26 Banks Operating in Egypt Rank Among «First Bank» Top 100 Most Profitable Banks in MENA
A recent ranking issued by «First Bank» of the top 100 most profitable banks across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) highlighted the strong positioning of Egypt’s banking sector, with 26 banks operating in the local market included in the list as of September 2025. This reflects the sector’s resilience and sustained profitability despite ongoing macroeconomic pressures.
The ranking is based on reported net profits denominated in USD, providing a unified benchmark for cross-market comparison, while excluding banks with insufficient disclosed financial data to ensure methodological accuracy and reliability.
Egyptian Banks Within the Ranking
At the domestic level, Egyptian banks delivered robust earnings performance, led by the National Bank of Egypt, which ranked 6th across MENA and first locally, recording net profits of USD 2.76 bn during the first nine months of 2025.
Banque Misr followed in 16th place regionally and second locally, with net profits of USD 1.43 bn, while Commercial International Bank (CIB) ranked 18th regionally and third among Egyptian banks, posting USD 1.30 bn in net profits over the same period.
Mid-tier rankings reflected a diversified earnings base, with Housing & Development Bank securing 43rd place regionally, followed by Banque du Caire (46th) and Arab African International Bank (48th), each maintaining solid profitability levels.
Other Egyptian banks also sustained their presence within the ranking, including Bank of Alexandria, Suez Canal Bank, Export Development Bank of Egypt «EBank», EGBANK, Bank NXT, Faisal Islamic Bank, and The United Bank, reinforcing the depth and breadth of profitability across the sector.
Banks Operating in Egypt with Parent Groups Included in the Ranking
On the foreign side, several banking groups operating in Egypt ranked prominently through their parent institutions. Emirates NBD Group topped the list with net profits of USD 5.16 bn, followed by First Abu Dhabi Bank, Qatar National Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, and Kuwait Finance House, all securing positions within the top tier.
Despite the strong performance at the group level, the contribution of Egyptian subsidiaries varied, reflecting differences in market strategy, asset allocation, and exposure to local economic conditions.
Overall, the ranking underscores the Egyptian banking sector’s capacity to generate strong USD-denominated earnings, supported by elevated interest rate environments, balance sheet expansion, and disciplined asset-liability management, even amid exchange rate volatility and broader economic challenges.
