58 Gulf Banks Among «First Bank» Top 100 Lenders in MENA

The «First Bank» ranking of the Top 100 lending banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as of September 2025 revealed the dominance of Gulf banks, which captured 58 positions out of 100, with a total loan portfolio of USD 2.40 tn, representing 76% of the aggregate loan portfolios of the ranked banks.

The ranking is based on banks’ disclosed loan portfolios denominated in US dollars, providing a unified benchmark for comparison across banking institutions. It excludes banks lacking official financial disclosures to ensure data accuracy and methodological reliability.

UAE banks led the Gulf landscape, securing 16 positions with a combined loan portfolio of USD 718.77 bn as of September 2025. These included: «Emirates NBD», «FAB UAE», «ADCB», «Dubai Islamic», «Mashreq», «ADIB», «Dubai Commercial», «Emirates Islamic», «RAKBANK», «Sharjah Islamic», «Fujairah National», «Sharjah», «Ajman», «Arab United», «Commercial International – UAE», and «Umm Al Qaiwain National».

Saudi banks followed with 10 positions, yet recorded a higher aggregate loan portfolio of USD 830.13 bn, surpassing their UAE peers despite fewer banks represented. These included: «Al Rajhi», «Saudi National Bank», «Riyad Bank», «SAB», «Alinma», «Banque Saudi Fransi», «Arab National Bank», «Bank Albilad», «Saudi Investment Bank», and «Bank AlJazira».

Kuwaiti banks captured 9 positions, with a total loan portfolio of USD 262.24 bn, including: «National Bank of Kuwait», «Kuwait Finance House», «Boubyan», «Gulf Bank», «Ahli United Bank Kuwait», «Burgan Bank», «Warba Bank», «Kuwait International Bank», and «Commercial Bank of Kuwait».

Both Qatar and Bahrain recorded 8 banks each within the ranking; however, their loan volumes varied significantly. Qatari banks posted a combined loan portfolio of USD 433.02 bn, including: «Qatar National Bank», «Qatar Islamic Bank», «Al Rayan», «Commercial Bank of Qatar», «Dukhan Bank», «Doha Bank», «Qatar International Islamic Bank», and «Ahli Bank».

In contrast, Bahraini banks recorded a total of USD 78.91 bn, including: «ABC», «Gulf International Bank», «Al Baraka», «Al Salam Bank», «National Bank of Bahrain», «Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait», «Ithmaar», and «Bahrain Islamic Bank».

Oman accounted for 7 positions in the ranking, with a total loan portfolio of USD 77.23 bn, including: «Bank Muscat», «Sohar International», «Bank Dhofar», «National Bank of Oman», «Ahli Bank Oman», «Alizz Islamic Bank», and «Bank Nizwa».

It is worth noting that the ranking covers parent banking groups across MENA and excludes their foreign subsidiaries.

To view the full list, click here.