FirstBank

FirstBankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/First digital institution in Egypt for financial and banking ratings arجميع الحقوق محفوظة © 2026 FirstBankWed, 29 Jul 2026 07:34:09 +0200https://en.firstbankeg.com/UserFiles/SiteImages/Logo.pngFirstBankhttps://en.firstbankeg.com/https://en.firstbankeg.com/13204https://en.firstbankeg.com/13204First BankThe Race of Big Numbers: «Emirates Islamic» and «Dukhan» Battle for a Place Among the World’s Top 10 Islamic BanksThu, 23 Jul 2026 09:38:05 +02002026-07-23T09:38:05+02:00Competition among global Islamic banks continues to gain momentum as institutions seek to strengthen their positions in international rankings through faster growth and broader business expansion.Against this backdrop, the rivalry between «Emirates Islamic» and «Dukhan» has emerged as one of the most notable examples of shifting dynamics within the Islamic banking sector.According to March 2026 data, «Emirates Islamic» ranks as the 10th largest Islamic bank in the world by total assets, while «Dukhan» occupies the 11th position, with the UAE-based lender reinforcing its standing through a growth trajectory that has significantly outpaced its Qatari counterpart.«Emirates Islamic» reported total assets of 40.68 USD bn at the end of March 2026, compared with 34.72 USD bn for Dukhan Bank, widening the gap between the two institutions in the sector’s most widely used measure of scale.The advantage also extended to the deposit base, with «Emirates Islamic» recording customer deposits of 29.76 USD bn by the end of March 2026, versus 24.95 USD bn for «Dukhan» during the same period.Similarly, «Emirates Islamic» maintained its lead in financing activity, as net customer financing reached 25.65 USD bn at the end of March 2026, compared with 24.97 USD bn for Dukhan Bank, further strengthening its position among the world’s leading Islamic financial institutions.The magnitude of the shift becomes even clearer when analyzing performance from the end of 2022 through March 2026. During this period, «Emirates Islamic» achieved 99.8% growth in total assets, compared with just 18.9% for «Dukhan». This enabled the UAE lender to surpass its Qatari rival by the end of 2025 before widening the asset gap to 5.97 USD bn by March 2026.In deposits, «Emirates Islamic» recorded growth of 93.9% over the past three years, compared with 21.8% for «Dukhan». This allowed it to overtake its competitor by the end of 2025 and expand the gap to 4.81 USD bn by March 2026, reflecting its success in attracting deposits and strengthening its funding base.The same trend was evident in financing activity, where Emirates Islamic posted 94.7% growth in net customer financing over the period, compared with 20.1% for «Dukhan». Having surpassed its rival by the end of 2025, the bank further widened the gap to approximately 679.14 USD mn by March 2026, supported by a significantly stronger pace of expansion.Emirates Islamic’s advantage also extended to profitability indicators. The bank generated net profit of USD 231.36 mn during the first quarter of 2026, exceeding Dukhan Bank’s 117.89 USD mn during the same period, highlighting a stronger ability to translate operational growth into earnings.In addition, «Emirates Islamic» reported a return on average assets of 2.30% during the first quarter of 2026, compared with 1.38% for «Dukhan», indicating greater efficiency in utilizing assets to generate returns.At the same time, the bank achieved a return on average equity of 20.47%, compared with 11.18% for Dukhan Bank during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting a stronger capacity to generate value for shareholders and deliver higher profitability.On the capital front, «Emirates Islamic» reported capital of 1.48 USD bn at the end of March 2026, slightly above Dukhan Bank’s 1.44 USD bn, providing a solid foundation to support future expansion plans.These financial indicators suggest that the shift in competitive positioning between the two banks is not the result of temporary growth, but rather reflects a clear and sustained advantage in expansion across multiple banking activities.Having overtaken «Dukhan» by the end of 2025, «Emirates Islamic» continued to strengthen its position during Q1 of 2026, consolidating its place among the world’s top 10 Islamic banks.Nevertheless, competition between the two institutions remains open. The current gap could still change in the coming years should Dukhan Bank succeed in accelerating its growth trajectory and enhancing its operating performance, enabling it to narrow the difference and challenge once again for the tenth position globally.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13200https://en.firstbankeg.com/13200First BankFirst Index: Deposit Race Intensifies in the UAE Banking Market as the Gap Between «FAB» and «Emirates NBD» Falls to Its Lowest Level in Five YearsWed, 22 Jul 2026 14:22:09 +02002026-07-22T14:22:09+02:00In banking, the gap between competitors does not merely reflect the scale of leadership; it also reveals the direction of competition. Under normal circumstances, a widening gap indicates that the market leader is growing faster than its rivals, while a narrowing gap suggests that competing institutions are expanding at a quicker pace, even if market rankings remain unchanged.For this reason, tracking the gap between major banks is one of the most effective ways to identify underlying shifts in competition, as it highlights how the distance between leading institutions evolves over time.As part of its ongoing monitoring of developments in the Arab banking sector—particularly the intensifying competition among major banks across key financial portfolios—First Bank’s latest analysis revealed a growing battle between «FAB» and «Emirates NBD» for leadership in the UAE deposits market.According to consolidated financial statements, the gap between the two banking groups in customer deposits stood at 43.07 USD bn at the end of 2021, before widening to 53.82 USD bn by the end of 2022.However, the competitive landscape began to shift in 2023, as the gap narrowed to 47.74 USD bn, then declined further to 31.48 USD bn by the end of 2024. The sharpest contraction came during 2025, when the difference fell to 14.91 USD bn.By the end of Q1 of 2026, the gap had narrowed once again to 11.13 USD bn, marking its lowest level in five years and reflecting the continued acceleration in convergence between the two banking groups within the UAE deposits market.Looking at the individual performance of both institutions during Q1 of 2026, FAB’s customer deposits increased to 237.09 USD bn by the end of March, compared with 228.92 USD bn at year-end 2025, representing an increase of 8.17 USD bn and a quarterly growth rate of 3.6%.Meanwhile, «Emirates NBD» delivered a stronger performance, with customer deposits rising to 225.96 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 214.01 USD bn at the end of 2025. This represents an increase of 11.95 USD bn in just three months and a quarterly growth rate of 5.6%.These results indicate that the shrinking gap was not driven by slower growth at the market leader. Rather, it was fueled by the faster expansion of «Emirates NBD», which succeeded in attracting new deposits at a pace exceeding that of its competitor, leading directly to the continued reduction in the difference between the two institutions.This competition is particularly significant because deposits represent the cornerstone of banks’ funding structures and remain the lowest-cost source of financing for lending activities and business expansion.Consequently, banks that achieve stronger deposit growth not only expand the size of their balance sheets but also enhance their future capacity for growth and profitability.With the gap reaching its lowest level in five years, the race for leadership in the UAE deposits market appears more open than ever. The key question now is whether «Emirates NBD» can continue narrowing the gap and eventually claim the top spot, or whether «FAB» will regain momentum and maintain its position at the summit?https://en.firstbankeg.com/13199https://en.firstbankeg.com/13199First BankFirst Index: Dirham Stability Supports UAE Banks’ Rankings in First Bank’s Top 100 Arab Banks ListWed, 22 Jul 2026 10:34:43 +02002026-07-22T10:34:43+02:00Exchange rate movements have become one of the most influential factors affecting bank performance and rankings worldwide, particularly as most regional and international rankings rely on converting financial statements into U.S. dollars to ensure comparability across banking institutions.During Q1 of 2026, geopolitical developments—most notably the military escalation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran—placed pressure on global foreign exchange markets. This affected the currencies of several countries and, consequently, the U.S. dollar value of banks’ financial statements, despite some institutions continuing to record growth in their local currencies.In contrast, UAE banks emerged as key beneficiaries of the stability of the UAE dirham against the U.S. dollar (at approximately AED 3.6725 per USD). This stability helped neutralize the impact of currency fluctuations on financial statements and preserve the dollar value of key financial indicators, supporting the stability of their positions in regional and international rankings.The results of First Bank’s Top 100 Arab Banks ranking by the end of March 2026 confirm this trend. UAE banks demonstrated a high degree of stability compared with many of their regional peers, with 11 out of the 18 UAE banks included in the ranking maintaining their positions unchanged from year-end 2025.First Abu Dhabi Bank retained its position at the top of the ranking, while Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank remained sixth. Dubai Islamic Bank held on to 12th place, Mashreq Bank maintained 13th place, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank remained 19th, and Commercial Bank of Dubai continued to rank 31st.Emirates Islamic Bank also maintained its position at 32nd place, Sharjah Islamic Bank remained 43rd, Ajman Bank held 76th place, while United Arab Bank and Commercial International Bank – UAE retained 80th and 83rd places, respectively.Meanwhile, five UAE banks succeeded in improving their positions in the ranking, supported by growth in their asset bases. Most notably, «Emirates NBD» advanced to third place from fourth, after its assets increased by 4.5% quarter-on-quarter to reach 331.24 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 317.04 USD bn at year-end 2025.National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah also moved up one position to rank 39th by the end of March 2026, compared with 40th at the end of 2025.WIO Bank recorded the strongest upward movement among UAE banks, climbing four places to 55th position from 59th, supported by 5.9% quarter-on-quarter asset growth, with total assets reaching 17.60 USD bn by the end of March 2026, compared with 16.63 USD bn at year-end 2025.Bank of Sharjah advanced three positions to rank 64th by the end of March 2026, compared with 67th at year-end 2025, benefiting from 13.1% quarter-on-quarter asset growth, which lifted its assets to 14.89 USD bn from 13.17 USD bn. The Investment Bank also moved up one position to rank 98th.On the other hand, declines were limited to only two banks. National Bank of Fujairah slipped one position to 50th place, while National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain fell one place to 82nd. These modest movements further highlight the relative stability of UAE banks within the ranking.The first-quarter 2026 results demonstrate that exchange-rate stability contributes not only to currency stability itself but also to enhancing banks’ competitiveness in regional and international rankings.As these rankings are based on U.S. dollar-denominated comparisons, the strength and stability of the UAE dirham provided local banks with a relative advantage by preserving the dollar value of their financial positions. This helped maintain the stability of their rankings compared with banks whose local currencies experienced fluctuations, even when some of those institutions achieved strong growth in local-currency terms.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13195https://en.firstbankeg.com/13195First BankFirst Index: «Al Etihad», «FAB», and «WIO» Among the Fastest-Growing Large Arab Banks by Assets in Q1 2026First Banks ranking of the Top 10 Fastest-Growing Large Arab Banks by Assets in Q1 2026 revealed Bank al EtihTue, 21 Jul 2026 13:53:30 +02002026-07-21T13:53:30+02:00First 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.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13194https://en.firstbankeg.com/13194The Race of Big Numbers: Who Leads the Turkish Banking Sector? A Look at the Competition Between Ziraat Bankası and Türkiye İş BankasıIn a highly competitive banking market, leadership is not merely about having the largest balance sheet it reTue, 21 Jul 2026 13:05:10 +02002026-07-21T13:05:10+02:00In a highly competitive banking market, leadership is not merely about having the largest balance sheet; it reflects a bank’s ability to expand its business base at a pace that outperforms competitors and to translate that growth into higher profitability and better operational efficiency.Data from March 2026 shows that Ziraat Bankası continues to solidify its position as Turkey’s largest bank, maintaining a comfortable lead over Türkiye İş Bankası, which ranks second. This highlights the widening gap between the two institutions across most key financial indicators.According to the data, Ziraat Bankası’s total assets reached approximately $216.84 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $130.09 billion for Türkiye İş Bankası, reflecting the broader scale of its operations and its leadership in the Turkish market.A similar picture emerges in deposits: Ziraat Bankası recorded a deposit portfolio of $136.31 billion, compared to about $75.20 billion for Türkiye İş Bankası by the end of March 2026. This indicates that Ziraat has a larger funding base, giving it greater flexibility to support growth and expansion.The bank also maintained its lead in lending activity, with net loans reaching $115.03 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $65.60 billion for Türkiye İş Bankası during the same period—underscoring its continued dominance in financing various sectors of the economy.This superiority is not only due to its current size but also its growth pace over the past three years (from the end of 2022 to March 2026). Ziraat Bankası recorded asset growth of 58.9%, compared to 41.9% for Türkiye İş Bankası. As a result, the gap between the two banks widened from $44.77 billion at the end of 2022 to $86.75 billion by March 2026.On the deposits side, although Türkiye İş Bankası achieved a higher growth rate of 47.7% compared to 31.5% for Ziraat Bankası over the past three years, Ziraat’s larger starting base allowed it not only to maintain its lead but also widen the gap in deposit volume to $61.11 billion by March 2026, up from $52.78 billion at the end of 2022.In lending, Ziraat Bankası combined both larger scale and faster growth, with its loan portfolio increasing by 51% over the past three years, compared to 39.8% for Türkiye İş Bankası. This pushed the gap between them to $49.42 billion by March 2026, up from $29.27 billion in 2022.This advantage also extended to profitability. Ziraat Bankası recorded net profits of $1.15 billion in Q1 2026, compared to $577.38 million for Türkiye İş Bankası during the same period—demonstrating a stronger ability to convert business growth into actual profits.Efficiency indicators further reflect this strength: return on assets reached 2.12% for Ziraat Bankası versus 1.81% for Türkiye İş Bankası, while return on equity stood at 27.09% compared to 20.12% in Q1 2026, confirming more efficient use of resources and higher returns for shareholders.This dominance is reinforced by a stronger capital base, with Ziraat Bankası’s capital reaching approximately $1.90 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $562.38 million for Türkiye İş Bankası. This provides greater capacity to finance expansion plans, absorb risks, and sustain competitive momentum in the coming years.These indicators suggest that competition between Ziraat Bankası and Türkiye İş Bankası will continue in the years ahead. However, maintaining leadership will depend not only on balance sheet size, but also on each bank’s ability to achieve sustainable growth without compromising asset quality or profitability levels.While Ziraat Bankası enters the next phase supported by a larger business and capital base, Türkiye İş Bankası still has an opportunity to narrow the gap if it can sustain high growth rates and translate them into faster expansion in assets and lending—making the competition between Turkey’s two largest banks likely to intensify as the sector continues to evolve.Despite ongoing competition, the current widening gap places Ziraat Bankası in a stronger position moving forward, backed by the largest asset, lending, and deposit base in the market.Accordingly, the main challenge for Türkiye İş Bankası in the near term will not be overtaking the lead, but gradually narrowing the gap by achieving growth rates that outperform the market, thereby sustaining competitive momentum within the Turkish banking sector.