CBUAE Assesses Stability of Financial System in UAE
CBUAE published the financial stability report, which assesses the resilience of the financial system and identifies issues in the banking and financial system that require additional support. The report presents a comprehensive assessment of the macro-financial conditions and the banking system in the country, including stress testing, regulatory developments, and other aspects relevant to financial stability. The report also includes valuable contributions and assessments of trends and developments in the payment systems, capital markets, and insurance sector.
According to the report, the UAE banking system remained resilient in 2019, with the ability to withstand the challenging operating environment, as demonstrated by the regulatory stress tests. Capital ratios and liquidity buffers of banks remained adequate and well above the regulatory requirements. The capital adequacy ratio was 16.9% as of the end of March 2020 and the eligible liquid asset ratio was 16.6% as of the end of May 2020. The banking system remained profitable, with improved cost efficiency benefiting from efficiency gains related to recent mergers in the sector. Asset quality, however, represented a challenge with an increase in non-performing loans ratio, although partially mitigated by good provisioning levels. During the year, bank lending continued to grow at a steady rate, although its distribution was not broad-based. Retail lending registered a decline, while credit to certain sectors such as real estate and construction continued to grow, supported by improved affordability due to declining real estate prices.
International exposures of the UAE banking system increased during 2019 underpinned by cross-border acquisitions and diversification in terms of foreign debt securities. The finance companies sector recorded a decline in total assets with profitability and cost-efficiency remaining under pressure in a challenging operating environment. Overall liquidity and capital ratios of the finance companies sector remained adequate and specific provision levels improved, with some notable differences between individual finance companies. The size of the finance companies sector represented only about one percent of the banking system. The year also marked concerted efforts from CBUAE including enhancement of regulatory frameworks regarding corporate governance, anti-money laundering, and the continued implementation of the Basel III capital adequacy standards with further focus on financial technology and cyber risks. The UAE payment systems remained resilient and continued to operate without any major disruptions.
Looking ahead, the COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the outlook for global and domestic activity in 2020 and brought volatility into the financial markets. However, stress tests demonstrate that the UAE banking sector is able to withstand macro-financial shocks of any size. The UAE government and CBUAE have taken a wide range of measures to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic and launched substantial financial programs to help affected individuals and corporates and the economy at large. In addition, the temporary measures introduced by CBUAE include the IFRS 9 guidance, postponement of the implementation of remaining Basel III standards and regulatory stress testing to ease the operational burden on the banks, and prudential filters to neutralize the effects of increased provisioning on capital base of banks. This financial stability report focuses on developments during 2019; therefore, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the banking system are not visible in this report.
Related Links
Keywords: Middle East and Africa, UAE, Banking, Financial Stability Report, Regulatory Capital, Basel, Stress Testing, Credit Risk, IFRS 9, COVID-19, Fintech, Cyber Risk, CBUAE
Featured Experts
María Cañamero
Skilled market researcher; growth strategist; successful go-to-market campaign developer
Nicolas Degruson
Works with financial institutions, regulatory experts, business analysts, product managers, and software engineers to drive regulatory solutions across the globe.
Masha Muzyka
CECL, IFRS 9, and IFRS 17 expert; credit risk and insurance risk specialist; strategic planning and credit analytics solutions consultant
Previous Article
FED Temporarily Revises FR Y-14 With Respect to PPP and CARES ActRelated Articles
BIS and Central Banks Experiment with GenAI to Assess Climate Risks
A recent report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub details Project Gaia, a collaboration between the BIS Innovation Hub Eurosystem Center and certain central banks in Europe
Nearly 25% G-SIBs Commit to Adopting TNFD Nature-Related Disclosures
Nature-related risks are increasing in severity and frequency, affecting businesses, capital providers, financial systems, and economies.
Singapore to Mandate Climate Disclosures from FY2025
Singapore recently took a significant step toward turning climate ambition into action, with the introduction of mandatory climate-related disclosures for listed and large non-listed companies
SEC Finalizes Climate-Related Disclosures Rule
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finalized the long-awaited rule that mandates climate-related disclosures for domestic and foreign publicly listed companies in the U.S.
EBA Proposes Standards Related to Standardized Credit Risk Approach
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been taking significant steps toward implementing the Basel III framework and strengthening the regulatory framework for credit institutions in the EU
US Regulators Release Stress Test Scenarios for Banks
The U.S. regulators recently released baseline and severely adverse scenarios, along with other details, for stress testing the banks in 2024. The relevant U.S. banking regulators are the Federal Reserve Bank (FED), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Asian Governments Aim for Interoperability in AI Governance Frameworks
The regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence (AI), including the generative kind, is evolving rapidly, with governments and regulators aiming to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this transformative technology.
EBA Proposes Operational Risk Standards Under Final Basel III Package
The European Union (EU) has been working on the final elements of Basel III standards, with endorsement of the Banking Package and the publication of the European Banking Authority (EBA) roadmap on Basel III implementation in December 2023.
EFRAG Proposes XBRL Taxonomy and Standard for Listed SMEs Under ESRS
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), which plays a crucial role in shaping corporate reporting standards in European Union (EU), is seeking comments, until May 21, 2024, on the Exposure Draft ESRS for listed SMEs.
ECB to Expand Climate Change Work in 2024-2025
Banking regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on addressing, monitoring, and supervising the institutions' exposure to climate and environmental risks.