Gulf Banks Account for 71% of Profits Among the Middle East and North Africa’s Top 100 Most Profitable Banks
First Bank
A total of 55 Gulf banking brands secured places in First Bank’s ranking of the Top 100 MostProfitable Banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for 2025, reinforcing their dominance of the regional banking landscape. Collectively, these banks accounted for approximately 71% of the total profits generated by the institutions on the list, posting combined net earnings of US$61.18 billion.
The ranking was based onreported net profits, converted intoU.S. dollars, providing astandardized basis for comparing banking institutions across the region. Banks without officially disclosed financial data were excluded to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the methodology. The ranking coversparent banking institutionsacross MENA and excludes their foreign subsidiaries.
UAE banks led the Gulf banking sector, securing 17 positions in the ranking and generating US$25.49 billion in net profits during 2025, representing approximately 27% of the totalprofitsearned by the Top 100 banks.
The UAE banks included in the ranking are:Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), Dubai Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Mashreq, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Emirates Islamic, National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBANK), Sharjah Islamic Bank, National Bank of Fujairah, Bank of Sharjah, Wio Bank, National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain, Ajman Bank, United Arab Bank,andCommercial International Bank – UAE.
Saudi Arabian banks ranked second, with 10 banks featured in the list, generating combined net profits of US$24.67 billion in 2025 and accounting for approximately 26% of the ranking’s total profits.
The Saudi banks included:Saudi National Bank (SNB), Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), Alinma Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Arab National Bank (ANB), Bank Albilad, Saudi Investment Bank (SAIB),andBank AlJazira.
The Kuwaiti banking sector was represented by nine banks, which generated combined net profits of US$5.84 billion, equivalent to approximately 6% of the total profits recorded by the Top 100 banks.
The Kuwaiti banks were:Kuwait Finance House (KFH), National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Boubyan Bank, Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK), Gulf Bank, Warba Bank, Burgan Bank, andKuwait International Bank (KIB).
Meanwhile, the Qatari banking sector secured eight positions in the ranking, accounting for approximately 8.8% of total profits, after generating US$8.23 billion in net earnings during 2025.
The Qatari banks included:Qatar National Bank (QNB), Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Commercial Bank of Qatar, Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB), Masraf Al Rayan, Dukhan Bank, Ahlibank Qatar, andDoha Bank.
Similarly, Bahraini banks occupied six positions in the ranking, accounting for approximately 1.7% of total profits, with combined net earnings of US$1.57 billion during 2025.
The Bahraini banks included:Al Baraka Banking Group, Bank ABC, National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), Al Salam Bank, Gulf International Bank (GIB),andBBK (Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait).
Banks from the Sultanate of Oman secured five positions in the ranking, generating combined net profits of US$1.36 billion in 2025, representing approximately 1.4% of the Top 100 banks’ total profits.
The Omani banks included:Bank Muscat, Sohar International, National Bank of Oman (NBO), Bank Dhofar,andAhli Bank Oman.
Overall, the ranking highlights the Gulf banking sector’s continued leadership in profitability, driven primarily by the financial strength ofUAE and Saudi banks, which together accounted for more than half of the total profits generated by the Top 100 Most Profitable Banks in the Middle East and North Africaduring 2025.
