Who Runs Dominican Republic’s Economy in 2026

In 2026, the Dominican Republic's economy is primarily run by a limited group of influential players. These include a small state apparatus, three major banks, a few prominent business families, and foreign firms active in sectors such as gold, factories, and resorts. In 2025, the country's output amounted to approximately US$127.9 billion, as reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

American tourists, their wages sent back to the US, and American factory orders play a crucial role in sustaining the Dominican economy.

This guide, based on information available as of October 2026, maps out the key stakeholders involved in the Dominican economy. It covers policymakers, banks, state-owned companies, prominent family groups, and the local stock market. The guide also examines the four primary drivers of the Dominican economy's income generation: free zones, tourism, remittances, and mining.

As of October 2026, President Luis Abinader leads the government. He is a member of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), a social-democratic party that has been in power since August 2020. Abinader was re-elected in May 2024 and is barred from seeking a third term in office by the constitution, which is set to expire in 2028. Economic policy flows through a chain of key offices, with their respective holders confirmed in office from August to October 2026.

A crucial aspect to understand for foreign investors is the intertwined nature of the state and business sectors in the Dominican Republic. Three banks dominate the financial system, with their assets reaching RD$4.52 trillion (about US$73.1 billion) in August 2026, an increase of 9.1% from the previous year. The banking regulator, Superintendencia de Bancos, reported these figures, which ranked Banister Banca Dominicana (BHD) as the largest lender, three times the size of the fourth-ranked bank.

The gap between the top three banks is substantial, making credit decisions for most Dominican firms concentrated in a few boardrooms.

In the energy sector, the government holds a significant stake, having acquired full ownership of Refinería Dominicana de Petróleo (Refidomsa) in August 2021, following the sale of the Venezuelan PDVSA's stake. The state also owns Punta Catalina coal-fired power station and the three electricity distributors, Edesur, Edenorte, and Edeeste.

Some firms are jointly owned, such as EGE Haina, a power generator that is 50% public and 50% private, with the private half owned by Haina Investment Co. since 1999. The company reported more than US$1.05 billion in assets and operates 224.5 megawatts of wind and 351.5 megawatts of solar capacity.

The corporate landscape in the Dominican Republic is dominated by family-owned businesses, which do not typically disclose full financial accounts. The companies listed below were sourced from their respective corporate websites. The Santo Domingo stock exchange, Bolsa y Mercados de Valores de la República Dominicana (BVRD), primarily handles bond issuances, with a focus on fixed-income borrowers rather than equity shares.

The exchange is overseen by the Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores (SIMV). Major issuers include the major banks (Banreservas, Popular, and BHD), savings associations (APAP and Asociación Cibao), and power companies such as Consorcio Energético Punta Cana-Macao, Dominican Power Partners, EGE Itabo, ENADOM, and Haina Investment Co.

The industrial sector is represented by companies like Acero Estrella and Ingeniería Estrella, the mining firm Consorcio Minero Dominicano, and the fuel supplier Gulfstream Petroleum Services. US investors can gain indirect exposure to the Dominican economy through foreign-listed mining companies such as Barrick, Newmont, and AB InBev.