ABU DHABI- Banking sector loan growth in the United Arab Emirates will be around 5 to 6 percent in 2018, a similar level to 2017, Abdulaziz al-Ghurair, chairman of the UAE Banks Federation, told Reuters in an interview.

Loan growth would be faster in the corporate banking sector, with expansion in the retail segment "flattish" as a result of high costs, al-Ghurair said.



(Reporting by Tom Arnold; editing by Jason Neely) ((Tom.Arnold@thomsonreuters.com; +97144536265; Reuters Messaging: tom.arnold.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)