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13193https://en.firstbankeg.com/13193Al Rajhi Bank records the highest profits among Arab banks in the first quarter of 2026Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:59:46 +02002026-07-21T12:59:46+02:00The latest rankings by “First Bank” revealed that Al Rajhi Bank has topped the list of the most profitable Arab banks in the region during the first quarter of 2026.This achievement was supported by net profits of $1.80 billion in Q1 2026, compared to $1.58 billion during the same period in 2025, reflecting a growth rate of 14.4%.The ranking was based on ordering banks according to their announced net profits, converted into U.S. dollars, providing a unified comparison tool across different banking institutions. It also excluded banks lacking official data to ensure accuracy and reliability of the methodology.Overall, Al Rajhi Bank delivered strong performance this year, with income from financing and investments rising by approximately 18.4% to reach $2.24 billion in Q1 2026, compared to $1.89 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.Banking service fees increased to $427.21 million in the first three months of 2026, up from $365.96 million during the same period in 2025, marking a growth rate of 16.7%.Its customer deposits portfolio grew by about 1.7% during Q1 2026, reaching $180.85 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $177.91 billion at the end of 2025.Net financing rose to $200.83 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $200.69 billion at the end of 2025, representing a quarterly growth rate of 0.1%.Shareholders’ equity increased to $40.67 billion by the end of March 2026, up from $38.10 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting approximately 6.7% growth on a quarterly basis.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13192https://en.firstbankeg.com/13192Kerolous Marzouk12 Banking Institutions Achieve the Biggest Rise in First Bank’s Ranking of the Largest Arab Banks by March 2026Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:04:43 +02002026-07-21T11:04:43+02:00First 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.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13191https://en.firstbankeg.com/13191Al Rajhi Bank was the highest-profit Arab bank during the first quarter of 2026Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:21:37 +02002026-07-21T10:21:37+02:00The latest First Bank rankings revealed that Al Rajhi Bank topped the list of the most profitable Arab banks in the Arab world during the first quarter of 2026.The bank achieved net profits of USD 1.80 billion during the first quarter of 2026, compared with USD 1.58 billion during the same period in 2025, representing a growth rate of 14.4%.The ranking was based on banks' reported net profits denominated in U.S. dollars, providing a unified basis for comparison among banking institutions. Banks with no officially disclosed financial data were excluded from the ranking to ensure the accuracy of the results and the reliability of the adopted methodology.Overall, Al Rajhi Bank delivered a strong performance during the current year, with income from financing and investments increasing by 18.4% to USD 2.24 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared with USD 1.89 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.Banking service fees rose to USD 427.21 million during the first three months of 2026, up from USD 365.96 million during the same period of 2025, reflecting a growth rate of 16.7%.The bank's customer deposits portfolio increased by 1.7% during the first quarter of the year, reaching USD 180.85 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with USD 177.91 billion at the end of 2025.Meanwhile, net financing rose to USD 200.83 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with USD 200.69 billion at the end of 2025, representing a quarter-on-quarter growth of 0.1%.The bank's shareholders' equity increased to USD 40.67 billion at the end of March 2026, up from USD 38.10 billion at the end of 2025, marking a quarter-on-quarter growth of approximately 6.7%.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13184https://en.firstbankeg.com/13184First Bank61 Gulf Banks Account for 88% of the Profits of the Largest 100 Arab Banks During Q1 2026First Banks ranking of the Top 100 Arab Banks by Net Profit in Q1 of 2026 revealed the continued dominance ofMon, 20 Jul 2026 15:16:52 +02002026-07-20T15:16:52+02:00First Bank’s ranking of the Top 100 Arab Banks by Net Profit in Q1 of 2026 revealed the continued dominance of Gulf banks across the Arab banking landscape. Banks from the GCC countries occupied 61 positions in the ranking, generating a combined net profit of 17.36 USD bn, accounting for approximately 88% of the total net profits recorded by the 100 banks included in the list. This highlights the continued concentration of profitability within the Arab banking sector in the Gulf economies.The UAE ranked first among GCC countries in terms of total net profits, with its banks generating 6.63 USD bn during Q1 of 2026, representing around 38% of the profits earned by GCC banks included in the ranking. This underscores the significant weight of UAE banks within the Gulf banking sector.«Emirates NBD» led this performance, reporting a net profit of 1.75 USD bn, followed by First Abu Dhabi Bank with 1.37 USD bn. Together, the two banks accounted for nearly half of the profits generated by UAE banks featured in the ranking.Saudi Arabia ranked second, with only a narrow gap behind the UAE, as 10 Saudi banks generated combined net profits of 6.39 USD bn, reflecting the strong profitability base of the Kingdom’s banking sector.Al Rajhi Bank led the Saudi banking sector and topped the ranking of the most profitable Arab banks during Q1 of 2026, reporting net profits of 1.80 USD bn. Saudi National Bank ranked second among Saudi banks with net profits totaling 1.71 USD bn.Qatar came in third place, with 9 Qatari banks recording aggregate net profits of 2.08 USD bnduring Q1 of 2026.Qatar National Bank alone accounted for more than half of the profits generated by Qatari banks included in the ranking, posting net profits of 1.21 USD bn. It was followed by Qatar Islamic Bank, which recorded net profits of 270 USD mn during the period.In Kuwait, 9 banks generated combined net profits of 1.50 USD bn, placing the Kuwaiti banking sector fourth among GCC countries.«Kuwait Finance House» led the Kuwaiti market with net profits of 714 USD mn, benefiting from its position as the country’s largest Islamic bank. «National Bank of Kuwait» ranked second with net profits of 478 USD mn, with both banks continuing to drive profitability within the Kuwaiti banking sector.Bahrain ranked fifth, with 8 banks generating total net profits of 398 USD mn during Q1 of 2026.Al Baraka Banking Group led Bahraini banks with net profits of 93 USD mn, followed by Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait with 69.7 USD mn. The Bahraini banking market remains characterized by relatively balanced profitability levels across several institutions compared with larger Gulf markets.The Sultanate of Oman ranked sixth among GCC countries, with 7 banks reporting combined net profits of 360 USD mn during Q1 of 2026.Bank Muscat led Omani banks with net profits of 166 USD mn, followed by Sohar International Bank with 68 USD mn, reflecting the continued concentration of profitability among a limited number of leading banks within the Omani banking sector.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13162https://en.firstbankeg.com/13162First Bank«First Bank» Ranking of the largest 100 Arab Banks by Loans - March 2026QNB Reinforces Its Leadership with Loans Reaching USD 282.04 BillionStrong Credit Concentration: Top 10 BanksMon, 13 Jul 2026 15:09:36 +02002026-07-13T15:09:36+02:00<h3>QNB Reinforces Its Leadership with Loans Reaching USD 282.04 Billion</h3><h3>Strong Credit Concentration: Top 10 Banks Account for Half of Arab Banking Sector Loans</h3><h3>Top 10 Banks’ Loan Portfolios Reach USD 1.52 Trillion, Up 2.3% in Q1 2026</h3><h3>Relative Stability Among the Largest Lenders in the Arab World</h3>The latest «First Bank» ranking of the Top 100 Arab Banks by loan portfolio as of March 2026 highlighted the continued concentration of credit activity within the Arab banking sector, with the top 10 banks accounting for approximately 50% of the total loans extended by banks included in the ranking.The combined loan portfolio of the top 10 banks reached approximately USD 1.52 trillion, compared with total loans of USD 2.99 trillion for all banks featured in the ranking as of March 2026.The top 10 banks also recorded a 2.3% growth in their aggregate loan portfolios during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the continued lending momentum among the region’s largest banking institutions.The ranking was based on banks’ reported loan portfolios as of March 2026, converted into U.S. dollars to provide a unified basis for comparison across banking institutions.Banks with unavailable official financial data were excluded to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the ranking methodology.The ranking reflected relative stability among the top 10 lenders in the Arab world, with the only change being the advancement of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) to eighth place, while National Bank of Egypt (NBE) slipped to ninth place compared with the year-end 2025 ranking.This decline was primarily driven by the depreciation of the Egyptian pound against the U.S. dollar amid geopolitical tensions in the region during early 2026, which negatively affected the dollar value of the bank’s loan portfolio.Regarding the ranking of the largest Arab lenders as of March 2026, Qatar National Bank (QNB) retained the top position with a loan portfolio of USD 282.04 billion.Al Rajhi Bank ranked second with loans totaling USD 200.83 billion at the end of March 2026.Saudi National Bank secured third place with a loan portfolio of approximately USD 195.22 billion by the end of the same period.Emirates NBD ranked fourth with loans amounting to approximately USD 184.53 billion as of March 2026.First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) captured fifth place with a loan portfolio of USD 181.73 billion at the end of March.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) ranked sixth with loans totaling USD 115.90 billion as of March 2026.Riyad Bank came in seventh place, reporting a loan portfolio of approximately USD 100.47 billion at the end of March.National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) ranked eighth with loans of approximately USD 88.87 billion as of March 2026.National Bank of Egypt (NBE) occupied ninth place, with loans reaching approximately USD 87.15 billion by the end of March.The tenth position went to SAB, which reported a loan portfolio of approximately USD 81.78 billion as of March 2026.The ranking included parent banking groups across the Arab world and excluded their foreign subsidiaries and operations outside their home markets.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13126https://en.firstbankeg.com/13126FAB Strengthens Its Regional Leadership Tops «First Bank» Ranking of the 100 Largest Arab Banks as of March 2026Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:58:17 +02002026-06-29T23:58:17+02:00According to «First Bank» ranking of the 100 Largest Arab Banks as of March 2026, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) secured the top position after its total assets increased to US$405.78 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$382.23 billion at the end of 2025, representing a quarter-on-quarter growth rate of 6.2%. The achievement further reinforces the bank’s leadership in the Arab banking sector.The ranking was based on reported total assets as of the end of March 2026, converted into U.S. dollars, providing a standardized basis for comparing banking institutions across the region. Banks without officially disclosed financial data were excluded to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the methodology.In addition to its asset growth, FAB delivered solid financial performance during the first quarter of 2026. Customer deposits increased by 3.6% to reach US$237.09 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$228.92 billion at the end of 2025.The bank’s loan portfolio also recorded strong growth, rising by 8.3% on a quarter-on-quarter basis to US$181.73 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$167.81 billion at the end of 2025.FAB reported net profit of approximately US$1.37 billion during the first quarter of 2026, compared with US$1.40 billion during the first quarter of 2025.Net interest income increased by 7.5% to US$1.31 billion during the first quarter of 2026, up from US$1.22 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.Meanwhile, net income from Islamic financing and investment products surged by 50.0%, reaching US$220.24 million during the first quarter of 2026, compared with US$146.75 million during the first quarter of 2025.