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29 March 2024

‘UAE banks have proved resilient'

Published
By Wam

The UAE banking sector has proved its ability to deal with challenges and has succeeded in managing and surviving all crises, and had been able to meet international standards at all levels by adopting the latest techniques, AbdulAziz Abdulla Al Ghurair, Chairman of UAE Banks Federation, said.

 Al Ghurair told the ordinary annual general assembly meeting of the federation: "The role of UAE Banks Federation is in developing cooperation between the banks, representing their interests and improving the employee skills to provide the best services to customers with a high level of transparency, and contributing to social responsibility and economic development.”

During the meeting, major topics on the agenda were discussed and reviewed, which included approving the minutes of last year general meeting held on April 4, 2012, and approving the financial statements, auditors' report for 2012, estimated budget for 2013, and election of the current board of directors for the next three years.

UAE Banks Federation approved the annual report of 2012 which shows the major achievements and the significant role the federation has played in different areas such as "Mortgage Loans Cap", "Liquidity Regulation at Banks", "Monitoring of Large Exposure Limits", establishment of "Al Etihad Credit Bureau", the initiative of proposing rules for "Appointment of Legal Banking Experts" and setting up "Specialised Commercial Courts".

The annual report emphasised the good performance of UAE banks and the apparent growth almost in all indicators, reflected in achieving comfortable liquidity level, a strong capital base and a high capital adequacy ratio, where the UAE banking sector remains the largest in the Arab world in terms of assets.

The number of national banks remained 23 by the end of 2012. However, their branches rose up to 805 in 2012, compared to 768 branches in 2011.

Meanwhile, branches of the 28 foreign banks operating in the local market rose to 83 by the end of 2012.

The general assembly meeting ended by ratifying of the UAE Banks Federation Business Plan for 2013 which was approved by the board of directors during their meeting early this month, aiming to boost cooperation with the UAE Central Bank, Ministries and other government entities on all issues related to the banking sector and develop cooperation among member banks.