The Central Bank of the UAE and Turkey have renewed their bilateral currency swap agreement and signed new memorandums to enhance cross-border trade, digital payment systems, and financial stability, signalling deeper economic integration and strategic partnership.
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) have officially renewed their bilateral currency swap agreement, which involves the UAE dirham (AED) and the Turkish lira (TRY). This move is aimed at strengthening their financial cooperation and making cross-border transactions smoother. The renewed deal, reported to be worth AED 18 billion (roughly $4.9 billion) and 198 billion TRY, is mainly designed to boost liquidity in both currencies and help settle trade and financial dealings between the two nations more effectively.
But, honestly, this cooperation isn’t just about the swap itself. The two central banks also signed two new memorandums of understanding (MoUs). These agreements are meant to deepen their financial ties. The first MoU encourages using the dirham and lira more extensively in cross-border trade, currency markets, and remittance flows. The idea is that by doing so, they can drive more investment and stability—creating a more flexible currency exchange environment. This agreement also aims to expand local currency settlements to include current accounts and capital transactions, along with promoting the exchange of knowledge and mutual cooperation to reach their economic goals.
The second MoU targets improving payment systems integration — linking the UAE’s instant payment platform, “Anee,” with Turkey’s “Fast” system. By integrating these platforms, they hope to make cross-border transactions, whether payments or messaging, faster and more efficient. It’s also about promoting digital and fintech solutions for payments, which is pretty crucial right now. They’re also collaborating on central bank digital currency platforms to promote seamless digital transactions across borders, all while adhering to regulatory standards in both countries.
Khaled Mohamed Balama, who heads CBUAE, pointed out that these agreements showcase a clear mutual dedication to elevating strategic partnerships, especially in technology and digital finance areas. This should help reduce costs and cut down transaction times, all while boosting trade and currency market activity. His counterpart at CBRT, Dr. Fatih Karahan, highlighted that these agreements are a catalyst for further bilateral trade and investments. He sees it as a groundwork for sharing expertise and pushing forward financial innovation, which could truly benefit both economies.
Now, the currency swap itself is pretty important, especially for Turkey. The country has been dealing with currency volatility and reserve shortages lately, largely due to economic pressures. By supporting Turkish lira liquidity with the stable dirham, the arrangement acts as a buffer for Turkey’s financial system. Plus, it encourages more commercial activity between the two nations. Interestingly enough, this also signals an improvement in the political and economic relations between Turkey and the UAE—who, in the past, experienced some tension over regional issues.
The agreement is set to last for three years, with provisions in place for it to be extended if both sides agree. That’s a sign of a solid, long-term commitment to working together financially. This renewed pact is not just about addressing immediate liquidity needs but also aims at developing infrastructure—like payment systems and promoting currency use—that aligns with the larger goal of bolstering regional economic ties and advancing fintech innovations.
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In summary, these developments really point to a strengthening of economic bonds and a move toward more digital financial integration between Turkey and the UAE. Pretty significant, don’t you think?
Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.aletihad.ae/news/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A/4610451/-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%B2%D9%8A--%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B9-%D9%85%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%8A - Please view link - unable to able to access data
- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/uae-turkey-cenbanks-sign-49-bln-currency-swap-deal-2025-10-02/ - On October 2, 2025, the central banks of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey signed a bilateral currency swap agreement valued at 18 billion UAE dirhams ($4.9 billion) and 198 billion Turkish lira. This agreement aims to enhance local currency liquidity in financial markets and streamline the settlement of commercial and financial transactions between the two countries. Additionally, two memorandums of understanding were signed to promote the use of local currencies in cross-border dealings and to integrate payment and messaging systems. The exchange rates at the time were $1 = 3.6728 UAE dirham and $1 = 41.6076 Turkish lira.
