«First Abu Dhabi», «Saudi National», and «Emirates NBD» Lead Top Arab Banks in Asset Increase

«First Abu Dhabi» tops the list of banks with the largest increase in assets, adding USD 35.44 billion in H1 2025, followed by «Saudi National»

The UAE and Saudi Arabia account for 60% of the list of the top 10 banks with the largest asset growth, with three banks from each country

Egyptian banks secure two positions among the top 10 banks with the largest asset increases

Limited representation for both Kuwait and Qatar, with one seat each among the top ten

The First Bank list of the largest Arab banks in terms of asset growth during the first half of 2025 revealed that Emirati and Saudi banks dominated 60% of the ranking, with three banks each, reflecting the strength of their business models and their ability to pursue measured expansion, supported by economic resilience and efficient asset management, which further cements their leading position at the regional level.

Egyptian banks captured two positions on the list of the top 10 banks with the largest asset growth, highlighting their ability to compete at both the regional and Arab levels, while Kuwait and Qatar were each represented by only one bank among the top ten.

The ranking covered major Arab banks, which the First Bank Ratings Center defines as banks with total assets exceeding USD 15 billion.

The ranking was based on ordering banks according to the value of the increase in total assets, disclosed and denominated in U.S. dollars, providing a unified comparison tool among different banking institutions. Banks for which no official data were available were excluded, to ensure the accuracy of the results and the reliability of the adopted methodology.

The ranking showed that 52 banks out of 55 succeeded in increasing their total assets during the first half of 2025, while three banks recorded a noticeable decline.

At the top of the ranking, First Abu Dhabi Bank «FAB» secured first place after increasing its asset portfolio by approximately USD 35.44 billion during the first half of 2025, bringing total assets to USD 365.79 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 330.35 billion at the end of 2024.

Saudi National Bank «SNB» ranked second, as its asset portfolio increased by about USD 26.34 billion in the first six months of 2025, reaching USD 320.23 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 293.89 billion at the end of 2024.

Emirates NBD came in third, with its asset portfolio rising by around USD 24.25 billion during the first half of 2025, to reach USD 295.61 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 271.36 billion at the end of 2024.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank «ADCB» secured fourth place after its asset portfolio increased by approximately USD 17.89 billion during the first six months of 2025, reaching USD 195.64 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 177.75 billion at the end of 2024.

Al Rajhi Bank ranked fifth, as its asset portfolio jumped by about USD 17.68 billion during the first six months of 2025, reaching USD 277.03 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 259.35 billion at the end of 2024.

The National Bank of Egypt «NBE» ranked sixth after its asset portfolio increased by around USD 15.38 billion during the first half of 2025, reaching USD 175.29 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 159.91 billion at the end of 2024.

Qatar National Bank «QNB» ranked seventh, with its asset portfolio rising by approximately USD 15.29 billion in the first six months of 2025, to reach USD 371.42 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 356.13 billion at the end of 2024.

National Bank of Kuwait «NBK» secured eighth place after increasing its asset portfolio by about USD 11.86 billion during the first half of 2025, reaching USD 142.83 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 130.97 billion at the end of 2024.

Riyad Bank ranked ninth, as its asset portfolio increased by around USD 10.99 billion during the first six months of 2025, reaching USD 130.87 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 119.88 billion at the end of 2024.

Tenth place went to Banque Misr «BM», after its asset portfolio increased by approximately USD 10.74 billion in the first six months of 2025, reaching USD 81.68 billion at the end of June 2025, compared with USD 70.95 billion at the end of 2024.

It is worth noting that the ranking included parent banking groups across Arab countries and did not include their foreign subsidiaries.