The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates recorded a sharp increase in its gold reserves during 2025, underscoring a strategic shift toward strengthening reserve assets and enhancing financial resilience.
Gold holdings rose by 64.93% year-on-year, reaching AED 37.902 billion at the end of December 2025, compared with AED 22.981 billion at the end of December 2024—an increase of AED 14.921 billion—according to the Central Bank’s latest monthly statistical bulletin.
On a monthly basis, gold reserves grew by 1.64% in December 2025, up from AED 37.291 billion at the end of November.
The data also showed significant growth in banking sector deposits. Demand deposits exceeded AED 1.264 trillion at the end of December 2025, compared with approximately AED 1.109 trillion a year earlier. Of the total, around AED 940 billion were denominated in local currency, while AED 324 billion were in foreign currencies.
Savings deposits rose to AED 400.51 billion at the end of December 2025, up from AED 317.488 billion in December 2024. These were distributed between AED 341.311 billion in local currency and AED 59.2 billion in foreign currencies.
Time deposits also posted strong growth, surpassing AED 1.165 trillion at the end of December 2025, compared with AED 945.78 billion a year earlier. Of this amount, AED 751.448 billion were in local currency and AED 414.161 billion in foreign currencies.
Overall, the figures reflect expanding liquidity in the banking system alongside a notable strengthening of gold holdings as a key strategic reserve asset.
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