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13125https://en.firstbankeg.com/13125QNB Group Leads the Middle East and North Africa’s banks in Customer Deposits and LoansMon, 29 Jun 2026 23:53:35 +02002026-06-29T23:53:35+02:00According to the latest First Bank rankings, QNB Group ranked as the largest banking group in the Middle East and North Africa by both customer deposits and loan portfolio at the end of 2025.The Group's customer deposits reached US$261.40 billion at the end of 2025, while its total loan portfolio stood at US$278.54 billion over the same period.QNB Group continued to strengthen its customer deposit base during the first quarter of 2026, with deposits increasing to US$267.25 billion by the end of March, representing an increase of US$5.85 billion and a growth rate of 2.2%.The Group also expanded its lending portfolio, which grew by 1.3% during the first quarter of 2026 to reach US$282.04 billion at the end of March, an increase of US$3.50 billion.QNB Group also delivered solid financial performance during the first quarter of 2026, demonstrating its resilience amid the region’s ongoing geopolitical challenges. Total assets increased to US$386.91 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$380.67 billion at the end of 2025, representing an increase of US$6.24 billion and a growth rate of 1.6%.The Group reported net profit of US$1.21 billion during the first quarter of 2026, compared with US$1.19 billion during the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 1.7%.Profit before tax reached US$1.59 billion during the first three months of 2026, compared with US$1.52 billion during the corresponding period of 2025, representing a growth rate of 4.2%.Net interest income increased by 8.0% to US$2.59 billion during the first quarter of 2026, compared with US$2.40 billion in the same period of 2025.Meanwhile, net fee and commission income grew by 10.6% to US$373.74 million during the first three months of 2026, compared with US$337.80 million during the corresponding period of 2025.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13122https://en.firstbankeg.com/13122First BankGulf Banks Account for 71% of Profits Among the Middle East and North Africa’s Top 100 Most Profitable BanksMon, 29 Jun 2026 23:35:48 +02002026-06-29T23:35:48+02:00A total of 55 Gulf banking brands secured places in First Bank’s ranking of the Top 100 MostProfitable Banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for 2025, reinforcing their dominance of the regional banking landscape. Collectively, these banks accounted for approximately 71% of the total profits generated by the institutions on the list, posting combined net earnings of US$61.18 billion.The ranking was based onreported net profits, converted intoU.S. dollars, providing astandardized basis for comparing banking institutions across the region. Banks without officially disclosed financial data were excluded to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the methodology. The ranking coversparent banking institutionsacross MENA and excludes their foreign subsidiaries.UAE banks led the Gulf banking sector, securing 17 positions in the ranking and generating US$25.49 billion in net profits during 2025, representing approximately 27% of the totalprofitsearned by the Top 100 banks.The UAE banks included in the ranking are:Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), Dubai Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Mashreq, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Emirates Islamic, National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBANK), Sharjah Islamic Bank, National Bank of Fujairah, Bank of Sharjah, Wio Bank, National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain, Ajman Bank, United Arab Bank,andCommercial International Bank – UAE.Saudi Arabian banks ranked second, with 10 banks featured in the list, generating combined net profits of US$24.67 billion in 2025 and accounting for approximately 26% of the ranking’s total profits.The Saudi banks included:Saudi National Bank (SNB), Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), Alinma Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Arab National Bank (ANB), Bank Albilad, Saudi Investment Bank (SAIB),andBank AlJazira.The Kuwaiti banking sector was represented by nine banks, which generated combined net profits of US$5.84 billion, equivalent to approximately 6% of the total profits recorded by the Top 100 banks.The Kuwaiti banks were:Kuwait Finance House (KFH), National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Boubyan Bank, Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK), Gulf Bank, Warba Bank, Burgan Bank, andKuwait International Bank (KIB).Meanwhile, the Qatari banking sector secured eight positions in the ranking, accounting for approximately 8.8% of total profits, after generating US$8.23 billion in net earnings during 2025.The Qatari banks included:Qatar National Bank (QNB), Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Commercial Bank of Qatar, Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB), Masraf Al Rayan, Dukhan Bank, Ahlibank Qatar, andDoha Bank.Similarly, Bahraini banks occupied six positions in the ranking, accounting for approximately 1.7% of total profits, with combined net earnings of US$1.57 billion during 2025.The Bahraini banks included:Al Baraka Banking Group, Bank ABC, National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), Al Salam Bank, Gulf International Bank (GIB),andBBK (Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait).Banks from the Sultanate of Oman secured five positions in the ranking, generating combined net profits of US$1.36 billion in 2025, representing approximately 1.4% of the Top 100 banks’ total profits.The Omani banks included:Bank Muscat, Sohar International, National Bank of Oman (NBO), Bank Dhofar,andAhli Bank Oman.Overall, the ranking highlights the Gulf banking sector’s continued leadership in profitability, driven primarily by the financial strength ofUAE and Saudi banks, which together accounted for more than half of the total profits generated by the Top 100 Most Profitable Banks in the Middle East and North Africaduring 2025.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13121https://en.firstbankeg.com/13121Huge Gap, Clear Leader.. The Battle for the Top Spot in Jordan’s Banking SectorMon, 29 Jun 2026 23:26:20 +02002026-06-29T23:26:20+02:00The recent trajectories of Arab Bank and Bank al Etihad reflect two distinct growth models within Jordan’s banking sector. While Arab Bank has maintained its position as the country's largest banking institution in terms of size and financial strength, Bank al Etihad has achieved remarkable expansion, strengthening its competitive position through a combination of organic growth and an expansion strategy supported by acquisitions. These acquisitions have accelerated the development of its business base and broadened its banking footprint.An analysis of the financial indicators as of March 2026 shows that Arab Bank continues to dominate the sector in terms of scale, while Bank al Etihad has posted comparatively higher growth rates over recent years. This highlights the contrasting strategies pursued by the two institutions: one built on historical scale and financial resilience, and the other on accelerated growth and increasing market share.According to March 2026 financial data, Arab Bank remains the largest bank in Jordan by total assets, with US$78.97 billion, while Bank al Etihad ranks second with US$18.75 billion, underscoring the significant gap between the two institutions.The disparity is equally evident in customer deposits. Arab Bank's deposit portfolio reached approximately US$55.16 billion by the end of 2025, compared toUS$14.22billion for Bank al Etihad, reflecting the difference in customer base size and the breadth of each bank's business network.The gap also extends to lending activity. Arab Bank's net loan portfolio totaled approximately US$38.18 billion as of March 2026, compared to US$9.65 billion for Bank al Etihad, reaffirming Arab Bank's superior financing capacity.However, a closer look at growth dynamics over the past three years (from the end of 2022 to March 2026) presents a different picture. During this period, Bank al Etihad expanded its total assets by 98.6%, significantly outpacing Arab Bank's 22.5% growth.Despite this impressive expansion, it was not sufficient to narrow the absolute gap between the two banks. Instead, the difference in total assets widened from US$55.02billion at the end of 2022 to US$60.23 billion by March 2026 in favor of Arab Bank.A similar trend is observed in deposits. Bank al Etihad recorded deposit growth of 94.4% over the three-year period, compared with 21.8% for Arab Bank. Consequently, the deposit gap widened to US$40.94 billion by March 2026, up from US$37.97 billion at the end of 2022.On the lending side, Bank al Etihad also posted faster growth, expanding its loan portfolio by 71.4% over the same period, compared with 20.3% for Arab Bank. Nevertheless, the financing gap increased from US$26.10 billion at the end of 2022 to US$28.53 billion by March 2026.Profitability indicators continue to demonstrate the strength of Arab Bank's business model. The bank reported net profit of US$276 million during the first quarter of 2026, compared with US$52 million for Bank al Etihad over the same period.Arab Bank also delivered stronger operational efficiency in terms of Return on AverageAssets (ROAA), posting 1.40%, compared with 1.15% for Bank al Etihad during the first quarter of 2026.Conversely, Bank al Etihad outperformed Arab Bank in Return on Equity (ROE), achieving 18.93% versus 8.38%, reflecting greater efficiency in utilizing shareholders' equity and generating higher returns for investors.Regarding capital strength, Arab Bank maintains a clear advantage that supports its future expansion capacity. As of March 2026, its paid-up capital stood at approximately US$927 million, compared with US$459 million for Bank al Etihad, providing greater financial flexibility to support growth and absorb operational challenges.Overall, the data confirms that Arab Bank continues to lead Jordan's banking sector in terms of size and financial strength, benefiting from a broad business base and a solid financial position. Meanwhile, Bank al Etihad represents a different growth model focused on accelerating expansion and enhancing operational efficiency.Bank al Etihad's strong performance in recent years reflects a combination of organic growth, improved operational performance, and strategic acquisitions that have enabled it to expand its business base and strengthen its market presence, resulting in exceptionally high growth rates over a relatively short period.Nevertheless, the substantial difference in scale continues to favor Arab Bank, remaining the decisive factor behind its market leadership and superior financing capacity.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13124https://en.firstbankeg.com/13124Saudi National Bank the Most Profitable Bank in the Middle East and North AfricaMon, 29 Jun 2026 23:51:29 +02002026-06-23T13:09:00+02:00According to First Bank’s ranking of the Top 100 Most Profitable Banks in the Middle East and North Africa for 2025, Saudi National Bank (SNB) ranked first on the list.The bank secured the top position after reporting net profit of US$6.66 billion in 2025, compared with US$5.61 billion in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 18.7%.The ranking was based on reported net profits, converted into U.S. dollars, providing a standardized basis for comparing banking institutions across the region. Banks without officially disclosed financial data were excluded to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the methodology.The bank continued to deliver strong earnings during the current year, reporting net profit of US$1.71 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared with US$1.60 billion during the same period of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.4%.Overall, Saudi National Bank maintained solid financial performance during the year. Its total assets increased to US$327.38 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$322.61 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter growth rate of 1.5%.Customer deposits rose by 4.6% during the first quarter of 2026, reaching US$177.34 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$169.59 billion at the end of 2025.The bank's net financing portfolio increased to US$195.25 billion at the end of March 2026, up from US$194.44 billion at the end of 2025, representing a quarter-on-quarter growth rate of 0.4%.Shareholders’ equity also grew to US$57.20 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$54.34 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter increase of 5.3%.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13069https://en.firstbankeg.com/13069The Big Numbers Race: Fierce Battle Between »Alinma« and »BSF« for Membership in the Saudi Market's Big Five ClubWed, 17 Jun 2026 17:19:28 +02002026-06-17T17:19:28+02:00The competition between Banque Saudi Fransi and Alinma Bank is no longer merely a comparison between two closely ranked banks; over recent years, it has evolved into a direct race for a place among the top five in the Saudi banking sector, amid a clear convergence in the size of their balance sheets, with a fundamental difference in growth strategy.While Banque Saudi Fransi possesses a well-established banking base and a historical presence among the Kingdom’s largest banks, Alinma Bank has, in recent years, succeeded in building strong growth momentum that enabled it to rapidly narrow the gap, and even surpass its competitor in a number of key indicators, making the competition between the two sides more intense for leading positions.According to March 2026 data, Banque Saudi Fransi ranks fifth among Saudi banks, while Alinma Bank comes sixth.At the level of financial position, Banque Saudi Fransi’s total assets reached approximately $86.55 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $86.41 billion for Alinma Bank during the same period.In the deposits market, Alinma Bank’s portfolio reached approximately $63.84 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $53.18 billion for Banque Saudi Fransi during the same period.In financing, Alinma Bank’s portfolio reached approximately $63.50 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $59.13 billion for Banque Saudi Fransi at the end of the same period.When analyzing growth trends over the past three years—specifically from the end of 2022 to the end of March 2026—clear shifts in the balance of competition between the two banks appear; Alinma Bank’s asset portfolio increased by 62% during that period, compared to a growth of 40.1% for Banque Saudi Fransi.This difference in growth pace led to a significant narrowing of the gap between the two banks, after it stood at about $8.42 billion at the end of 2022, declining to approximately $138.44 million by the end of March 2026.Alinma Bank succeeded in surpassing Banque Saudi Fransi in total assets specifically by the end of 2025, before Banque Saudi Fransi regained the lead by a slight margin during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the intensity of competition and the close positioning of both parties in terms of size.This trend extends to the deposit base, as Alinma Bank achieved growth of about 65.3% over the past three years, compared to 26.8% for Banque Saudi Fransi during the same period.This growth enabled Alinma Bank to surpass its competitor in the deposit portfolio by the end of 2024, and even widen the gap between them to reach approximately $10.66 billion by the end of March 2026.With regard to financing, Alinma Bank recorded strong growth in net loans of 62.9% over the past three years, compared to 39.8% for Banque Saudi Fransi, enabling it to surpass its competitor in this indicator by the end of 2025, with the gap widening between them to approximately $4.47 billion.At the profitability level, Alinma Bank recorded net profits of $447.25 million during the first quarter of 2026, with a return on average assets of 2.11% and a return on average equity of 13.72%.In contrast, Banque Saudi Fransi recorded net profits of $368.01 million, with a return on average assets of 1.74% and a return on average equity of 10.81% during the same period.At the level of the capital base, data shows that both banks have the same level of capital at approximately $6.66 billion by the end of March 2026, reflecting parity in the capital base between the two sides.Based on the above data, the competition between Banque Saudi Fransi and Alinma Bank has gone beyond the current ranking to become a reflection of a fundamental difference in growth models; while Banque Saudi Fransi maintains its position based on a strong banking base and a long history within the market, Alinma Bank continues to strengthen its presence through faster growth rates that have enabled it to narrow the gap in size and strongly approach leading positions.With the continued convergence in performance indicators, competition for a place among the top five banks in the Kingdom has become linked to each party’s ability to maintain growth momentum and transform it into sustainable expansion and more efficient profitability.