57 GCC Banks Featured in the «First Bank» List of the Top 100 Banks in the Middle East and North Africa

The «First Bank» list of the top 100 banks in the Middle East and North Africa as of September 2025 revealed the strong dominance of GCC banks, which captured 57 positions out of 100, with total assets reaching approximately 3.95 USD tn, representing 75% of the total assets of the banks under review.

The ranking was based on banks’ total assets as officially reported and denominated in USD, providing a unified comparison tool across banking institutions. Banks without publicly available financial data were excluded to ensure accuracy and methodological reliability.

It is also worth noting that the ranking covered parent banking groups across Arab countries, excluding their foreign subsidiaries.

UAE banks led the GCC landscape, securing 17 positions with total assets amounting to 1.36 USD tn. These included: «First Abu Dhabi Bank», «Emirates NBD», «Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank», «Dubai Islamic Bank», «Mashreq Bank», «Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank», «Commercial Bank of Dubai», «Emirates Islamic Bank», «National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah», «Sharjah Islamic Bank», «National Bank of Fujairah», «WIO Bank», «Bank of Sharjah», «Ajman Bank», «United Arab Bank», «Umm Al Qaiwain National Bank», and «Commercial Bank International – UAE».

Saudi banks ranked second with 10 positions, recording combined assets of 1.23 USD tn. These included: «Saudi National Bank», «Al Rajhi Bank», «Riyad Bank», «Saudi Awwal Bank», «Banque Saudi Fransi», «Alinma Bank», «Arab National Bank», «Saudi Investment Bank», «Bank Albilad», and «Bank Aljazira».

Kuwaiti banks strengthened their regional presence with 9 banks, totaling approximately 441.36 USD bn in assets. These included: «National Bank of Kuwait», «Kuwait Finance House», «Boubyan Bank», «Burgan Bank», «Gulf Bank», «Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait», «Warba Bank», «Commercial Bank of Kuwait», and «Kuwait International Bank».

Qatari banks secured 8 positions with total assets of 640 USD bn, including: «Qatar National Bank», «Qatar Islamic Bank», «Commercial Bank of Qatar», «Al Rayan Bank», «Doha Bank», «Dukhan Bank», «Ahli Bank», and «Qatar International Islamic Bank».

In the same context, Bahraini banks were represented by 7 banks, with total assets reaching approximately 178.34 USD bn, including: «Bank ABC», «Gulf International Bank», «Al Baraka Banking Group», «Al Salam Bank», «National Bank of Bahrain», «Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait», and «Ithmaar Bank».

Meanwhile, Omani banks accounted for 6 positions within the ranking, with total assets of 102.76 USD bn as of September 2025. These included: «Bank Muscat», «Sohar International Bank», «National Bank of Oman», «Bank Dhofar», «Ahli Bank Oman», and «Bank Nizwa».

To view the full list, click here.