CBUAE Governor Articulates UAE’s Economic Resilience at IMF Regional Summit
Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, delivered the nation's keynote address at the prestigious MENAP gathering in Bangkok, underscoring the UAE's exceptional economic fortitude and forward-looking growth trajectory.
The Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region witnessed a compelling articulation of economic strategy as Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE and the nation’s Governor at the International Monetary Fund, addressed the distinguished assembly of Central Bank Governors and Finance Ministers at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand. The occasion brought together regional leadership in the presence of Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF.
Governor Balama’s discourse centred upon the contemporary global economic landscape, characterised by a constellation of interconnected challenges that perpetually test the resilience of economies and financial systems across the world. He articulated a compelling thesis: that regional economic experiences conclusively demonstrate that genuine resilience emerges fundamentally from the alacrity with which economies respond to shifting conditions, coupled with their capacity to adapt to evolving circumstances whilst simultaneously cultivating robust financial buffers through proactive stewardship.
The Governor illuminated the UAE’s distinctive position as an exemplary model of structural resilience, a distinction rooted in the nation’s accomplished economic diversification, the implementation of judicious policy frameworks and a steadfast commitment to investing in human capital and technological advancement. He underscored that the UAE economy has demonstrated exceptional robustness, fortified by considerable fiscal buffers, remarkably modest levels of public debt and substantial sovereign assets that constitute powerful reinforcements to investor confidence and market stability, even amidst persistent regional challenges and elevated global uncertainty.
Regarding the nation’s economic trajectory, Governor Balama articulated an optimistic outlook, noting that GDP growth is anticipated to accelerate to approximately 10% in 2027. This encouraging projection is underpinned by the expeditious expansion of non-oil economic activities, continuous investment in ambitious infrastructure initiatives and augmented production capacity within the oil sector following the UAE’s strategic withdrawal from OPEC.
In his concluding remarks, Governor Balama acknowledged that risks to global economic prosperity remain elevated amid ongoing regional geopolitical tensions, thereby emphasising the imperative of fortifying international cooperation frameworks to preserve global growth prospects and mitigate inflationary pressures. He conveyed the UAE’s profound appreciation for the instrumental role undertaken by the International Monetary Fund in championing economic stability and facilitating sustainable growth throughout the region.
Source: WAM