Top 10 Arab bank reshuffles as growth gaps reshape the ranking

Translated & Edited by Aya Elsayed

First Bank’s ranking of the 100 largest banks in the Arab world at end-June 2026 showed no change among the top 10, even as the order within the group underwent a notable reshuffle.

Relatively narrow asset gaps among several of the region’s largest banks, coupled with divergent growth rates in the first half of the year, made the pace of expansion a key determinant of ranking positions.

Despite an unchanged top-10 line-up, competition for position intensified in the first half of 2026, with six banks moving in the ranking and four holding their 2025 positions.

The most notable shift came at the top, where QNB Group reclaimed first place from First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), supported by 3.7 per cent growth in total assets during the first half of the year. Assets rose to USD 394.72bn at end-June 2026, from USD 380.67bn at end-2025.

By contrast, FAB recorded more modest asset growth of just 0.4 per cent, with total assets reaching USD 383.57bn at end-June 2026, compared with USD 382.23bn at end-2025. The slower growth pushed FAB into second place after it had taken the top spot at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025 for the first time in its history.

QNB Group’s return to first place does not reflect a fundamental shift in the scale of the two largest Arab banks as much as it highlights the impact of their differing growth rates. Although QNB’s assets exceeded FAB’s by around USD 11.15bn at end-June, the gap remains relatively narrow given the size of both balance sheets, leaving room for FAB to regain the lead if it records stronger growth than its Qatari rival.

Emirates NBD climbed to third place from fourth in the 2025 ranking, supported by 13.6 per cent half-year growth in total assets, the fastest pace among the top 10. Assets rose to USD 360.08bn at end-June 2026, from USD 317.04bn at end-2025.

The move pushed Saudi National Bank (SNB) down one place to fourth, despite a 2.7 per cent increase in assets to USD 331.28bn at end-June, from USD 322.61bn at end-2025.

Positions five through eight were more stable. Al Rajhi Bank retained fifth place, with assets rising by a limited 0.93 per cent in the first half of 2026 to USD 280.73bn at end-June, compared with USD 278.15bn at end-2025.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) also retained sixth place, with assets increasing by around 7.7 per cent over the same period to USD 226.86bn at end-June 2026, compared with USD 210.64bn at end-2025.

National Bank of Egypt (NBE) remained seventh, with total assets of USD 197.98bn at end-June 2026.

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) also retained eighth place, with assets rising around 1.4 per cent in the first half of the year to USD 150.16bn at end-June 2026, compared with USD 148.14bn at end-2025.

The final two places in the top 10 also saw changes, with Riyad Bank climbing one place to ninth and Kuwait Finance House (KFH) slipping to 10th.

Riyad Bank’s assets rose 2.6 per cent in the first half of 2026 to USD 142.03bn, from USD 138.50bn at end-2025.

Kuwait Finance House (KFH), meanwhile, recorded a 1.3 per cent half-year decline in assets to USD 137.11bn at end-June, from USD 138.88bn at end-2025, making the shift between ninth and 10th place a direct reflection of the contrasting direction of asset growth at the two banks.

Overall, the top 10 at end-June 2026 remained stable, while the ranking itself saw notable movement. Six banks changed positions, while four retained their places compared with end-2025.

This divergence highlights how competition at the top has become increasingly shaped by differences in growth rates, particularly as asset gaps among leading banks narrow.

Even modest variations in expansion can therefore be enough to alter ranking positions, underscoring that a stable top-10 line-up does not necessarily translate into a stable order as the gaps between banks continue to shift from one reporting period to the next.