MoF and IMF review UAE's fiscal outlook, public finance priorities

ABU DHABI: The Ministry of Finance (MoF) welcomed a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to its headquarters in Abu Dhabi as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation and discuss the UAE's latest fiscal developments and policy priorities.

The meeting was attended by Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, while the IMF delegation was led by Saeed Bakash, Head of the IMF Mission to the UAE, alongside a number of experts and specialists from both sides.

The meeting featured a comprehensive review of the UAE's fiscal performance, recent developments in government fiscal policies and priorities for the next phase, as well as an assessment of the country's fiscal results for 2025 and the first half of 2026. Discussions also covered medium-term fiscal frameworks and financial risk management mechanisms.

The two sides also held in-depth technical discussions on the implications of recent fiscal developments for the UAE's state budget, capacity development priorities and technical assistance, while reviewing public debt developments, future sovereign issuance plans, and the evolution of the domestic capital markets, together with opportunities to further deepen and develop them in the period ahead.

Speaking during the meeting, Younis Haji AlKhoori said: "Guided by the UAE's forward-looking leadership, the Ministry of Finance continues to make steady progress in consolidating a sustainable fiscal model built on resilience, efficient resource management and diversified government revenues. Our regular engagements with the International Monetary Fund reaffirm the Ministry's commitment to adopting international best practices and globally recognised standards in fiscal governance, while continuously strengthening fiscal policies and tax systems that reinforce financial stability and safeguard the sustainability of public resources for future generations. This commitment is particularly important amid an increasingly dynamic global environment and emerging risks that call for close coordination and prudent public finance management."

He added: "The UAE's strong fiscal performance and financial results achieved throughout 2025 and the first half of 2026 reflect the effectiveness of our public finance management strategies, our ability to anticipate potential challenges and respond to them efficiently. Looking ahead, we remain committed to advancing initiatives and policies that support the objectives of the 2026 Federal Budget, with a particular focus on strengthening risk management frameworks and developing innovative public debt management strategies that support the Ministry's broader development objectives."

Meanwhile last month the Ministry of Finance (MoF), in collaboration with a technical mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), hosted a specialised workshop in Dubai on Government Finance Statistics (GFS) and Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS).

This joint initiative aims to reinforce institutional and technical capabilities in compiling and disseminating government financial data in line with international standards, while supporting the UAE’s efforts to advance its financial statistics system, enhance data quality, and promote greater integration across key macroeconomic statistics.

Saeed Rashid Al Yateem, Assistant Under-Secretary for Government Budget and Revenue Sector at the Ministry of Finance, affirmed that organising the workshop reflects the Ministry’s commitment to advancing the government financial data ecosystem and enhancing its ability to provide accurate and reliable data that supports financial planning and informed decision-making.

He noted that these efforts are aligned with the UAE’s vision to promote global best practices in public financial management.

“Government Finance Statistics and Public Sector Debt Statistics serve as twin pillars for strengthening fiscal transparency, improving the efficiency of government reporting, and offering a holistic view of public sector financial performance,” Al Yateem said. “Investing in these areas is crucial to promoting fiscal sustainability and enhancing the country’s readiness to navigate evolving economic dynamics with efficiency and resilience.” He added that the Ministry’s collaboration with the IMF reflects its commitment to leveraging international technical expertise and enhancing data compilation and dissemination practices in line with recognised standards. It also supports stronger institutional coordination among relevant entities. Together, these efforts help improve data quality and ensure greater consistency between financial statistics and other macroeconomic datasets.

The workshop featured an in-depth exploration of the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014), including its objectives, analytical tables, institutional coverage, and government financial reporting concepts. Participants also reviewed key concepts related to Public Sector Debt Statistics, including debt instruments, sectoral classification, valuation principles, and the public sector debt reporting framework.

The workshop further examined data dissemination standards and fiscal transparency requirements, including the Enhanced General Data Dissemination System (e-GDDS), the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS), as well as data dissemination practices, metadata requirements, periodicity standards, and broader fiscal transparency principles.

Discussions also extended to the relationship between various macroeconomic statistics and the importance of ensuring coherence and consistency across Government Finance Statistics, Public Sector Debt Statistics, national accounts, balance of payments statistics, monetary and financial statistics, and other macroeconomic datasets. These discussions support the development of an integrated financial and economic data ecosystem.

The workshop also featured practical sessions reviewing the key findings and recommendations of the IMF technical mission, alongside discussions on data challenges and gaps, reconciliation issues, and proposed technical measures arising from the mission.

The deliberations further addressed the enhancement of practices related to the compilation of Government Finance Statistics and Public Sector Debt Statistics, improving data coverage and quality, and strengthening institutional coordination mechanisms among relevant stakeholders.

This supports the implementation of a clear roadmap for the continued development of government financial data compilation.

Agencies