12 Banking Institutions Achieve the Biggest Rise in First Bank’s Ranking of the Largest Arab Banks by March 2026

First Bank’s ranking of the Top 100 Arab Banks by March 2026 reflected a relatively stable landscape among major banking institutions. However, a number of banks managed to achieve notable—albeit limited—advances, making them the most prominent movers in the ranking during Q1 of 2026.

A total of 12 banking institutions improved their rankings by more than one position during the first 3 months of the year, supported by asset growth rates that exceeded the average growth recorded by banks included in the ranking.

In this context, two banks advanced by four positions during Q1 of 2026. The Saudi Investment Bank climbed to 25th place by the end of March 2026, up from 29th place at year-end 2025.

Supported by a 4.3% quarter-on-quarter increase in assets to 48.04 USD bn, compared with 46.05 USD bn at the end of 2025.

Likewise, WIO Bank advanced to 55th place by the end of March 2026, compared with 59th place at year-end 2025, after its assets grew by 5.9% quarter-on-quarter to 17.60 USD bn, up from 16.63 USD bn, making it one of the strongest candidates to enter the list of the Top 50 Arab Banks.

Meanwhile, five banks advanced by three positions compared with their rankings at the end of 2025. Banque Saudi Fransi moved up to 14th place from 17th place, after its assets increased by 5.1% quarter-on-quarter to 86.55 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 82.38 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Bank of Africa – Morocco climbed from 27th place at the end of 2025 to 24th place by the end of March 2026, supported by a 2.3% increase in assets during the period under review, reaching 49.08 USD bn versus 47.99 USD bn.

Bank al Etihad – Jordan advanced to 50th place from 53rd place, as its asset portfolio expanded by 6.7% during Q1 of 2026 to 18.75 USD bn, compared with 17.57 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Similarly, National Bank of Oman rose to 60th place from 63rd place, after recording 5.5% quarter-on-quarter asset growth, with total assets reaching 15.32 USD bn versus 14.52 USD bn at the end of 2025.

Bank of Sharjah also climbed from 67th place to 64th place, after its assets increased to 14.89 USD bn by the end of March 2026 from 13.17 USD bn at year-end 2025, posting the highest growth rate among these banks at 13.1% quarter-on-quarter.

In addition, five banks improved by two positions within the ranking. Sohar International Bank – Oman advanced to 42nd place from 44th place, following 5.6% quarter-on-quarter asset growth to 25.03 USD bn, compared with 23.71 USD bn at year-end 2025.

National Bank of Bahrain moved up to 56th place from 58th place, with assets rising by 5.3% quarter-on-quarter to 17.53 USD bn by the end of March 2026, versus 16.65 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Bank Dhofar – Oman climbed to 62nd place from 64th place, driven by 6.7% growth in assets during Q1 of 2026, reaching 14.94 USD bn, compared with 14.00 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Meanwhile, Ahli Bank Oman advanced to 69th place from 71st place, after its assets grew by 3.4% quarter-on-quarter to 11.25 USD bn, compared with 10.88 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Banque Nationale Agricole – Tunisia rose from 77th place at the end of 2025 to 75th place by the end of March 2026, recording 3.6% asset growth, with assets reaching 9.05 USD bn, compared with 8.73 USD bn.

This performance highlights the ability of several Arab banks to improve their positions within the ranking over a relatively short period, benefiting from asset growth rates that exceeded the average growth recorded across the list.

Nevertheless, the remaining banks that improved their rankings in First Bank’s classification during Q1 of 2026 advanced by only one position, underscoring the increasingly close competition among Arab banking institutions, where even modest increases in asset size can be sufficient to alter rankings within the list.

First Bank’s ranking of the Top 100 Arab Banks by March 2026 reflected a relatively stable landscape among major banking institutions. However, a number of banks managed to achieve notable—albeit limited—advances, making them the most prominent movers in the ranking during Q1 of 2026.

A total of 12 banking institutions improved their rankings by more than one position during the first 3 months of the year, supported by asset growth rates that exceeded the average growth recorded by banks included in the ranking.

In this context, two banks advanced by four positions during Q1 of 2026. The Saudi Investment Bank climbed to 25th place by the end of March 2026, up from 29th place at year-end 2025.

Supported by a 4.3% quarter-on-quarter increase in assets to 48.04 USD bn, compared with 46.05 USD bn at the end of 2025.

Likewise, WIO Bank advanced to 55th place by the end of March 2026, compared with 59th place at year-end 2025, after its assets grew by 5.9% quarter-on-quarter to 17.60 USD bn, up from 16.63 USD bn, making it one of the strongest candidates to enter the list of the Top 50 Arab Banks.

Meanwhile, five banks advanced by three positions compared with their rankings at the end of 2025. Banque Saudi Fransi moved up to 14th place from 17th place, after its assets increased by 5.1% quarter-on-quarter to 86.55 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 82.38 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Bank of Africa – Morocco climbed from 27th place at the end of 2025 to 24th place by the end of March 2026, supported by a 2.3% increase in assets during the period under review, reaching 49.08 USD bn versus 47.99 USD bn.

Bank al Etihad – Jordan advanced to 50th place from 53rd place, as its asset portfolio expanded by 6.7% during Q1 of 2026 to 18.75 USD bn, compared with 17.57 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Similarly, National Bank of Oman rose to 60th place from 63rd place, after recording 5.5% quarter-on-quarter asset growth, with total assets reaching 15.32 USD bn versus 14.52 USD bn at the end of 2025.

Bank of Sharjah also climbed from 67th place to 64th place, after its assets increased to 14.89 USD bn by the end of March 2026 from 13.17 USD bn at year-end 2025, posting the highest growth rate among these banks at 13.1% quarter-on-quarter.

In addition, five banks improved by two positions within the ranking. Sohar International Bank – Oman advanced to 42nd place from 44th place, following 5.6% quarter-on-quarter asset growth to 25.03 USD bn, compared with 23.71 USD bn at year-end 2025.

National Bank of Bahrain moved up to 56th place from 58th place, with assets rising by 5.3% quarter-on-quarter to 17.53 USD bn by the end of March 2026, versus 16.65 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Bank Dhofar – Oman climbed to 62nd place from 64th place, driven by 6.7% growth in assets during Q1 of 2026, reaching 14.94 USD bn, compared with 14.00 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Meanwhile, Ahli Bank Oman advanced to 69th place from 71st place, after its assets grew by 3.4% quarter-on-quarter to 11.25 USD bn, compared with 10.88 USD bn at year-end 2025.

Banque Nationale Agricole – Tunisia rose from 77th place at the end of 2025 to 75th place by the end of March 2026, recording 3.6% asset growth, with assets reaching 9.05 USD bn, compared with 8.73 USD bn.

This performance highlights the ability of several Arab banks to improve their positions within the ranking over a relatively short period, benefiting from asset growth rates that exceeded the average growth recorded across the list.

Nevertheless, the remaining banks that improved their rankings in First Bank’s classification during Q1 of 2026 advanced by only one position, underscoring the increasingly close competition among Arab banking institutions, where even modest increases in asset size can be sufficient to alter rankings within the list.