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13119https://en.firstbankeg.com/13119First BankFirst Index 2026 Outlook..Relative Stability Expected in Saudi Banks’ Rankings within First Bank’s Top 100 Arab Banks ListMon, 29 Jun 2026 23:07:19 +02002026-06-17T11:16:00+02:00In an effort to anticipate the competitive landscape of the Arab banking sector in 2026, «First Bank» has prepared forward-looking estimates for the rankings of Saudi banks within the list of the largest 100 Arab banks, based on the growth trends achieved by these institutions in recent years and their ability to continue expanding their asset bases.The projections were based on calculating the Compound Annual Growth Rate «CAGR» for each bank during the 2022–2025 period and then applying this rate to the asset values recorded at the end of 2025 to estimate their positions by the end of 2026.This model assumes that historical growth trends will continue at similar rates throughout 2026, while recognizing that exceptional developments or unusual performance fluctuations could affect the accuracy of the projections for certain banks.The forecast results indicate a state of relative stability among the ten Saudi banks included in the ranking, with five banks expected to maintain their current positions without change, while the other five may experience limited movements of only one or two places, either upward or downward.Among the banks projected to retain their rankings, Al Rajhi Bank is expected to remain the fifth-largest Arab bank, with assets rising to approximately 309 USD bn by the end of 2026, compared with 278.15 USD bn at the end of 2025.Saudi Awwal Bank «SAB» is also expected to maintain its position as the 11th-largest Arab bank, with assets growing to around 137 USD bn by the end of 2026, compared with 121.16 USD bn in 2025.Likewise, Banque Saudi Fransi «BSF» is projected to retain 17th place among Arab banks, with total assets reaching approximately 91 USD bn by the end of 2026, compared with 82.38 USD bn at the end of 2025.Arab National Bank «ANB» is also expected to maintain its 20th-place ranking, supported by an increase in assets to approximately 82 USD bn by the end of 2026, compared with 75.02 USD bn in 2025.Meanwhile, Bank AlJazira is forecast to remain in 30th place among Arab banks, with assets increasing to approximately 49 USD bn by the end of 2026, compared with 44.24 USD bn at the end of 2025.As for the banks expected to record limited movements within the ranking, the data suggest that Saudi National Bank «SNB» may slip to fourth place by the end of 2026 from third place at the end of 2025, while its assets are projected to reach approximately 350 USD bn, compared with 322.61 USD bn.Riyad Bank is expected to advance to ninth place among Arab banks from tenth place, with assets rising to around 157 USD bn by the end of 2026, compared with 138.50 USD bn at the end of 2025.Similarly, Alinma Bank is projected to move up to 15th place among Arab banks from 16th place, supported by an increase in assets to approximately 96 USD bn by the end of 2026, compared with 82.93 USD bn at the end of 2025.The Saudi Investment Bank «SAIB» is also expected to climb two positions to rank 27th among Arab banks, compared with 29th place in 2025, with assets projected to reach approximately 53 USD bn by the end of 2026, versus 46.05 USD bn at the end of 2025.On the other hand, Bank Albilad is forecast to decline to 29th place from 28th place, despite its assets being expected to increase to around 51 USD bn by the end of 2026, compared with 46.12 USD bn at the end of 2025.Overall, the projections indicate that Saudi banks will continue to occupy leading positions within the ranking of the largest 100 Arab banks by the end of 2026, supported by expected asset growth and expanding business volumes.Although some banks may experience limited ranking shifts, the broader picture reflects a high degree of relative stability, underscoring the strength of the Saudi banking sector and its solid presence within the Arab banking landscape.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13120https://en.firstbankeg.com/13120Relative Stability Among Levant Banks in «First Bank» Largest Arab Banks Ranking Over the Past Two YearsMon, 29 Jun 2026 23:15:34 +02002026-06-16T14:00:00+02:00«First Bank» Top 100 Arab Banks ranking at the end of 2025 showed that Levant banks demonstrated a moderate level of stability, recording a Stability Index of 56% compared with 2024. This indicates that changes in the rankings of these banks were relatively limited.First Bank introduced the Stability Index to measure banks' movements within the ranking based on four main categories:Full Stability: Banks that maintained the same ranking position.Relative Stability: Banks that moved between one and three positions.Moderate Movement: Banks that shifted between four and ten positions.Major Movement: Banks whose ranking changed by more than ten positions, reflecting significant shifts within the ranking.Among the 14 Levant banks included in the ranking between 2024 and 2025, Bank al Etihad (Jordan) recorded the strongest improvement, climbing 15 places to rank 53rd at the end of 2025, compared with 68th in 2024. The bank is now on the verge of joining the Top 50 Arab Banks, placing it within the Major Movement category.The improvement was supported by a 49.2% increase in total assets during 2025, with assets rising to US$17.57 billion at the end of December 2025, compared with US$11.78 billion a year earlier.<h3>Moderate Movement Category</h3>Five banks fell into the Moderate Movement category.Safwa Islamic Bank (Jordan) advanced eight positions to rank 82nd, up from 90th in 2024, after its assets increased to US$6.05 billion, compared with US$4.99 billion, representing annual growth of 21%.National Bank of Iraq climbed seven places to 92nd, compared with 99th in 2024, following a 26.6% year-on-year increase in assets to US$4.97 billion, up from US$3.93 billion.Bank of Palestine moved up five positions to rank 72nd, compared with 77th in 2024. Its assets grew by 27.4% year-on-year to US$10.65 billion, compared with US$8.36 billion.Arab Islamic International Bank (Jordan) advanced four places to 84th, up from 88th in 2024, after recording 13.3% annual asset growth, with assets reaching US$5.92 billion, compared with US$5.22 billion.In contrast, Bank Audi fell eight positions to 62nd, down from 54th in 2024, as its assets declined by 9.9% year-on-year to US$14.78 billion, compared with US$16.41 billion.<h3>Relative Stability Category</h3>Seven banks were classified under the Relative Stability category.Jordan Islamic Bank climbed three places to rank 73rd, compared with 76th in 2024, supported by 10.8% growth in total assets, which reached US$9.57 billion, up from US$8.64 billion.Cairo Amman Bank (Jordan) advanced two positions to 85th, compared with 87th in 2024. Its total assets increased to US$5.79 billion, up from US$5.53 billion, reflecting annual growth of 4.8%.Capital Bank of Jordan moved up one place to rank 68th, compared with 69th in 2024, after its assets increased by 5.9% year-on-year to US$12.31 billion, from US$11.62 billion.Jordan Ahli Bank also advanced one position, ranking 90th in 2025, compared with 91st in 2024, as its assets grew by 5.6% to US$5.25 billion, up from US$4.97 billion.Bank of Jordan climbed one place to 95th, compared with 96th in 2024, following a modest 3.3% increase in assets to US$4.60 billion, compared with US$4.45 billion.Meanwhile, Arab Bank (Jordan) slipped one position to 18th, compared with 17th in 2024, despite reporting 9.8% annual growth in assets, which reached US$78.19 billion, compared with US$71.23 billion.Similarly, Housing Bank for Trade and Finance (Jordan) fell one place to 65th, compared with 64th in 2024. The bank recorded a marginal 1.8% increase in assets to US$13.25 billion, compared with US$13.01 billion, placing it within the same category.<h3>Full Stability Category</h3>Only one bank achieved Full Stability.Jordan Kuwait Bank maintained its 78th position in both 2024 and 2025, despite a 3% year-on-year decline in assets to US$7.70 billion, compared with US$7.94 billion at the end of 2024.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13118https://en.firstbankeg.com/13118First Bank14 Banks Maintain Their Rankings in «First Bank» List of the Top 50 Arab BanksMon, 29 Jun 2026 23:05:11 +02002026-06-14T16:15:00+02:00«The First Bank» Top 100 Arab Banks Ranking for 2025 revealed that a number of leading Arab banking institutions successfully maintained their positions within the list of the largest 50 Arab banks compared with 2024, reflecting the stability of their financial standing and their ability to achieve growth while preserving their competitive positions.In this context, six banks retained their positions within the top ten. Saudi National Bank «SNB» remained in third place for the second consecutive year, supported by a 9.8% year-on-year increase in assets, which reached 322.61 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared with 293.89 USD bn at the end of 2024.«Emirates NBD» also maintained fourth place after its assets grew by 16.8% during 2025 to reach 317.04 USD bn by the end of December, compared with 271.36 USD bn at the end of 2024.Meanwhile, Al Rajhi Bank retained fifth place for the second consecutive year, supported by a 7.5% year-on-year increase in assets to 278.15 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared with 258.84 USD bn at the end of 2024.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank «ADCB» ranked sixth for the second consecutive year after its assets increased by 18.5% during 2025, reaching 210.64 USD bn at year-end, compared with 177.75 USD bn at the end of 2024.National Bank of Egypt «NBE» also maintained seventh place, benefiting from a 19.3% year-on-year increase in assets to 191.03 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared with 160.06 USD bn at the end of 2024.Likewise, National Bank of Kuwait «NBK» retained eighth place for the second consecutive year after recording asset growth of approximately 13% during 2025, bringing total assets to 148.14 USD bn by the end of December, compared with 130.97 USD bn at the end of 2024.At the level of banks ranked from 11th to 50th place, eight additional banks successfully maintained their positions without change. «SAB» remained in 11th place for the second consecutive year, supported by a 13.6% year-on-year increase in assets, which reached 121.16 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared with 106.63 USD bn at the end of 2024.Dubai Islamic Bank «DIB» also retained 12th place in both 2024 and 2025 after its assets rose by 20.7% year-on-year to 113.25 USD bn at the end of December 2025, compared with 93.85 USD bn at the end of 2024.Meanwhile, Bank ABC – Bahrain maintained 25th place for the second consecutive year, supported by a 7.9% increase in assets during 2025, which reached 49.91 USD bn by the end of December, compared with 46.27 USD bn at the end of 2024.The Saudi Investment Bank remained in 29th place after its assets increased to 46.05 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared with 41.81 USD bn at the end of 2024, reflecting a growth rate of 10% during the year.Likewise, Bank Muscat retained 33rd place in both 2024 and 2025 after recording asset growth of 8.7% during 2025, bringing total assets to 39.30 USD bn by the end of December, compared with 36.14 USD bn at the end of 2024.Burgan Bank of Kuwait ranked 39th for the second consecutive year after its assets increased by 11.6% year-on-year to 29.55 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared with 26.49 USD bn at the end of 2024.Meanwhile, Crédit Populaire d’Algérie maintained 41st place for the second consecutive year, with assets growing by 6.7% during 2025 to reach 25.41 USD bn, compared with 23.84 USD bn at the end of 2024.Gulf Bank of Kuwait also remained in 42nd place for the second consecutive year, supported by a 3% year-on-year increase in assets, which reached 25.01 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared with 24.29 USD bn at the end of 2024.These results reflect the stability of the competitive landscape among leading Arab banks, particularly given the relatively close asset sizes of many major banking institutions across the region.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13117https://en.firstbankeg.com/1311712 Banking Brands Achieve Significant Advances in «First Bank» Ranking of the Largest Arab BanksMon, 29 Jun 2026 22:52:08 +02002026-06-11T14:00:00+02:00«First Bank» Top 100 Arab Banks Ranking for 2025 revealed notable movement within the classification, as a number of banks achieved substantial jumps compared with their positions in 2024. These advances were driven by strong asset growth and the expansion of banking activities, highlighting the intensifying competition among Arab financial institutions to strengthen their standing within the ranking.<h3>Major Leaps in the Ranking: Banks Advancing by More Than 10 Positions</h3>Bank al Etihad – Jordan topped the list of the most improved banks, climbing 15 positions in a single year to rank 53rd by the end of 2025, compared with 68th at the end of 2024, bringing it closer to joining the top 50 largest Arab banks.This progress coincided with a 49% increase in the bank’s assets during 2025, which reached 17.57 USD bn by the end of December, compared with 11.78 USD bn at the end of 2024.