Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has been named 'Risk Manager of the Year 2026' at the Central Banking Awards, a global recognition presented by the UK-based Central Banking publication.
The award recognises central banks that demonstrate excellence in risk management and adopt world-class methodological practices. The recognition highlights the CBUAE’s efforts to advance operational risk management through a forward-looking, artificial intelligence-enabled ecosystem.
According to the announcement, the CBUAE has integrated artificial intelligence with a robust Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) framework to create a comprehensive view of risk flows across its operations. This approach has enabled the central bank to move from traditional risk assessment models to a more proactive system that identifies potential risks across its value chain.
A key element of this transformation is the deployment of an in-house AI Risk Agent, which has significantly reduced the time required for manual risk identification and enabled early detection of complex or “compound” risks at critical stages of operational processes. These capabilities are now embedded within the CBUAE’s five-year strategy under the principle of “Resilience by Design.”
The award’s judging committee praised the central bank’s unified and comprehensive approach to risk management, describing it as an “inspiring model” for global peers. The committee noted that while many institutions pursue incremental improvements, the CBUAE has adopted a more integrated approach that provides a single, organisation-wide view of risks and has already delivered tangible results.
The awards will be officially presented during the Central Banking meetings in London in June 2026.
Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, said the international recognition reflects the support of the UAE leadership and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Chairman of the Presidential Court and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CBUAE, to position the central bank as a global benchmark in financial and regulatory excellence.
“We have succeeded in establishing an advanced regulatory ecosystem that integrates digital innovation with robust methodologies,” Balama said. “Embedding Artificial Intelligence into the core of our operational risk management has enabled us to enhance our capabilities and transition toward proactive supervision in the face of global financial shifts and emerging risks.”
He added that the central bank aims not only to uphold the highest international standards but also to contribute to shaping future global regulatory practices in support of monetary and financial stability.
