, the country's national real-time payments rail. Together, these initiatives enable faster, more secure, and more transparent transactions for both consumers and businesses. The whitepaper also breaks down various payment types enabled through Open Finance, such as single instant payments, future-dated payments, fixed and variable recurring payments, and bulk or batch disbursements. Each type is accompanied by a consent model that specifies transaction limits, authorisation timeframes, and access controls, providing users with full visibility and control. A comparison with other payment methods highlights the practical benefits of Open Finance, including lower transaction fees for merchants, reduced fraud risks, and near-instant settlement through domestic rails. In contrast to cards or manual bank transfers, Open Finance offers embedded experiences within apps or platforms, eliminating the need for manual data entry or external redirection. The paper also outlines the governance framework behind Open Finance in the UAE, including the role of consent as a mandatory, standardised element across all services. It provides a detailed view of how users authenticate, authorise, and manage their payment permissions, with features such as multi-factor authentication, real-time notifications, and revocation controls. Lean, which is licensed as a third party provider in the UAE, developed the paper based on its operational experience supporting Open Finance across the region. The company states that while systems like Aani provide the payment infrastructure, businesses often require additional layers of integration and support. Lean's role, the paper notes, is to bridge that gap by offering developer-friendly APIs, unified bank connectivity, and real-time payment orchestration. With integrations across more than 16 banks, covering 99 per cent of the UAE's banked population, Lean reports that its technology is currently in use by platforms such as Careem, e&, DAMAC and Lulu Money. The company says the whitepaper reflects both the current state of Open Finance and the opportunities that lie ahead as adoption increases.


Hi Dubai
3 days ago
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Businesses Embrace ESG as Awareness and Adoption Rise in 2025
A new survey by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce reveals a sharp rise in awareness and implementation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices among companies in the emirate, marking a shift towards more responsible and sustainable business operations. Conducted by the Centre for Responsible Business, the 2025 ESG Pulse Survey found that 72 percent of participating companies are familiar with ESG standards, and half are actively adopting ESG-related initiatives. The findings reflect growing momentum among Dubai's business community to align with global sustainability standards. Corporate values and institutional goals were cited as the main drivers behind ESG implementation, followed by regulatory compliance and the desire to enhance reputation and competitiveness. Large companies led the way in adoption, with 87 percent confirming active ESG initiatives. Multinational corporations followed closely at 83 percent, while 46 percent of SMEs reported similar efforts. Among sectors, professional, scientific, and technical activities topped the list, with 55 percent of firms implementing ESG initiatives. The insurance, financial services, and real estate sector followed at 52 percent, with the transport and storage sector at 50 percent. On the environmental front, waste management emerged as the top initiative, followed by efforts to reduce pollution, address climate change, and promote sustainable procurement. Social initiatives focused primarily on transparency and communication, while governance priorities included ethics, compliance, leadership, and risk management. The survey also highlighted growing circular economy practices, with businesses adopting advanced recycling, collaborating with external stakeholders, and developing sustainable products. The findings signal a notable shift in how companies across Dubai are aligning with ESG standards—driven not only by regulation but also by a broader commitment to long-term value and responsible growth. News Source: Emirates News Agency


Fintech News ME
3 days ago
- Fintech News ME
UAE Central Bank Fines Six Exchange Houses AED 12.3 Million Over AML Breaches
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has imposed financial penalties totalling AED 12.3 million on six exchange houses operating in the country. These sanctions were issued in accordance with Article (14) of Federal Decree Law No. (20) of 2018 concerning Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), and the financing of illegal organisations, along with its subsequent amendments. The penalties followed thorough inspections by the CBUAE, which uncovered multiple breaches of the UAE's AML/CFT regulations. These included failures to adhere to the established compliance framework and related regulatory obligations. While the central bank confirmed that six exchange houses were penalised, it did not disclose their names. As part of its supervisory and regulatory responsibilities, the CBUAE remains committed to ensuring that all licensed exchange houses, along with their proprietors and staff, fully comply with UAE laws and the standards set by the central bank. These efforts aim to uphold the transparency and integrity of financial transactions and protect the broader financial system of the UAE.