«Wio Bank – UAE» ranked second among the most improved banks, advancing 13 places to reach 59th position by the end of 2025, compared with 72nd in 2024.This performance reflects the bank’s exceptional asset growth, which surged by 63.5% year-on-year to 16.63 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared with 10.17 USD bn in 2024, making it the fastest-growing large Arab bank according to «First Bank’s ranking».Meanwhile, National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain «NBQ» – UAE advanced 12 positions during 2025 to secure 81st place, compared with 93rd in 2024, supported by a 28% year-on-year increase in assets to 6.23 USD bn, up from 4.87 USD bn.<h3>Strong Upward Momentum: Banks Advancing by More Than Five Positions</h3>The ranking witnessed three banks advancing by eight positions each.«CIH Bank – Morocco» rose to 52nd place by the end of 2025, compared with 60th in 2024, after its assets increased by 29% year-on-year to 17.95 USD bn, compared with 13.91 USD bn.Similarly, Ajman Bank – UAE climbed to 76th place by the end of 2025 from 84th in 2024, supported by a 44% increase in assets to 8.95 USD bn, compared with 6.22 USD bn.In the same context, Safwa Islamic Bank – Jordan advanced to 82nd place by the end of 2025, compared with 90th in 2024, after its assets reached 6.05 USD bn, up from 4.99 USD bn, representing annual growth of approximately 21%.Five banks also moved up by seven positions within the ranking, led by Commercial International Bank «CIB» – Egypt, which climbed to 38th place by the end of 2025 from 45th in 2024. The bank benefited from a 26.6% increase in assets during the year, reaching 30.11 USD bn compared with 23.79 USD bn.Crédit Agricole du Maroc advanced to 49th place by the end of 2025 from 56th in 2024, as its assets grew to 19.27 USD bn from 15.58 USD bn, achieving an annual growth rate of 23.7%.Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt also climbed to 87th place from 94th in 2024 after its assets increased by 14.5% to 5.41 USD bn, compared with 4.72 USD bn.Tunisia’s «STB» moved up to 88th place by the end of 2025 from 95th in 2024, following a 15% year-on-year increase in assets to 5.39 USD bn, compared with 4.68 USD bn.Meanwhile, National Bank of Iraq advanced to 92nd place from 99th in 2024 after recording asset growth of 26.6% during the year, with total assets reaching 4.97 USD bn compared with 3.93 USD bn.On the other hand, AlexBank improved by six positions, ranking 91st by the end of 2025 compared with 97th in 2024. The bank’s advancement was supported by a 20.3% year-on-year increase in assets, which reached 5.07 USD bn compared with 4.22 USD bn.These movements demonstrate that competition within the Arab banking sector is no longer limited to the largest institutions. A broad group of mid-sized and emerging banks has successfully accelerated growth over the past year, strengthening their positions within the regional banking landscape.The significant advances achieved by these institutions also suggest that the ranking remains open to further changes in the coming years, particularly as several banks continue to record growth rates exceeding the sector average, potentially enabling them to secure even higher positions among the largest Arab banks.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13032https://en.firstbankeg.com/13032The Battle of Big Numbers: Emirates NBD and ADCB Compete for Second Place in the UAE Banking SectorWed, 10 Jun 2026 16:46:27 +02002026-06-10T16:46:27+02:00Amid intensifying competition among the UAE’s banking giants, a new edition of the “Battle of Big Numbers” series examines the rivalry between Emirates NBD and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) for the position of the country’s second-largest banking institution.According to March 2026 financial data, Emirates NBD continues to rank as the UAE’s second-largest bank by assets, while ADCB maintains its position as the third-largest lender, making their competition one of the most notable features of the UAE banking landscape.An analysis of key financial indicators reveals Emirates NBD’s clear lead in terms of scale, with total assets rising to $331.24 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with $220.20 billion for ADCB during the same period.The advantage also extends to deposits, as Emirates NBD’s customer deposits reached $225.96 billion by the end of March 2026, compared with $142.41 billion for its rival, reflecting the bank’s stronger ability to attract savings and secure low-cost funding sources.On the lending front, Emirates NBD continued to dominate, reporting net customer loans of $184.53 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with $115.90 billion for ADCB during the same period.Despite Emirates NBD’s larger scale, growth metrics paint a more competitive picture over the past three years (from the end of 2022 to March 2026). Emirates NBD recorded asset growth of 63.9%, while ADCB posted a closely matched 62.4% increase, highlighting the latter’s ability to keep pace with the expansion of its larger competitor.However, the similarity in growth rates was not enough to narrow the gap between the two banks. The difference in total assets widened to $111.04 billion by the end of March 2026, up from $66.48 billion at the end of 2022.In the deposits race, ADCB outperformed with a 69.3% growth rate over the past three years, compared with 65.0% for Emirates NBD during the same period. Nevertheless, Emirates NBD’s larger deposit base pushed the gap between the two banks from $52.84 billion at the end of 2022 to $83.55 billion by March 2026.ADCB also achieved stronger growth in net customer loans, posting a 64.6% increase over the past three years, compared with 62.7% for Emirates NBD. Yet this was insufficient to reduce the lending gap between the two institutions, which widened to $68.63 billion by the end of March 2026, compared with $43.06 billion at the end of 2022.In terms of profitability, Emirates NBD continues to strengthen its lead, reporting net profit of $1.75 billion during the first quarter of 2026—nearly double ADCB’s $915 million profit during the same period.The bank also demonstrated superior operating efficiency and profitability in the first quarter of 2026, achieving a return on average assets (ROAA) of 2.15%, compared with 1.70% for ADCB, reflecting a stronger ability to generate earnings from its asset base.Similarly, Emirates NBD posted a return on average equity (ROAE) of 17.73%, compared with 15.41% for ADCB, indicating greater efficiency in deploying shareholders’ funds and generating returns on invested capital.Despite this, ADCB still retains an important competitive advantage in the form of a larger capital base. The bank’s capital stood at $2.15 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with $1.72 billion for Emirates NBD, providing greater flexibility to support future growth plans and strengthen its resilience against economic and operational challenges.These figures underscore that Emirates NBD has not only maintained its leadership in terms of size but has also continued to grow at a pace comparable to its competitor, resulting in a wider gap across its key financial portfolios by the end of March 2026.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13031https://en.firstbankeg.com/13031Al Rajhi Bank Tops Global Islamic Banking Rankings at End-March 2026According to the latest rankings released by First Bank, Al Rajhi Bank ranked first among the worlds 20 largeWed, 10 Jun 2026 16:39:53 +02002026-06-10T16:39:53+02:00According to the latest rankings released by First Bank, Al Rajhi Bank ranked first among the world’s 20 largest Islamic banks at the end of March 2026.The bank’s total assets reached $280.11 billion at the end of March 2026, compared to $278.15 billion at the end of 2025, representing a 0.7% quarter-on-quarter growth rate.The ranking was based on the size of reported assets denominated in U.S. dollars, providing a standardized comparison tool among Islamic banking institutions. Banks lacking officially disclosed financial data were excluded from the ranking to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the methodology.The ranking covered parent banking groups across various Arab countries and did not include their foreign subsidiaries.In addition to asset growth, Al Rajhi Bank delivered a strong financial performance during the current year. Net profit rose to $1.80 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $1.58 billion during the same period in 2025, marking a 14.4% increase.Income from financing and investment activities surged by 18.4%, reaching $2.24 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up from $1.89 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.Banking service fees increased to $427.21 million during the first three months of 2026, compared to $365.96 million in the same period of 2025, reflecting a 16.7% growth rate.Customer deposits grew by approximately 1.7% during the first quarter of the year, reaching $180.85 billion at the end of March 2026, compared to $177.91 billion at the end of 2025.Net financing increased to $200.83 billion at the end of March 2026, compared to $200.69 billion at the end of 2025, representing a 0.1% quarter-on-quarter growth rate.Meanwhile, shareholders’ equity rose to $40.67 billion at the end of March 2026, compared to $38.10 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting a 6.7% quarter-on-quarter increase.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13123https://en.firstbankeg.com/13123Al Rajhi Bank the World’s Largest Islamic Bank as of the end of March 2026Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:48:49 +02002026-06-10T12:12:00+02:00According to the latest First Bank rankings, Al Rajhi Bank has retained its position as the largest Islamic bank in the world as of March 2026.The bank's total assets reached US$280.11 billion at the end of March 2026, up from US$278.15 billion at the end of 2025, representing a quarter-on-quarter growth rate of 0.7%.The ranking was based on reported total assets, converted into U.S. dollars, providing a standardized basis for comparing Islamic banking institutions worldwide. Banks without officially disclosed financial data were excluded to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the methodology. The ranking covers parent banking groups across the Arab world and excludes their foreign subsidiaries.Alongside its asset growth, Al Rajhi Bank delivered a strong financial performance during the current year. Its net profit increased to US$1.80 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared with US$1.58 billion during the same period in 2025, reflecting a 14.4% year-on-year increase.Income from financing and investments rose by 18.4%, reaching US$2.24 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared with US$1.89 billion during the corresponding period of the previous year.Banking service fees also recorded solid growth, increasing to US$427.21 million during the first three months of 2026, compared with US$365.96 million in the same period of 2025, representing a 16.7% year-on-year increase.Customer deposits expanded by 1.7% during the first quarter of 2026, reaching US$180.85 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$177.91 billion at the end of 2025.The bank's net financing portfolio increased to US$200.83 billion by the end of March 2026, up slightly from US$200.69 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting a 0.1% quarter-on-quarter growth rate.Meanwhile, shareholders’ equity rose to US$40.67 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$38.10 billion at the end of 2025, representing a 6.7% quarter-on-quarter increase.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13108https://en.firstbankeg.com/13108Mahynar Mohamed«First Bank» Analysis.. Expected Changes in the Ranking of the Top 20 Arab Banks by the End of 2026As part of its forward-looking assessment of the Arab banking sector, First Bank has developed an analyticalSun, 28 Jun 2026 18:19:43 +02002026-06-09T15:18:00+02:00As part of its forward-looking assessment of the Arab banking sector, «First Bank» has developed an analytical model to forecast the ranking of the Top 20 Arab banks by the end of 2026, amid ongoing competition among regional lenders to expand their asset bases and strengthen their market positions.The projections were based on calculating each bank's Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over the 2022–2025 period and applying that growth rate to the bank's total assets at the end of 2025 to estimate its asset size by the end of 2026.The model assumes that historical growth trends will continue at the same pace throughout 2026. However, it also recognizes that exceptional events or unexpected fluctuations in performance could affect the accuracy of the forecasts for some banks.The results indicate a high degree of stability within the ranking of the Top 20 Arab banks, According to the model, 11 banks are expected to retain their current positions compared with the 2025 ranking, while the anticipated changes are limited to a small number of position swaps among banks with relatively similar asset sizes.At the top of the ranking, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is projected to maintain its position as the largest Arab bank by the end of 2026, while Qatar National Bank (QNB) is expected to remain in second place, unchanged from the 2025 ranking.The most notable movement within the top five is expected to occur between the third and fourth positions, with Emirates NBD projected to advance to third place, while Saudi National Bank (SNB) is expected to slip to fourth place. Al Rajhi Bank is forecast to retain its fifth-place ranking.The remainder of the top ten is also expected to remain relatively stable. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is projected to hold sixth place, followed by the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) in seventh, and the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) in eighth.Meanwhile, Riyad Bank is expected to move up to ninth place, while Kuwait Finance House (KFH) is projected to decline to tenth, compared with the 2025 ranking.Within the 11th to 20th positions, somewhat more noticeable—though still limited—changes are expected. SAB is forecast to remain 11th, Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB)12th, and Mashreq Bank13th.Attijariwafa Bank is projected to advance to 14th place, up from 15th, while Alinma Bank is expected to climb to 15th, from 16th.Conversely, Banque Misr is forecast to decline to 16th place, compared with 14th in the 2025 ranking.The projections also indicate that Banque Saudi Fransi will retain 17th place, while Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) is expected to rise to 18th, overtaking Arab Bank (Jordan), which is projected to slip to 19th, Arab National Bank (ANB) is expected to maintain its 20th-place position.Overall, the findings suggest that the ranking of the largest Arab banks is likely to remain broadly stable through the end of 2026. The anticipated changes are largely confined to limited position swaps among similarly sized institutions, while the balance of power at the top of the Arab banking sector is expected to remain fundamentally unchanged.