The Big Numbers Race: Alinma, Banque Saudi Fransi pursue Attijariwafa in Arab rankings

The ranking of the largest Arab banks is no longer defined by wide disparities in financial position scale.

June 2026 data reveal a narrowing gap between Attijariwafa, Alinma Bank and Banque Saudi Fransi, despite marked differences in asset growth rates, raising the prospect of further shifts in their ranking positions.

According to First Bank’s ranking of the Top 100 Arab Banks by the end of June 2026, Attijariwafa ranked 15th among Arab banks, followed by Alinma Bank in 16th place and Banque Saudi Fransi in 17th.

The ranking highlights an exceptional convergence in balance sheet, with the gap between the leading bank in the group and the bank in last place standing at approximately USD 645 mn, equivalent to less than 1 per cent of the total assets of any of the three banks.

With such a narrow gap, asset growth rates are becoming increasingly important in shaping competition for the three positions, particularly given the differences in expansion rates during the first half of 2026.

While Attijariwafa Bank maintained its lead in terms of total assets, it recorded the slowest growth rate among the three banks. Its total assets rose to approximately USD 87.94 bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD 87.23 bn at the end of 2025, marking a 0.82 per cent increase on a half-year basis.

In contrast, Alinma Bank expanded at a faster pace, with its assets increasing to approximately USD 87.64 bn, compared to USD 82.93 bn at the end of 2025, representing 5.7 per cent growth on a half-year basis.

Banque Saudi Fransi recorded the highest asset growth rate among the three banks, with total assets rising to approximately USD 87.29 bn at the end of June 2026, compared to USD 82.38 bn at the end of last year, marking a 6 per cent increase on a half-year basis.

This increase is particularly significant given the current convergence in total assets. Attijariwafa Bank added approximately USD 710 mn to its assets during the period, compared to USD 4.71 bn for Alinma Bank and USD 4.91 bn for Banque Saudi Fransi.

This means that the latter two banks narrowed the gap with Attijariwafa in just six months, increasing the likelihood of a reshuffle in their rankings if the differences in growth rates persist during the second half of the year.

The differences among the three banks extend beyond their performance in the first half of 2026 to their longer-term asset growth trajectories.

Alinma Bank recorded the highest three-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in assets, measured from the end of 2022 through June 2026, at approximately 15.2 per cent, compared to 11.4 per cent for Attijariwafa and 10.4 per cent for Banque Saudi Fransi.

These rates highlight differences in the pace of asset growth among the three banks. Growth rates in the first half of 2026 did not align with their CAGRs over the longer period: Banque Saudi Fransi led in asset growth during the first half of 2026, while Alinma Bank recorded the highest CAGR over the longer timeframe.

This underscores how the banks’ relative performance varies depending on the period under comparison.

Assuming the three banks maintain their H1 2026 growth rates through the second half, Alinma Bank’s assets could reach approximately USD 92.61bn by end-2026, compared with around USD 92.50bn for Banque Saudi Fransi and USD 88.66bn for Attijariwafa bank.

These projections are based on a scenario in which each bank sustains the same pace of asset growth recorded during the first half of 2026.

Under this scenario, Alinma Bank could move ahead of the other two banks to rank first in terms of total assets by the end of 2026, followed by Banque Saudi Fransi and then Attijariwafa Bank, provided that the growth rates recorded in the first half of the year persist.

These figures remain conditional estimates rather than confirmed forecasts. The actual ranking will depend on the banks’ performance during the second half of the year, whether current asset growth rates are sustained, and any changes in the composition of their financial positions.