Financial transactions in the UAE’s banking sector surpassed AED9.5 trillion during the first five months of 2025, according to official data released by the Central Bank of the UAE. The figures reflect strong transactional volumes through the UAE Funds Transfer System (UAEFTS), highlighting stable financial activity across the banking landscape. The total value of transactions conducted via UAEFTS reached AED9.528 trillion between January and May.
Of this, transfers carried out by banks amounted to AED5.963 trillion. Monthly breakdowns showed AED1.1 trillion in January, AED983.99 billion in February, AED1.238 trillion in March, AED1.273 trillion in April, and AED1.089 trillion in May. Customer transfers totaled AED3.834 trillion for the same period. The value of customer-initiated transactions was AED677.65 billion in January, AED649.48 billion in February, AED791.313 billion in March, AED879.94 billion in April, and AED836.157 billion in May.
Cheque clearing activity remained steady. The total value of cheques cleared using image-based processing reached AED603.161 billion during the first five months of the year, with nearly 9.6 million cheques processed. In May, cheque clearing volumes reached AED131.49 billion across more than 2 million cheques. The Central Bank also reported cash operations for the period. Cash withdrawals from the Central Bank totaled AED99.791 billion, while cash deposits stood at AED83.9 billion. These figures indicate regular demand for physical currency alongside digital transactions.
Central Bank reports strong liquidity movement
Bank investments showed consistent growth during the period. By the end of May, total investments held by banks stood at AED788 billion, marking a 1.8 percent increase from AED774.3 billion in April. Compared to the end of December 2024, when bank investments were valued at AED734.8 billion, the sector recorded a 7.2 percent increase over five months. Previous data released by the Central Bank indicated that total UAEFTS transactions during the first quarter of 2025 reached AED5.449 trillion.
This included AED3.331 trillion in interbank transfers and AED2.118 trillion in customer transfers. Cheques cleared through image systems in the first quarter were valued at AED351.359 billion, involving approximately 5.615 million cheques. The cumulative data points to continued growth and efficiency in the UAE’s banking operations. The combination of high-value transfers, stable cheque processing, sustained cash movement, and increasing investments reflects an active and resilient financial sector through the first half of the year. – By Content Syndication Services.