The Central Bank of the UAE has approved a sweeping financial support package as the ongoing regional conflict continues to weigh on economic activity, with at least one major lender already announcing concrete relief programs for borrowers.
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank has launched its “Sanadna” initiative, offering payment deferrals and financial assistance to select customers. According to the Khaleej Times, SMEs under the scheme can request instalment deferrals of 30 to 60 days between April and June 2026, while frontline personnel — including members of the UAE Armed Forces, police, and civil defence — are eligible for up to three months’ deferment on personal and auto finance instalments at no extra cost.
The bank-level measures follow a broader regulatory move by the central bank. According to Gulf News, the CBUAE board — chaired by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan — approved a five-pillar Financial Institution Resilience Package backed by the central bank’s foreign exchange reserves of more than Dh1 trillion. The package grants banks expanded access to reserve balances of up to 30 percent of their cash reserve requirements, alongside term liquidity facilities in both dirhams and US dollars.
One of the package’s most significant provisions concerns borrowers directly. According to The National, the credit risk management pillar gives banks the flexibility to postpone the classification of individual and corporate loans for customers affected by the crisis. Banks have also been directed to continue providing financing services to support customers and the national economy.
Importantly, the relief is not automatic. According to legal and financial advisory firm Rubert & Partners, there are no blanket payment holidays or mandatory restructuring schemes under the current framework — banks are expected to assess each case individually and work with affected clients where appropriate. Borrowers remain responsible for repayment unless alternative arrangements are formally agreed upon.
For the UAE’s large Filipino community, many of whom carry personal loans alongside remittance obligations, the practical path to relief runs through their individual banks. Financial advisers consistently recommend that borrowers facing difficulty make contact with their lender early, as eligibility typically depends on documentation and individual financial circumstances.
Sheikh Mansour, in remarks reported by IBS Intelligence, said the central bank’s regulatory frameworks have “consistently demonstrated their effectiveness in promoting the resilience and preparedness of the financial and banking sector, while ensuring monetary and financial stability.”
