Top List of Banks in UAE
The UAE is a place where you can feel like you’re in a different world. It’s an expanse of sand, sea and sky with a burgeoning population to match its size. With Dubai as the country’s economic hub, there’s never been more opportunity for entrepreneurs than now. And while it has its currency, the dirham, UAE residents have access to all the latest banking innovations, including desktop and mobile apps, contactless cards and ATMs. Read on to find out the top banks in UAE.
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the UAE's largest bank and one of the world's largest institutions. It was formed by the First Gulf Bank and National Bank of Abu Dhabi merger. FAB offers complete banking services through its extensive 120 branch network in the UAE and international offices in China, India, Singapore, Switzerland, and the UK.
Total assets: Dhs 1 trillion
Employees: 2,544
Services offered: retail banking; corporate banking; wealth management; treasury; financial markets; correspondent banking; trade finance.
Emirates NBD
Emirates NBD is one of the largest banking groups in the Middle East in terms of assets. The Group has a leading retail banking franchise in the UAE and is a significant player in the corporate banking arena. It also has solid Islamic Banking, Global Markets & Treasury, Investment Banking, Private Banking, Asset Management, and Brokerage operations.
Total Assets: 218.8 billion USD
Employees: 14,000
Branches: 900
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is a bank in the United Arab Emirates. It was formed in 1985 when the Emirate of Abu Dhabi decided to merge the three local banks: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Federal Commercial Bank, and Khaleej Commercial Bank. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank's total assets are AED 440 billion and 794 employees.
Services offered include Consumer Banking, Corporate Banking, and Investment Banking. In July 2007, ADCB set up a new unit that provides financial assistance to high net worth individuals and family businesses as part of a broader strategy to boost earnings from its investment banking business.
First Gulf Bank
First Gulf Bank (FGB) was established in 1979 and is one of the leading banks in the United Arab Emirates. FGB is headquartered in Abu Dhabi and has operations across the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Services offered by First Gulf Bank include retail banking (current accounts, online banking, credit cards), private banking (wealth management services), corporate banking (including trade finance and cash management), and investment banking (debt capital markets issuance).
Total Assets: US$212 billion
Employees: 2000
Dubai Islamic Bank
Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) is an Islamic bank in Dubai, established in 1975. It is the first Islamic bank to have incorporated the principles of Islam in all its practices and is the largest Islamic bank in the UAE. The bank also operates internationally and has a presence across ten countries.
DIB offers a wide range of Sharia-compliant products and services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. The bank's portfolio comprises personal banking, business banking, corporate banking, consumer finance, and wealth management.
Assets: AED 231 billion (2021)
Employees: 4,233
Branches: 90
Mashreq Bank
Mashreq Bank is the oldest private bank in the United Arab Emirates. It was established as the Bank of Oman in 1967, and has evolved into one of the UAE's leading financial institutions. The bank currently operates across 14 countries and serves over a million customers worldwide.
Mashreq Bank offers a range of banking services, including retail banking, corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, asset management, and private banking.
Mashreq had total assets worth AED 159 billion. The bank employs around 4,000 people and operates a network of 45 domestic branches 20 international branches.
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is a leading finance and banking institution in the UAE. It is one of the most prominent banks in the world. The bank was founded in 1975 by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The bank has become a significant financial institution, with a total asset base of about Dh130. 6 billion, more than 6,922 employees, and branches spread over 12 countries. The bank also has a global presence via its representative offices in other parts of the world.
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank offers an extensive range of products and services, including savings accounts, checking accounts, consumer loans, term deposits, credit cards, home mortgages, debit cards and telephone banking.
Commercial Bank of Dubai
The Commercial Bank of Dubai was founded in 1969 as a public institution in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The bank handles retail banking services, corporate and investment banking services, financial advisory services, treasury services, and Islamic banking. In addition to the headquarters in Dubai, the bank has branches in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Sharjah and overseas branches in Oman and Qatar.
Total assets: US$23 billion
Employees: 1,500
RAKBANK
RAKBANK was founded in 1976. It is one of the oldest and largest financial institutions in the UAE, having total assets of AED 54.5 billion. The Bank has a network of 27 branches and over 3,215 employees across the UAE.
The bank provides retail banking for individuals and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and corporate banking services to large local companies and multinational corporations operating from the U.A.E. In addition to these core areas, RAKBANK provides financial services through its subsidiary RAKBANK Securities LLC and financial intermediation via its subsidiary RAKCapital LLC.
Emirates Islamic
Emirates Islamic Bank (“EIB”), the Shariah-compliant banking subsidiary of Emirates NBD, was formed in 2004 and has grown to become one of the leading Islamic financial institutions in the UAE.
EIB is committed to offering customers a full suite of market-leading financial services consistent with Islamic Shari’a principles. EIB is an award-winning bank with many Shari’a compliant products, including current accounts, savings accounts, fixed deposits, credit cards, personal finance, and auto finance.
Total assets: AED 66 billion
Employees: 2,000
Branches: 65 Branches & 3 Pay Offices
Al Hilal Bank
Al Hilal Bank is one of the leading Islamic banks in the United Arab Emirates. It was established in Abu Dhabi in 2008 to create a bank that adheres to the principles of Shari'a, which prohibits the payment or receipt of interest.
Al Hilal Bank currently has total assets amounting to AED 233 billion and employs more than 1,500 employees across 14 branches around the country.
The bank offers a wide range of products and services that cater to the needs of both individuals and corporations:
Personal Finance: Shari'a-compliant personal finance products such as car finance, education finance, home finance, and personal loans are available at competitive rates.
Corporate Banking: Shari'a-compliant corporate banking solutions for big businesses include treasury management solutions and customised corporate products.
FAQs
Q. Which bank is safest in UAE?
A. First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the safest bank in the UAE, according to S&P Global Ratings' Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment (BICRA).
The assessment ranks banks in countries on a scale of 1 to 10, with one being the lowest risk and 10 being the highest.
In its most recent report, FAB was placed at 6.1, with S&P saying, "FAB has a powerful business position within the UAE."