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13006https://en.firstbankeg.com/1300624 banks operating in the Egyptian market included in First Bank’s list of the Top 100 deposit banks in MENASun, 07 Jun 2026 15:49:05 +02002026-06-07T15:49:05+02:00A recent ranking issued by First Bank of the Top 100 banks in deposits in the Middle East and North Africa by the end of 2025 revealed the presence of 24 banks operating in the Egyptian market, including 11 local banks carrying Egyptian brands and 13 foreign banking groups operating in Egypt.The ranking was based on the classification of banks according to the volume of customer deposits announced at the end of 2025 and denominated in U.S. dollars, providing a unified comparison tool between different banking institutions. The ranking also excluded banks for which no official data was available, in order to ensure the accuracy of the results and the reliability of the adopted methodology.Egyptian banks included in the rankingThe National Bank of Egypt seized the 8th place in the Middle East and North Africa region and ranked first among Egyptian banks, with total deposits amounting to $121.57 billion at the end of 2025.Banque Misr seized the 17th place in the Middle East and North Africa region and ranked second among Egyptian banks, with deposits reaching $63.49 billion at the end of 2025.Commercial International Bank–Egypt (CIB) ranked 38th in the Middle East and North Africa region and third among Egyptian banks, with its deposit portfolio reaching around $23.17 billion at the end of 2025.The Arab African International Bank ranked 48th in the Middle East and North Africa region and fifth among Egyptian banks, with deposits of $14.40 billion at the end of 2025.Banque du Caire ranked 69th in the Middle East and North Africa region and sixth among Egyptian banks, with a deposit portfolio recorded at $8.41 billion at the end of 2025.Suez Canal Bank ranked 84th in the Middle East and North Africa region and 12th among Egyptian banks, with deposits recorded at $4.38 billion at the end of 2025.Faisal Islamic Bank ranked 88th in the Middle East and North Africa region and 13th among Egyptian banks, with deposits of $4.1 billion at the end of 2025.Bank of Alexandria ranked 90th in the Middle East and North Africa region and 14th among Egyptian banks, with deposits of $3.89 billion at the end of 2025.Housing and Development Bank ranked 91st in the Middle East and North Africa region and 16th among Egyptian banks, after its deposits recorded around $3.76 billion at the end of 2025.Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank) ranked 98th in the Middle East and North Africa region and 19th among Egyptian banks, with total deposits amounting to $3.06 billion at the end of 2025.The SABA International Bank (saib) ranked 100th in the Middle East and North Africa region and 22nd among Egyptian banks, with deposits of $2.95 billion at the end of 2025.Banks operating in Egypt with parent groups included in the rankingQatar National Bank Group seized the top position in the list, recording about $261.4 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary bank in Egypt recorded deposits of about $16.34 billion, ranking 4th among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.First Abu Dhabi Bank ranked second, recording about $228.92 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary in Egypt recorded a deposit portfolio of about $7 billion, ranking 7th among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.Emirates NBD Group ranked 3rd in the Middle East and North Africa region, recording about $214.01 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary in Egypt recorded a deposit portfolio of about $3.56 billion, ranking 17th among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank ranked 7th in the Middle East and North Africa region, recording about $136.07 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary in Egypt recorded a deposit portfolio of about $3.15 billion, ranking 18th among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.Kuwait National Bank Group ranked 12th in the Middle East and North Africa region, recording about $84.65 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary bank in Egypt recorded a deposit portfolio of about $3.77 billion, ranking 15th among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.Kuwait Finance House Group ranked 16th in the Middle East and North Africa region, recording about $68.3 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary bank in Egypt recorded a deposit portfolio of about $2.96 billion, ranking 20th among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Group ranked 18th in the Middle East and North Africa region, recording about $62.38 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary bank in Egypt recorded a deposit portfolio of about $5.83 billion, ranking 8th among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.Attijariwafa Bank Group ranked 20th in the Middle East and North Africa region, recording about $57.81 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary bank in Egypt recorded a deposit portfolio of about $2.76 billion, ranking 23rd among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait Group ranked 51st in the Middle East and North Africa region, recording about $13.22 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary bank in Egypt recorded a deposit portfolio of about $2.96 billion, ranking 21st among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.Al Baraka Group ranked 73rd in the Middle East and North Africa region, recording about $8.17 billion at the end of 2025, while its subsidiary bank in Egypt recorded a deposit portfolio of about $2.57 billion, ranking 25th among the largest banks in terms of deposits in the Egyptian market at the end of the same year.It is worth noting that both Mashreq Bank and Arab Bank were included in the list, ranking 22nd and 23rd in the Middle East and North Africa region, with deposits of $55.78 billion and $54.62 billion respectively at the end of 2025. However, neither of them disclosed their subsidiary deposits in Egypt.To view the full list.. click <a href="https://www.firstbankeg.com/44630?utm_source=chatgpt.com">here</a>https://en.firstbankeg.com/13003https://en.firstbankeg.com/13003first bankADCB Strengthens Its Position Among the Largest Banks in the Middle East and North AfricaSun, 07 Jun 2026 14:15:57 +02002026-06-07T14:15:57+02:00First Bank’s ranking of the Top 100 Banks in the Middle East and North Africa revealed that Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) regained the sixth position in the ranking by the end of March 2026, after slipping to seventh place at the end of 2025, supported by strong financial performance during the first quarter of the year.The bank continued to expand its business volumes, with total assets increasing by 4.5% during Q1 2026 to reach $220.20 billion at the end of March, compared to $210.64 billion at the end of 2025, representing an increase of $9.55 billion.In addition to asset growth, the bank delivered solid performance during the first quarter of 2026, with customer deposits rising by 4.7% to $142.40 billion at the end of March, up from $136.07 billion at the end of 2025.The bank’s loan portfolio also expanded by 4.9% during the first three months of 2026, reaching $115.90 billion at the end of March, compared to $110.53 billion at the end of 2025.On the profitability front, ADCB recorded a strong 37.4% increase in net profit during the first quarter of 2026, reaching $915 million, compared to $666 million during the same period of 2025.Net interest income grew by approximately 8.4% during Q1 2026 to $831 million, compared to $766 million in the corresponding period of 2025.Meanwhile, net income from Islamic financing and Islamic investment products increased by 18.5% during the first three months of the year, reaching $187 million, compared to $158 million in the same period of 2025.In the same context, profit before tax rose by around 30% during Q1 2026 to $1.03 billion, compared to $791 million in the first quarter of 2025.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13002https://en.firstbankeg.com/13002Mahynar MohamedSurge in Rankings Reshuffles North African Banks in Latest «First Bank» List of Top 100 Arab Bankslatest First Banklist of the Top 100 Arab Banks as of the end of 2025 revealed remarkable movement in the pSun, 07 Jun 2026 14:06:14 +02002026-06-07T14:06:14+02:00latest «First Bank» list of the Top 100 Arab Banks as of the end of 2025 revealed remarkable movement in the positions of North African banks within the ranking. The Stability Index recorded only about 25% compared to 2024 data, reflecting the magnitude of changes experienced by banks in the North Africa region during the year.«First Bank» had launched the Stability Index to measure the movement of banks within the list, according to four main levels: Banks that maintained their positions without change are classified under the “Full Stability” category, while banks that moved between one and 3 positions are classified under the “Relative Stability” category.Banks that witnessed a change ranging between 4 and 10 positions fall under the “Medium Movement” category, while banks whose ranking changed by more than 10 positions are classified under the “Major Movements” category, reflecting sharp changes in their positions within the ranking.Regarding the performance of North African banks (24 banks listed in the ranking) between 2024 and 2025, the National Bank of Egypt maintained its position among the top ten, stable at the 7th rank, thus falling under the “Full Stability” category. Credit Populaire D’Algerie also maintained its 41st position without change between 2024 and 2025, also classified under the “Full Stability” category.Meanwhile, 4 banks fell under the “Relative Stability” category. Attijariwafa Bank – Morocco rose one position to rank 15th by the end of 2025, compared to 16th at the end of 2024, after its assets grew to $87.23 billion, compared to $71.68 billion.Centrale Populaire Banque – Morocco rose one position to rank 21st, compared to 22nd at the end of 2024, supported by an increase in its assets to $62.64 billion compared to $53.63 billion.Bank of Africa – Morocco also advanced one position to occupy the 27th rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 28th rank at the end of 2024, after its assets rose to $47.99 billion compared to $41.76 billion. The Arab African International Bank – Egypt advanced two positions to reach the 47th rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 49th rank at the end of 2024, after its assets increased to $20.01 billion compared to $18.15 billion, thus falling under the same category.In contrast, 15 banks fell under the “Medium Movement” category, Banque Misr advanced four positions to occupy the 14th rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 18th rank at the end of 2024, supported by an increase in its assets to $90.75 billion compared to $70.95 billion.The Commercial International Bank (CIB) – Egypt witnessed a remarkable improvement after jumping seven positions at once to the 38th rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 45th rank at the end of 2024, supported by asset growth to $30.11 billion compared to $23.76 billion.Credit Agricole du Maroc achieved a notable advance by climbing seven positions to the 49th rank, compared to the 56th rank at the end of 2024, supported by an increase in its assets to $19.27 billion compared to $15.58 billion.CIH Bank-Morocco recorded the biggest rise among North African banks in the list, after advancing eight positions to reach the 52nd rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 60th rank at the end of 2024, with its assets growing to $17.95 billion compared to $13.91 billion.Banque de Developpement local Algeria advanced five positions to occupy the 57th rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 62nd rank at the end of 2024, after its assets rose to $16.88 billion compared to $13.51 billion.Saham Bank-Morocco advanced five positions to the 61st rank, compared to the 66th, supported by an increase in its assets to $14.93 billion compared to $12.58 billion.Al Barid Bank – Morocco rose four positions to reach the 69th rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 73rd rank at the end of 2024, with its assets growing to $11.24 billion compared to $9.78 billion.Banque du Caire advanced five positions to occupy the 70th rank, compared to the 75th, after its assets rose to $11.16 billion compared to $9.49 billion.Banque internationale Arabe de Tunisie (BIAT) advanced five positions to reach the 74th rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 79th rank at the end of 2024, supported by an increase in its assets to $9.36 billion compared to $7.84 billion.Credit du Maroc advanced five positions to occupy the 75th rank by the end of last year, compared to the 80th rank at the end of 2024, with its assets rising to $9.18 billion compared to $7.31 billion.Banque Nationale Agricole BNA – Tunisia rose five positions to the 77th rank, compared to the 82nd, after recording assets worth $8.73 billion compared to $7.04 billion.Faisal Islamic Bank advanced seven positions to occupy the 87th rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 94th rank at the end of 2024, with its assets growing to $5.41 billion compared to $4.72 billion.STB Bank – Tunisia advanced seven positions to reach the 88th rank, compared to the 95th, after its assets rose to $5.39 billion compared to $4.68 billion.Alex Bank advanced six positions to occupy the 91st rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 97th rank at the end of 2024, with its assets rising to $5.07 billion compared to $4.22 billion.Amen Bank, it rose four positions to the 96th rank by the end of 2025, compared to the 100th rank at the end of 2024, supported by asset growth to $4.45 billion compared to $3.72 billion, thus also falling under the “Medium Movement” category.The 2025 ranking witnessed the entry of 3 North African banks into the list compared to the 2024 ranking. Suez Canal Bank came in the 86th position, while Housing and development Bank occupied the 93rd position, and Ebank ranked 97th.The results of the ranking confirm that North African banks were among the most active banking groups in terms of movement within the list during 2025. The changes in positions were based on the accelerated growth of assets and the entry of new players into the ranking, reflecting the growing competitive strength of the banking sector in the North Africa region and its ability to enhance its presence among the largest Arab banks.