The total holdings of Dubai banks, including assets and investments, are projected to reach AED 2.65 trillion by 2025, marking a 17.3% year-on-year increase of over AED 370 billion compared to AED 2.3 trillion in 2024.
According to the banking indicators report issued by the central bank, the assets of banks in the emirate rose by more than AED 310 billion, increasing from a cumulative total exceeding AED 2 trillion in 2024 to AED 2.3 trillion in 2025.
Dubai banks led the growth of banking investments in the UAE last year, capturing 61% of new banking investments in the country in 2025. They contributed over AED 62 billion in new investments, representing a year-on-year growth of 21.7%, leading to a cumulative balance of AED 348.2 billion by the end of 2025.
A substantial portion of the investments from Dubai banks focused on bonds, totaling AED 211 billion, accounting for the largest share of UAE bank investments in bonds at 57% by the end of December. Additionally, their holdings in securities amounted to AED 99.2 billion, while investments in stocks and other assets reached AED 38 billion. The banks operating in Dubai were at the forefront of banking activities throughout 2025.
Alongside investment growth, Dubai banks also experienced significant increases in deposit volumes, being the most appealing banks for customer deposits and leading in lending activities, having issued the most loans during the past year.
Dubai banks maintained their attractiveness in the local deposit market for 13 consecutive months up until December, capturing 49% of the new banking deposits that entered the country’s banks in 2025.
Throughout the year, they attracted AED 225 billion in new deposits, bringing their total deposit balance to over AED 1.55 trillion by the end of 2025. Notably, they held the largest share of total banking deposits in the UAE at 47% by the end of the previous year.
Deposits
In terms of deposit distribution, Dubai banks held the highest proportion of resident deposits, accounting for 48% of the total, with a value nearing AED 1.44 trillion by the end of 2025.
Moreover, the banks in the emirate also claimed 48% of the new financing extended by banks across the country during the past year, issuing AED 185 billion in new loans to clients in 2025, which increased the total outstanding credit they provided to AED 1.149 trillion by the end of December.
Dubai banks were the largest lenders to the private sector in the country, with a cumulative total of AED 670 billion, representing 45% of all bank financing extended to this sector by the close of the last year.
In terms of private sector financing distribution, Dubai banks were also the largest providers of personal loans, with a cumulative total of AED 270 billion, accounting for 49% of the total bank financing for this category.