First Index: «Al Etihad», «FAB», and «WIO» Among the Fastest-Growing Large Arab Banks by Assets in Q1 2026

First Bank’s ranking of the Top 10 Fastest-Growing Large Arab Banks by Assets in Q1 2026 revealed Bank al Etihad – Jordan as the top performer, after posting 6.7% quarter-on-quarter growth in total assets, which reached 18.75 USD bn at the end of March 2026, compared with 17.57 USD bn at year-end 2025.

This performance enabled the bank to climb three positions in the ranking of the Top 100 Arab Banks, reaching 50th place by the end of March 2026, compared with 53rd place at the end of 2025.

The ranking was based on the growth rates of banks’ reported asset portfolios denominated in U.S. dollars, providing a unified basis for comparison across banking institutions. Banks for which official financial data were unavailable were excluded to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the methodology.

According to First Bank’s classification, large Arab banks are those with total assets exceeding 15 USD bn.

Returning to the ranking, First Abu Dhabi Bank secured second place after recording 6.2% quarter-on-quarter growth in assets, which increased to 405.78 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 382.23 USD bn at year-end 2025.

With this growth, «FAB» further consolidated its position as the largest Arab bank, benefiting from a widening gap over its closest competitors.

WIO Bank ranked third, after posting 5.9% quarter-on-quarter growth, with assets rising to 17.60 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 16.63 USD bn at year-end 2025. As a result, the bank advanced four positions in the Top 100 Arab Banks ranking, moving to 55th place from 59th place at the end of 2025.

Sohar International Bank – Oman came fourth after its assets grew by 5.6% quarter-on-quarter to 25.03 USD bn at the end of March 2026, compared with 23.71 USD bn at year-end 2025. This enabled the bank to move up two places in the Top 100 Arab Banks ranking, reaching 42nd place from 44th place.

Fifth place went to Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, which recorded 5.54% asset growth during Q1 2026, bringing total assets to 23.74 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 22.49 USD bn at year-end 2025. Despite this strong growth, the bank maintained its 45th position among the Top 100 Arab Banks, supported by a comfortable lead over its nearest competitors.

National Bank of Oman ranked sixth after reporting 5.51% growth in assets during Q1 2026, with total assets reaching 15.32 USD bn, compared with 14.52 USD bn at year-end 2025. This helped the bank climb to 60th place among the Top 100 Arab Banks by the end of March 2026, up from 63rd place at the end of 2025.

Al Salam Bank – Bahrain secured seventh place after its assets increased by approximately 5.50% quarter-on-quarter to 22.54 USD bn at the end of March 2026, compared with 21.36 USD bn at year-end 2025, allowing it to maintain its 46th position among the largest Arab banks.

National Bank of Bahrain ranked eighth after its asset portfolio expanded by 5.3% during Q1 2026 to 17.53 USD bn, compared with 16.65 USD bn at year-end 2025. The bank advanced two positions within the Top 100 Arab Banks ranking, reaching 56th place by the end of March 2026, compared with 58th place at the end of the previous year.

Burgan Bank – Kuwait claimed ninth place with an asset growth rate of 5.06%, as total assets rose to approximately 31.05 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 29.55 USD bn at year-end 2025. This enabled the bank to move up to 38th place among the largest Arab banks, from 39th place at the end of the previous year.

Rounding out the ranking was Banque Saudi Fransi, whose assets increased by approximately 5.05% quarter-on-quarter to 86.55 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 82.38 USD bn at year-end 2025. The bank climbed to 14th place among the Top 100 Arab Banks, up from 17th place at the end of the previous year.