Banque Saudi Fransi climbs four places among MENA’s 20 largest banks

BSF climbed four places to 18th at end-March 2026, while nine banks held their positions and 10 moved by just one place.

Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) recorded the strongest ranking gain among the 20 largest banks in the Middle East and North Africa, climbing four places to 18th at end-March 2026, from 22nd at end-2025.

The advance came as BSF’s assets increased 5.1 per cent during the first quarter to USD 86.55 billion, from USD 82.38 billion at end-2025.

Beyond BSF’s move, the top of FirstBank’s ranking of the 100 largest banks in the Middle East and North Africa by assets at end-March 2026 remained broadly stable.

Nine banks retained their positions from the 2025 ranking, while 10 moved up or down by one place. The limited changes reflect relatively narrow differences in asset size among several of the region’s largest banks.

Nine banks hold their ground in top 20

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) remained the region’s largest bank by assets, holding first place with USD 405.78 billion at end-March 2026, up about 6 per cent from USD 382.23 billion at end-2025.

QNB Group retained second place, with total assets rising 2 per cent during Q1 to USD 386.91 billion, from USD 380.67 billion at end-2025.

Alrajhi Bank remained fifth, with assets reaching USD 280.11 billion at end-March, compared with USD 278.15 billion at end-2025, an increase of 0.7 per cent.

National Bank of Egypt (NBE) held eighth place, with total assets of about USD 173.51 billion at end-March 2026.

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) remained ninth, with assets of USD 150.17 billion, compared with USD 148.14 billion at end-2025, representing growth of 1.4 per cent over the period.

Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) retained 14th place, with assets rising 1.1 per cent to USD 122.50 billion, from USD 121.16 billion at end-2025.

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) remained 15th, with assets increasing 0.9 per cent to USD 114.32 billion, from USD 113.25 billion at end-2025.

Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. held 16th place, with assets of USD 104.77 billion at end-March 2026, compared with USD 104.68 billion at end-2025, representing marginal growth of 0.1 per cent.

Mashreq remained 17th, as assets rose 2.9 per cent to USD 93.73 billion, from USD 91.11 billion at end-2025.

Ten banks reshuffle by one place

Ten banks moved by a single position within the top 20, largely reflecting differences in asset growth during the first quarter.

Emirates National Bank of Dubai (NBD) climbed to third place from fourth at end-2025 as assets increased about 4 per cent to USD 331.24 billion, from USD 317.04 billion.

The move pushed Saudi National Bank (SNB) down to fourth from third, as its assets grew by about 1 per cent to USD 327.34 billion, from USD 322.61 billion at end-2025.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) moved up to sixth place from seventh after its assets increased 4.5 per cent to USD 220.20 billion, from USD 210.64 billion.

By contrast, Ziraat Bankası slipped to seventh from sixth, with assets rising just 0.1 per cent to USD 216.84 billion, from USD 216.66 billion at end-2025.

Riyad Bank moved up to 10th place from 11th as assets increased 3.3 per cent to USD 143.11 billion, from USD 138.50 billion.

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) consequently slipped to 11th from 10th, as assets posted a 2.2 per cent increase to USD 141.87 billion, from USD 138.88 billion at end-2025.

Türkiye İş Bankası advanced to 12th place from 13th after its assets grew 3.7 per cent to USD 130.09 billion, from USD 125.45 billion.

VakıfBank moved down to 13th from 12th as assets declined 0.6 per cent quarter-on-quarter to USD 127.14 billion at end-March 2026, from USD 127.87 billion at end-2025.

Alinma Bank climbed to 19th place from 20th, supported by 4.2 per cent asset growth quarter-on-quarter to USD 86.41 billion at end-March 2026, from USD 82.93 billion.

Attijariwafa Bank Maroc slipped to 20th from 19th as assets declined 2.2 per cent during Q1 2026 to USD 85.31 billion at end-March 2026, from USD 87.23 billion at end-2025.

Overall, the changes point to relative stability at the top of the MENA banking sector. Most of the region’s largest banks either retained their positions or moved by only one place, while BSF stood out with the only major ranking shift during the quarter.