General Budget Committee discusses draft budget for fiscal year 2026

emirates7 - The General Budget Committee recently convened its 13th meeting to review the UAE’s draft general budget for the fiscal year 2026.

The session took place at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi and was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court; H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance; and H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Also in attendance were Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Khaled Mohamed Balama Al Tameemi, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), along with representatives from the Presidential Court and the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting focused on several key topics, notably the draft federal budget for 2026, which is part of the broader financial plan covering the years 2022 to 2026. The discussions were informed by the Ministry of Finance’s coordination with federal entities to ensure the budget reflects current local and global economic trends.

The committee confirmed that all steps in the budget preparation process were carried out in compliance with the Federal Decree-Law No. (26) of 2019 on Public Finance, including its amendments, as well as the applicable decisions and recommendations.

The committee instructed that the remaining steps required for finalising the 2026 federal budget be completed so it can be submitted to the UAE Cabinet. It also assessed the budget proposals presented by various federal bodies for the upcoming fiscal year.

In addition, the financial performance for 2025 was reviewed, including cash flow data from the first half of the year and financial projections for 2026. These forecasts were based on revised revenue expectations and spending plans provided by federal entities, which reflect ongoing recovery in key sectors and strong national economic indicators.

The committee recommended appropriate actions based on these findings and praised the Ministry of Finance for its efforts in updating the 2026 draft budget and maintaining effective coordination with federal entities throughout the process.