Top Heads of Corporate Lending in Egypt 2025

Corporate Banking represents the beating heart of Egypt’s banking sector, where major investment decisions intersect with the economy’s long-term growth strategies. Its role goes beyond merely providing financing; it extends to building strategic partnerships with institutions and offering smart financing solutions that translate expansion plans and investment ambitions into tangible reality.

Amid mounting economic challenges and a rapidly shifting market landscape, Corporate Banking has become a true competitive arena, where banks’ strength is measured by their ability to innovate, accurately assess risks, and structure flexible financing solutions that support sustainability and create real added value for both businesses and the wider economy.

Within this context, a group of corporate banking leaders has stood out by delivering exceptional results through the development of innovative digital and banking solutions that respond to fast-changing market dynamics and set new benchmarks for effective leadership across the sector.

Against this backdrop, First Bank highlights the Top Heads of Corporate Lending for 2025, based on a set of rigorous professional criteria, including the size of corporate loan portfolios (including SME loans directed to economic activities), growth rates, portfolio quality, and the effectiveness of innovative management strategies adopted, as well as their tangible impact on performance and sustainability.

The ranking is limited to executives who have completed a full nine months in their positions during 2025, ensuring accuracy of comparison and credibility of assessment.

Sherif Riad.. Managing the Largest Corporate Loan Portfolio in the Egyptian Market

Sherif Riad, Executive Vice Chairman for Corporate Credit and Syndicated Loans at the National Bank of Egypt, manages the largest corporate loan portfolio in Egypt’s banking sector, backed by a clear strategic vision focused on supporting economic growth and strengthening the bank’s role as a key financing partner for the business community.

Riad works on deepening strategic partnerships with major corporates and institutions, alongside expanding sustainable financing and high-impact economic projects, which has driven a significant increase in corporate lending across various sectors.

The corporate loan portfolio (including SME loans directed to economic activities) reached approximately EGP 4.10 trillion by end-September 2025, up from EGP 3.59 tn at end-2024, achieving a growth rate of 14.2%, with an absolute increase of EGP 510.59 bn.

The portfolio demonstrates strong resilience and stability, with asset quality exceeding 99% by end-September 2025, reflecting the robustness of credit policies and the efficiency of risk management, further cementing the National Bank of Egypt’s position as a cornerstone of corporate financing in the local market.

Abeer Essam.. The Largest Corporate Portfolio Among Private Sector Banks

Abeer Essam, Head of Corporate Credit at the Commercial International Bank «CIB», is one of Egypt’s most prominent banking leaders, overseeing the largest corporate loan portfolio within the private banking sector.

Her leadership relies on advanced strategies centered on digital transformation and innovation in corporate banking services, enhancing the bank’s competitiveness and its ability to meet evolving client needs.

Her efforts focus on achieving balanced growth in the corporate portfolio by improving asset quality and limiting risk levels, ensuring sustainable performance and preserving the bank’s financial strength in the corporate segment.

Accordingly, CIB’s corporate loan portfolio (including SME loans) rose to EGP 402.11 bn by end-September 2025, from EGP 310.20 bn at end-2024, posting a strong growth rate of 29.6%, with an increase of EGP 91.91 bn, ranking fourth on First Bank’s list of the fastest-growing banks in corporate lending during the first 9M of 2025.

Despite this rapid expansion, portfolio quality remained high, reaching 97.05%, reflecting the effectiveness of the bank’s credit and risk management policies and its ability to combine fast growth with credit discipline.

Mohamed El-Sayed.. Among the Fastest-Growing and Largest Portfolios in Islamic Banking

Mohamed El-Sayed, Head of Corporate Banking at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Egypt «ADIB», leads the largest corporate financing portfolio among Islamic banks operating in Egypt, supported by a comprehensive strategy focused on offering diversified Shariah-compliant financing solutions that meet the needs of various business sectors.

During the past year, ADIB’s corporate financing portfolio (including SME loans) recorded strong growth, rising to EGP 99.59 bn by end-September 2025, compared with EGP 75.08 bn at end-2024, achieving a growth rate of 32.6%, with an absolute increase of EGP 24.50 billion, ranking third among the fastest-growing banks in corporate lending.

On the quality front, the portfolio maintained solid credit strength, with asset quality reaching approximately 96%, reflecting effective credit policies, efficient risk management, and the sector’s ability to achieve balanced growth without compromising portfolio quality.

Abdelrahman Talaat.. Managing a Large Portfolio with High Efficiency

Abdelrahman Talaat, Head of Large Corporate and Investment Banking at QNB Egypt, oversees a large and diversified corporate loan portfolio, managed under a strict professional framework focused on credit discipline.

His approach emphasizes well-calibrated growth while preserving portfolio quality through effective risk management policies, supporting return optimization and ensuring long-term portfolio resilience and stability.

As a result, QNB Egypt’s corporate loans (including SME loans) increased by 28.4% over the past year, reaching EGP 383.73 bn by end-2025, compared with EGP 298.90 bn at end-2024.

