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Mon, Nov 17, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 27, 1447 | Fajr 05:17 | DXB 
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UAE Cabinet approves largest-ever federal budget for 2026
'Our budgets are balanced, our investments are increasing, our foreign trade is accelerating, and our economy is growing,' Sheikh Mohammed said
The UAE Cabinet has approved the annual budget for 2026, with estimated revenues amounting to 92.4 billion dirhams, along with similar and balanced expenditures.
The 2026 Federal budget is the highest since the establishment of the Federation, announced Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. Next year's budget marks a 29 per cent growth in projected revenues and expenditures compared to this year.
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The Cabinet also approved 35 international agreements and memoranda in the fields of economy and cooperation.
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The budget is distributed across several key sectors; here is the breakdown:
Dh34.6 billion (37 percent): Social development and pensions
Dh27.1 billion (29 per cent): Government affairs
Dh15.4 billion (17 per cent): Financial investments
Dh12.7 billion (14 per cent): Federal expenses
Dh2.6 billion (3 per cent): Infrastructure and economic development sector
"Our budgets are balanced, our investments are increasing, our foreign trade is accelerating, and our economy is growing," the UAE Vice-President said. The UAE stands as the "first in the Arab world and among the top 20 global economies exporting direct foreign investment," Sheikh Mohammed said.
The country's cumulative balance of outbound FDI reached Dh1.05 trillion in 2024, with a growth of 9 per cent compared to 2023. Outbound FDI flows from the UAE to global markets totalled Dh86 billion, marking a 4.8 per cent increase from 2023.
The UAE ranked among the world’s top 20 outbound investors, ranked first in the Arab world, scoring 38.4 per cent of total Arab outbound flows, first in West Asia by 35.1 per cent of total regional flows, and first in the Middle East and North Africa region by 35 per cent of total regional flows.
Over five years, from 2019 to 2024, the implementation of UAE export development policy led to a jump of 103 per cent from Dh470 billion to Dh952.6 billion.
Non-oil exports reached Dh139.3 billion in 2024, compared to Dh40 billion in 2019, marking a 247 per cent growth. Meanwhile, total imports reached Dh666.5 billion last year, compared to Dh308 billion in 2019, recording a 115 per cent increase.
Poojaraj Maniyeri
Poojaraj Maniyeri is a Digital Journalist who loves turning everyday conversations into news stories. She is also a typical bookworm, and brings a novel with her everywhere she goes.
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