- https://www.turkiyetoday.com/business/turkiye-uae-central-banks-sign-49b-swap-deal-to-boost-trade-3207878 - On October 2, 2025, the central banks of Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed three agreements, including a $4.9 billion currency swap deal, to deepen financial cooperation and enhance trade and economic relations between the two countries. The agreements include a bilateral currency swap agreement between the Turkish lira and the UAE dirham, along with two memorandums of understanding: one to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions, and another to interlink their payment and messaging systems. The swap agreement is for 198 billion Turkish liras ($4.7 billion) and 18 billion UAE dirhams ($4.9 billion), mutually.
- https://gulfnews.com/business/banking/central-banks-of-uae-turkey-sign-currency-swap-agreement-1.85059687 - The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) announced the establishment of a bilateral currency swap agreement between the UAE dirham (AED) and the Turkish lira (TRY). The nominal size of this swap agreement is mutually AED 18 billion and TRY 64 billion. The agreement, which is designed to promote bilateral trade with the aim of further strengthening financial cooperation between the two countries, will stand for a period of three years, with the possibility of an extension through mutual agreement. The agreement was signed by Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE and Prof. Şahap Kavcıoğlu, Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey.
- https://gulftime.ae/uae-turkey-sign-fx-swap-deal-worth-5b/ - The central bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) and the central bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) announced the establishment of a bilateral currency swap agreement between the UAE dirham (AED) and the Turkish lira (TRY). The nominal size of this swap agreement is mutually AED 18 billion ($4.90 billion) and TRY 64 billion. The agreement, which is designed to promote bilateral trade with the aim of further strengthening financial cooperation between the two countries, will stand for a period of three years, with the possibility of an extension through mutual agreement. The agreement was signed by Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, and Prof. Şahap Kavcıoğlu, Governor of CBRT.
- https://apnews.com/article/business-europe-turkey-middle-east-ankara-3e804be673b79500f4099e6acb7febf9 - Under the agreement reached between their central banks, Turkey and the UAE agreed to swap 65 billion Turkish lira and 18 billion UAE dirham for a period of three years, with the possibility of extending the deal further. The agreement aims to help Turkey’s reserves following a series of interventions by the central bank, which sold foreign currency to prop up the lira amid a currency crisis. It comes as Turkey and the UAE have taken steps to improve relations following years of tensions. Turkey and the UAE found themselves on opposing sides of regional conflicts, including a proxy conflict in Libya and disputes in the Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean.
- https://www.tcmb.gov.tr/wps/wcm/connect/EN/TCMB%20EN/Main%20Menu/Announcements/Press%20Releases/2022/ANO2022-04 - The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) announced the establishment of a Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement between the UAE Dirham (AED) and the Turkish lira (TRY). The nominal size of this Swap Agreement is mutually AED 18 billion and TRY 64 billion. The agreement, which is designed to promote bilateral trade with the aim of further strengthening financial cooperation between the two countries, will stand for a period of three years, with the possibility of an extension through mutual agreement. The Agreement was signed by H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE and H.E. Prof. Şahap Kavcıoğlu, Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 10
Notes: ✅ The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being October 2, 2025. The UAE and Turkey's central banks signed a bilateral currency swap agreement on this date, as reported by Reuters. (reuters.com)
Quotes check
Score: 10
Notes: ✅ No direct quotes are present in the provided text, indicating original content.
Source reliability
Score: 10
Notes: ✅ The narrative originates from reputable sources, including Reuters and Daily Sabah, enhancing its credibility. (reuters.com)
Plausability check
Score: 10
Notes: ✅ The claims are plausible and consistent with recent developments. The UAE and Turkey have a history of currency swap agreements, with the most recent being in January 2022. (thenationalnews.com) The current agreement aims to strengthen financial cooperation and bilateral trade, aligning with both countries' economic interests.
Overall assessment
Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary: ✅ The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from reputable outlets, with claims that are plausible and consistent with recent developments. The UAE and Turkey's central banks have renewed their currency swap agreement, aiming to enhance financial cooperation and bilateral trade. (reuters.com)