Despite the expansion, portfolio quality remained strong at 94.76%, highlighting the efficiency of the bank’s risk management practices.

Amr Touqan.. A Large and Fast-Growing Corporate Portfolio

Amr Touqan, Head of Investment Banking and Structured Finance and Supervisor of Corporate and Institutional Credit at the Arab African International Bank, manages one of the largest and fastest-growing corporate loan portfolios in Egypt’s banking market.

His strategy combines measured expansion with stable returns while maintaining high asset quality, focusing on diversifying the client base, strengthening relationships with key strategic corporates, and offering integrated financing and structured solutions across various economic sectors.

Thanks to this approach, the corporate portfolio (including SME loans) rose to EGP 202.67 bn by end-September 2025, up from EGP 177.61 bn at end-2024, achieving 14.1% growth, with an increase exceeding EGP 25 billion.

Simultaneously, asset quality improved to 97.79%, reflecting the effectiveness of the bank’s risk management framework.

Sherif Sabry & Tamer El-Gohary.. Managing a Large, Fast-Growing Portfolio

Tamer El-Gohary, Head of Corporate & Investment Banking, and Sherif Sabry, Head of Corporate Banking and International Transactions at First Abu Dhabi Bank Egypt, jointly manage a sizable corporate portfolio supported by a clear strategic vision focused on disciplined expansion, stronger partnerships with major institutions, and integrated financing solutions.

This approach translated into strong financial performance, with the corporate portfolio (including SME loans) reaching approximately EGP 157.02 bn by end-September 2025, compared with EGP 128.10 bn at end-2024, recording 22.6% growth and an increase of EGP 28.94 bn.

Despite the expansion, portfolio quality remained high at 96.57%, reflecting efficient risk management and the bank’s ability to balance sustainable growth with credit discipline.

El-Haitham El-Qabarsli.. Managing the Fastest-Growing Portfolio in Egypt

El-Haitham El-Qabarsli, Head of Corporate Banking and Investment Services at Suez Canal Bank, achieved a qualitative leap in the bank’s corporate performance over the past year, driven by an innovative strategy to strengthen institutional financing and expand investment services.

As a result, the corporate portfolio (including SME loans) surged to EGP 99.70 bn by end-September 2025, up from EGP 73.67 bn at end-2024, posting a growth rate of 35.3%, with an increase exceeding EGP 26 bn, topping First Bank’s ranking of the fastest-growing banks in corporate lending during the first nine months of 2025.

Notably, the bank entered the list of the top five private-sector banks in corporate lending for the first time in its history, climbing from eighth place at end-2024 to fifth by end-September 2025.

This rapid expansion did not come at the expense of asset quality, which improved to 96.84%, underscoring the strength of the bank’s risk management framework.

Mohamed Gamal.. Driving a Qualitative Shift in Corporate Banking

Mohamed Gamal, Head of Corporate Banking and Syndicated Loans at Housing and Development Bank, led the sector toward exceptional performance by developing innovative corporate products and services, with a strong focus on supporting startups and promoting green finance.

By end-September 2025, the corporate loan portfolio (including SME loans) reached EGP 31.23 bn, up from EGP 28.36 bn at end-2024, achieving 10.1% growth, with an increase of EGP 2.87 billion.

Meanwhile, portfolio quality stood at 91.95%, reflecting the effectiveness of the bank’s risk management policies.

Rania Farouk.. Leading One of the Fastest-Growing Portfolios

Rania Farouk, Head of Corporate Banking and Syndicated Loans at Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait – Egypt, distinguished herself by leading one of the fastest-growing corporate portfolios, driven by a strategy focused on attracting new client segments through innovative financing services.

By end-September 2025, the corporate portfolio (including SME loans) rose to approximately EGP 57.90 bn, compared with EGP 46.19 bn at end-2024, posting 25.4% growth and an increase of EGP 11.71 bn.

The portfolio also maintained high quality, reaching 97.98%, highlighting the robustness of credit policies and risk management efficiency.

Amr Abdelwahab.. Managing a Competitive, High-Quality Portfolio with Professional Excellence

Amr Abdelwahab, Head of Corporate Banking at Kuwait Finance House – Egypt, achieved a notable transformation in corporate banking performance by adopting innovative, Shariah-compliant strategies that effectively meet corporate clients’ needs.

His vision focused on developing flexible financing solutions, expanding the institutional client base, enhancing competitiveness, improving portfolio quality, and diversifying exposures while efficiently managing risks and supporting priority economic sectors.

Accordingly, the corporate financing portfolio (including SME financing) increased to EGP 91.40 bn by end-September 2025, from EGP 80.04 bn at end-2024, achieving 14.2% growth and an increase of EGP 11.36 bn.

Portfolio quality remained strong at 97.75%, reflecting the resilience of credit policies and the effectiveness of risk management at the bank.