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13107https://en.firstbankeg.com/13107First BankADIB and Qatar Islamic Bank Battle for a Place Among the World's Top Five Islamic BanksSun, 28 Jun 2026 17:34:11 +02002026-06-03T14:22:00+02:00The landscape of the world's largest Islamic banks has been undergoing rapid transformation in recent years, driven by the growing demand for Islamic banking services and intensifying competition among major Gulf financial institutions for leading positions within the industry.Against this backdrop, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) and Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) have emerged as two of the region's and the world's leading competitors, particularly as both banks continue to expand while following increasingly different growth trajectories.According to data as of March 2026, ADIB ranks as the fifth-largest Islamic bank globally by total assets, while Qatar Islamic Bank occupies the sixth position. Over recent years, ADIB has steadily strengthened its lead and widened the gap over its Qatari rival across assets, deposits, and financing portfolios.ADIB's total assets reached US$78.15 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$61.48 billion for Qatar Islamic Bank during the same period.ADIB also maintained a clear advantage in deposits, which stood at US$65.16 billion at the end of March 2026, versus US$52.20 billion for Qatar Islamic Bank.The bank also preserved its leadership in financing activities, with net customer financing totaling US$52.76 billion by the end of March 2026, compared with US$40.18 billion for Qatar Islamic Bank over the same period.The shift in the competitive landscape becomes even more apparent when examining growth rates over the past three years—from the end of 2022 through March 2026. During this period, ADIB recorded 70.3% growth in total assets, compared with only 21.6% for Qatar Islamic Bank.This strong performance enabled ADIB to overtake Qatar Islamic Bank by the end of 2023, before further widening the asset gap to US$16.67 billion by the end of March 2026.In terms of deposits, ADIB posted robust growth of 73.2% over the past three years, while Qatar Islamic Bank recorded a marginal decline of 0.05% during the same period.As a result, the deposits gap between the two banks expanded to US$12.96 billion by the end of March 2026, up from approximately US$3.39 billion at the end of 2022.On the financing front, ADIB achieved 79.9% growth in net customer financing over the past three years, compared with 22.6% growth for Qatar Islamic Bank.This enabled ADIB to gradually narrow the financing gap before overtaking Qatar Islamic Bank by the end of 2024, ultimately expanding its lead to US$12.58 billion by the end of March 2026.ADIB's advantage extends beyond growth momentum to profitability and operating efficiency. During the first quarter of 2026, the bank generated net profit of US$496.85 million, significantly exceeding Qatar Islamic Bank's US$270.48 million over the same period.ADIB also outperformed its competitor in profitability metrics, posting a return on average assets (ROAA) of 2.57% during the first quarter of 2026, compared with 1.77% for Qatar Islamic Bank.In addition, ADIB recorded a return on average equity (ROAE) of 23.38%, versus 11.77% for Qatar Islamic Bank, reflecting superior efficiency in utilizing both assets and shareholders' equity to generate earnings.On the capital front, ADIB also enjoys a strong relative advantage, with capital totaling US$988.76 million at the end of March 2026, compared with US$648.55 million for Qatar Islamic Bank. This provides the bank with greater financial flexibility to support its future expansion plans and strengthen its resilience against potential shocks.These indicators suggest that competition between ADIB and Qatar Islamic Bank is no longer limited to maintaining their positions among the world's largest Islamic banks. Instead, it has evolved into a race defined by the speed of expansion, the efficiency of growth, and the ability to generate sustainable profitability.While ADIB has successfully consolidated its leadership over recent years, maintaining this momentum could further reshape the competitive landscape among the world's leading Islamic banking institutions, particularly as the global Islamic finance industry continues to expand at an accelerated pace.https://en.firstbankeg.com/13106https://en.firstbankeg.com/13106First BankLarge Banks Show the Greatest Stability While Emerging Banks Reshuffle the Rankings.. How Did the Top 100 Arab Banks ranking change over two years?Data First Bank Top 100 Arab Banks ranking revealed significant shifts between Arab banks during 2024 andSun, 28 Jun 2026 17:24:30 +02002026-06-02T13:24:00+02:00Data from First Bank Top 100 Arab Banks ranking revealed significant shifts between Arab banks during 2024 and 2025, highlighting the remarkable stability of the largest institutions alongside substantial movement among mid-sized and emerging banks.The analysis classified banks into three main groups: The first comprises large banks with total assets exceeding US$50 billion, the second includes mid-sized banks with assets ranging between US$15 billion and US$50 billion, while the third consists of emerging banks with assets below US$15 billion.Between 2024 and 2025, several Arab banks advanced to higher tiers within the ranking, reflecting strong growth in their asset bases.Leading this upward movement were Commercial Bank of Qatar and Gulf International Bank, both of which graduated from the second tier to the first, joining the league of the region's largest banks.Meanwhile, the second tier welcomed six new entrants promoted from the third group: Credit Immobilier et Hotelier (CIH) of Morocco, Bank al Etihad of Jordan, Local Development Bank of Algeria, National Bank of Bahrain, Wio Bank of the UAE, and Kuwait International Bank.On the other hand, Bank Audi of Lebanon dropped from the second tier to the third, reflecting the ongoing challenges facing the Lebanese banking sector.The analytical indicators revealed notable differences in stability across the three groups. The first tier emerged as the most resilient, recording a 91.67% stability rate, underscoring the difficulty of displacing the region's leading banking institutions.The second tier ranked next with a 77.14% stability rate, while the third tier experienced the highest degree of volatility, with a full stability rate of only 6.1%, reflecting intense competition among banks in this segment.From a geographical perspective, Gulf banks continued to dominate the regional landscape, accounting for 58 banks in the ranking and recording the highest full stability rate at 24.1%, highlighting the strength of their financial positions and their ability to maintain their competitive standing.In contrast, banks in North Africa and the Levant displayed greater movement in their rankings, posting comparatively low full stability rates of 10% and 7.1%, respectively, indicating a higher sensitivity to domestic economic conditions and geopolitical developments.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12966https://en.firstbankeg.com/12966First BankSaudi National Bank Ranked as the Most Profitable Arab Bank During 2025Mon, 25 May 2026 01:21:06 +02002026-05-21T13:08:00+02:00The latest ranking by «First Bank» revealed that Saudi National Bank topped the list of the most profitable Arab banks during 2025.This came after the bank recorded net profits worth $6.66 billion during 2025, compared to $5.61 billion in 2024, reflecting an annual growth rate of 18.7%.The ranking was based on banks’ reported net profits denominated in U.S. dollars, providing a unified comparison tool among different banking institutions. The ranking also excluded banks for which official data was unavailable, in order to ensure the accuracy of the results and the reliability of the adopted methodology.The bank continued to deliver strong profitability during the current year, as its net profit reached $1.71 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $1.60 billion during the same period of 2025, marking a growth rate of 7.4%.Overall, Saudi National Bank recorded solid performance during the current year, with its asset portfolio rising to $327.38 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $322.61 billion at the end of 2025, representing quarterly growth of 1.5%.Its customer deposit portfolio increased by 4.6% during the first quarter of the current year, reaching $177.34 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $169.59 billion at the end of 2025.The bank’s net financing portfolio rose to $195.25 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $194.44 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting quarterly growth of 0.4%.Meanwhile, shareholders’ equity jumped to $57.20 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $54.34 billion at the end of 2025, recording quarterly growth of 5.3%.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12978https://en.firstbankeg.com/12978First BankDespite ADIB’s Accelerating Growth, Dubai Islamic Bank Maintains Sole Leadership of the UAE Islamic Banking SectorTue, 26 May 2026 04:28:01 +02002026-05-20T13:00:00+02:00Amid intensifying competition within the Islamic banking sector in the UAE market, and the divergence in growth and expansion strategies among banks, the gap between the major institutions has become increasingly evident over time, particularly when analyzing key financial indicators and medium-term growth rates.This comes as banks seek to strengthen their market shares through expanding lending activities and growing deposit bases, while simultaneously maintaining strong profitability levels.According to March 2026 data, Dubai Islamic Bank continues to lead the UAE Islamic banking sector, with total assets reaching approximately $114.32 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to around $78.15 billion for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank during the same period.Dubai Islamic Bank’s superiority also extends to its deposit base, with deposits totaling approximately $87.66 billion by the end of March 2026, versus $65.16 billion for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank during the same period.The bank also maintained its lead in financing activity, recording net customer financing of $73.68 billion, compared to $52.76 billion for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank by the end of March 2026.However, the competitive landscape appears more dynamic when examining growth rates over the past three years, specifically from the end of 2022 through March 2026. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank achieved asset growth of 70.3%, compared to 45.6% for Dubai Islamic Bank during the same period.Despite Dubai Islamic Bank’s continued dominance in terms of size, the asset gap between the two banks widened to $36.17 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $32.60 billion at the end of 2022. This reflects Dubai Islamic Bank’s continued ability to maintain its leadership despite the accelerating growth pace of its competitor.In terms of deposits, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank posted strong growth of 73.2% over the last three years, compared to 62.1% for Dubai Islamic Bank during the same period.Nevertheless, the gap between the two banks in deposits expanded to $22.50 billion by the end of March 2026, up from $16.48 billion at the end of 2022, driven by the continued strong growth of Dubai Islamic Bank’s customer base and its larger market size.Regarding financing activity, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank achieved strong growth in net customer financing of 79.9% over the last three years, compared to 45.4% for Dubai Islamic Bank. This resulted in a slight narrowing of the financing gap to $20.92 billion by the end of March 2026, versus $21.33 billion at the end of 2022.Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank’s advantage is not limited to growth momentum alone; it also extends to profitability and operational efficiency indicators. The bank recorded net profits of $496.85 million during the first quarter of 2026, surpassing Dubai Islamic Bank’s profits of $489.68 million during the same period.Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank also outperformed in return metrics, posting a return on average assets of 2.57% during the first quarter of 2026, compared to 1.72% for Dubai Islamic Bank. In addition, it achieved a return on average equity of 23.38%, compared to 13.33% for the latter, reflecting higher efficiency in utilizing assets and shareholders’ equity to generate profits.On the other hand, Dubai Islamic Bank still retains a strong relative advantage in terms of capital base, with capital reaching approximately $1.97 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to $988.76 million for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. This gives it greater flexibility to support future expansion plans and enhance its ability to absorb shocks and potential market fluctuations.In light of the above, Dubai Islamic Bank continues to outperform in terms of portfolio size, while Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank demonstrates more dynamic performance in growth rates and profitability efficiency.Despite the widening gap in some key indicators, the accelerating growth pace of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank across several areas reflects an improvement in its competitive capabilities.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12977https://en.firstbankeg.com/12977Strong Competition Between Warba Bank and CIH Bank Over the Largest Arab Banks by Deposits RankingTue, 26 May 2026 04:22:28 +02002026-05-19T15:14:00+02:00The First Bank  ranking of the largest 100 Arab banks by deposits at the end of 2025 revealed the continued intensity of competition among Arab banks within the mid-tier segment, amid the relative convergence in deposit portfolio sizes among several closely ranked banks.In this context, strong competition has emerged between Warba Bank and CIH Bank to break into the list of the top 50 Arab banks by deposit size.According to the ranking, Warba Bank came in 50th place after recording deposits of approximately $11.40 billion by the end of 2025, while CIH Bank ranked 51st with a deposit portfolio totaling $10.91 billion, leaving a gap of no more than $488 million between the two banks, reflecting the close proximity in size between them.To anticipate the potential direction of competition by the end of 2026, customer deposit growth at both banks was analyzed over the period from 2022 to 2025. Warba Bank recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9%, with its deposit portfolio rising from $8.74 billion at the end of 2022 to $11.40 billion by the end of 2025.In contrast, CIH Bank achieved a faster growth pace, recording a CAGR of around 22%, as its deposits jumped from approximately $5.99 billion at the end of 2022 to $10.91 billion by the end of 2025. This rapid expansion significantly narrowed the gap with Warba Bank.Based on these figures, and assuming the continuation of the current growth rates, projections indicate that CIH Bank could overtake Warba Bank by the end of 2026. CIH Bank’s deposits are expected to rise to approximately $13.32 billion, compared with around $12.45 billion for Warba Bank, potentially leading to a shift in their positions within the ranking of the top 50 Arab banks by deposits.These indicators reflect the growing intensity of competition for mid-tier positions within the ranking, particularly given the narrow differences in deposit volumes among several banks. As a result, maintaining positions within the list is becoming increasingly tied to the ability to achieve sustainable growth and accelerate the expansion of deposit bases in the coming periods.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12976https://en.firstbankeg.com/12976Between Strong Growth and Stability… How Did UAE Banks Move in the «First Bank» Ranking of the Largest Arab Banks?Tue, 26 May 2026 04:19:45 +02002026-05-19T12:10:00+02:00 «First Bank» ranking of the largest 100 Arab banks by the end of 2025 revealed a state of relative stability in the performance of UAE banks within the ranking, with the Stability Index reaching nearly 71% compared with 2024 data.The UAE banking sector secured 18 spots in the ranking by the end of 2025, compared with 17 spots at the end of 2024, reflecting the continued strong presence of UAE banks among the largest Arab banking institutions.“First Bank” had previously launched the Stability Index to measure banks’ movements within the ranking based on four main categories. Banks that maintained their positions without change are classified under “Full Stability,” while banks that moved between one and three positions fall under the “Stable Movement” category.Banks whose rankings changed between four and ten positions are classified under “Moderate Movement,” while banks that shifted by more than ten places are categorized under “Major Movements,” reflecting sharp changes in their standings within the ranking.The index also divided Arab banks in the ranking into three main groups. The first group includes large banks with assets exceeding $50 billion, the second group includes mid-sized banks with assets ranging between $15 billion and $50 billion, while the third group includes emerging banks with assets below $15 billion.The ranking revealed the presence of six UAE banks within the first group — banks with assets exceeding $50 billion — which appeared to be the most stable segment. Three of these banks maintained their positions without change compared with 2024 data, placing them within the “Full Stability” category: Emirates NBD in fourth place, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank in sixth place, and Dubai Islamic Bank in 12th place.Meanwhile, the other three banks recorded limited upward movements ranging between one and two positions, placing them within the “Stable Movement” category. First Abu Dhabi Bank climbed to the top of the ranking by the end of 2025, compared with second place at the end of 2024.Mashreq Bank also advanced to 13th place by the end of 2025, compared with 15th place at the end of 2024, while Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank rose to 19th place instead of 20th place at the end of 2024.As for the second group — banks with assets ranging between $15 billion and $50 billion — it included six UAE banks, where movements appeared more diverse compared with the first group. Four banks recorded movements ranging between one and three positions, placing them within the “Stable Movement” category.Commercial Bank of Dubai climbed to 31st place by the end of 2025, compared with 32nd place at the end of 2024, while National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah advanced to 40th place compared with 43rd place at the end of 2024.Sharjah Islamic Bank also rose to 43rd place by the end of 2025, compared with 46th place at the end of 2024, while National Bank of Fujairah advanced to 50th place at the end of last year instead of 52nd place.In contrast, Emirates Islamic recorded a moderate movement of five positions after climbing to 32nd place by the end of 2025, compared with 37th place at the end of 2024, placing it within the “Moderate Movement” category.Meanwhile, Wio Bank achieved the largest jump within the ranking after advancing 13 positions at once, supported by recording the highest asset growth rate among UAE banks in the ranking. Its assets increased by approximately 63.5% during 2025, allowing it to reach 59th place compared with 72nd place at the end of 2024.At the level of the third group — banks with assets below $15 billion — which included five UAE banks, movements appeared more volatile despite Bank of Sharjah maintaining its position in 67th place without change, placing it within the “Full Stability” category.Commercial International Bank UAE joined the “Stable Movement” category after advancing three positions to 83rd place by the end of 2025, compared with 86th place at the end of 2024.Two banks fell under the “Moderate Movement” category, as Ajman Bank advanced eight positions to 76th place by the end of 2025, compared with 84th place at the end of 2024, while United Arab Bank climbed five positions to 80th place compared with 85th place at the end of 2024. Meanwhile, National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain joined the “Major Movements” category after advancing 12 positions at once to 81st place by the end of 2025, compared with 93rd place at the end of 2024.As for The Investment Bank, it joined the ranking by the end of 2025 after occupying 99th place, while it had been outside the list of the largest 100 Arab banks at the end of 2024.According to the data, the UAE banking sector continued strengthening its presence within the ranking of the largest 100 Arab banks amid a state of relative stability in rankings, especially among major banks. This reflects the strength of their capital bases and the continued balanced growth of UAE banks.The recorded movements within the ranking also carried an entirely positive tone, as all UAE banks either maintained or improved their positions within the list, with no bank recording a decline in ranking compared with 2024 data.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12938https://en.firstbankeg.com/12938The philosophy of Amr El-Shafie has helped shape a strong presence for Emirates NBD in the retail banking market.Sun, 17 May 2026 16:06:21 +02002026-05-17T16:06:21+02:00The retail banking market in Egypt is witnessing a deep structural transformation, driven by changing customer behavior, accelerating digital transformation, and growing demand for more flexible and customized financing products. This has pushed banks to fundamentally redesign their competitive strategies in order to expand market share and strengthen their presence in an increasingly competitive environment.Within this context, the philosophy of Amr El-Shafie, CEO of Emirates NBD Egypt, who took office in early 2023, stands out in redefining growth within retail banking. His approach is based on operational flexibility, expanding the target customer base, and maximizing the use of digital solutions and innovation, rather than relying on traditional branch expansion and geographic spread.This vision has been clearly reflected in a series of decisive executive moves, including a comprehensive restructuring of the retail banking division and the appointment of Mostafa Ramzy as Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management in early 2023, which enhanced management efficiency and improved the speed and quality of decision-making within one of the bank’s most critical sectors.The strategy also extended to reshaping the operational infrastructure of the division by developing distribution channels, accelerating digital transformation, and launching more advanced financing products closely aligned with customers’ actual needs, strengthening the bank’s ability to compete in a highly dynamic and saturated market.Financial indicators since El-Shafie assumed leadership clearly reflect the impact of this strategy, as the retail loan portfolio surged by 93.8% to reach EGP 24.22 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 12.50 billion at the end of 2022—an increase of EGP 11.72 billion.This expansion did not come at the expense of portfolio quality, as asset quality slightly improved to 99.54% by March 2026, compared to 99.16% in 2022, supported by a decline in the non-performing loans ratio for individuals to 0.46% from 0.84%, reflecting strong risk management and sound credit policies.The bank’s retail loan portfolio is structured according to a well-balanced framework that reflects a diversification strategy and return optimization, including personal loans, auto loans, and credit cards as the main growth drivers in retail banking.Personal loans remain the largest component of the portfolio, growing by 70.8% during the period to reach EGP 18.57 billion by March 2026, compared to EGP 10.87 billion at the end of 2022.Auto loans delivered exceptional growth, rising from EGP 1.07 billion in 2022 to EGP 3.39 billion by March 2026, a 217.5% increase, reflecting an aggressive expansion into one of the fastest-growing consumer finance segments.Credit card balances also increased significantly by 305.2%, reaching EGP 2.25 billion by March 2026, compared to EGP 556.49 million in 2022.Overall, the performance of Emirates NBD Egypt reflects a successful and balanced expansion strategy in retail banking under the leadership of Amr El-Shafie and his team, combining strong growth in retail lending with sustained portfolio quality.As the market continues to evolve and competition intensifies, the key challenge for the bank remains maintaining this momentum while further enhancing innovation and digital expansion.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12937https://en.firstbankeg.com/1293726 banks operating in the Egyptian market ranked among First Bank’s Top 100 Most Profitable Arab Banks.A recent ranking issued by First Bank for the Top 100 Most Profitable Arab Banks in 2025 revealed the presenceSun, 17 May 2026 15:59:07 +02002026-05-17T15:59:07+02:00A recent ranking issued by First Bank for the Top 100 Most Profitable Arab Banks in 2025 revealed the presence of 26 banks operating in the Egyptian market during 2025, including 13 local banks carrying Egyptian brands and 13 banks affiliated with foreign banking groups operating in Egypt.The ranking was based on banks’ reported net profits converted into U.S. dollars, providing a unified comparison tool among different banking institutions. The ranking also excluded banks with unavailable official data to ensure the accuracy of the results and the reliability of the adopted methodology.<h3>Egyptian Banks in the Ranking</h3>National Bank of Egypt secured the sixth position among Arab banks and ranked first among Egyptian banks after recording net profits of approximately $3.68 billion during 2025.Banque Misr came in 14th place among Arab banks and second among Egyptian banks, with net profits totaling $1.90 billion during 2025.CIB ranked 16th among Arab banks and third among Egyptian banks after posting net profits of $1.72 billion during 2025.Arab African International Bank ranked 36th among Arab banks and sixth among Egyptian banks, with net profits of $362.12 million. It was followed by Housing and Development Bank in 37th place among Arab banks and seventh among Egyptian banks after reporting net profits of approximately $360.71 million during 2025.Banque du Caire captured 41st place among Arab banks and ninth among Egyptian banks with net profits of $338.21 million during 2025, while Bank of Alexandria ranked 45th among Arab banks and 10th among Egyptian banks with net profits of $289.08 million during the same year.Suez Canal Bank ranked 70th among Arab banks and 14th among Egyptian banks with net profits of $134.62 million, followed by Export Development Bank of Egypt in 75th place among Arab banks and 16th among Egyptian banks after recording net profits of $125.91 million during 2025.Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt ranked 83rd among Arab banks and 19th among Egyptian banks after posting net profits of $90.78 million, followed by EGBANK in 85th place among Arab banks and 20th among Egyptian banks with net profits of $85.65 million during 2025.BANK NXT secured 89th place among Arab banks and 24th among Egyptian banks with net profits totaling $66.64 million during 2025.United Bank of Egypt came in 96th place among Arab banks and 26th among Egyptian banks with net profits of $48.34 million during 2025.<h3>Foreign Banking Groups Operating in Egypt Included in the Ranking</h3>Emirates NBD ranked third among Arab banks after recording approximately $6.54 billion in profits during 2025, while the group’s subsidiary in Egypt posted net profits of around $127.52 million during the same year.First Abu Dhabi Bank ranked fourth among Arab banks with profits of approximately $5.77 billion during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary recorded net profits of about $349.25 million during the same year.QNB ranked fifth among Arab banks after generating approximately $4.75 billion in profits during 2025, while the group’s Egyptian subsidiary recorded net profits of around $610.49 million during the same year.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank ranked seventh among Arab banks after posting approximately $3.12 billion in profits during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary achieved net profits of around $120.04 million during the same year.Kuwait Finance House ranked ninth among Arab banks after generating approximately $2.34 billion in profits during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary posted net profits of around $85.62 million during the same year.National Bank of Kuwait ranked 12th among Arab banks after generating approximately $2 billion in profits during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary recorded net profits of approximately $169.60 million during the same year.Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank ranked 13th among Arab banks after recording approximately $1.93 billion in profits during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary posted net profits of around $256.27 million during the same year.Attijariwafa Bank ranked 20th among Arab banks after recording approximately $1.36 billion in profits during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary generated net profits of around $73.61 million during the same year.Al Baraka Group ranked 39th among Arab banks after posting approximately $356.82 million in profits during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary recorded net profits of around $84.28 million during the same year.Bank ABC ranked 44th among Arab banks after generating approximately $327 million in profits during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary posted net profits of around $50.51 million during the same year.Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait ranked 59th among Arab banks after generating approximately $204.51 million in profits during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary recorded net profits of around $102.70 million during the same year.It is worth noting that both Mashreq Bank and Arab Bank were included in the ranking in 15th and 22nd places among Arab banks, respectively. Mashreq Bank recorded net profits of $1.9 billion, while Arab Bank posted net profits of $1.13 billion during 2025. However, neither bank disclosed the profits generated from their operations in Egypt.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12936https://en.firstbankeg.com/12936QNB Egypt positions itself at the forefront of private-sector banks in personal lendingQNB Egypt successfully regained its position as the leading private-sectorbankin personal lending by the endSun, 17 May 2026 15:47:18 +02002026-05-17T15:47:18+02:00QNB Egypt successfully regained its position as the leading private-sector bank in personal lending by the end of March 2026, after an absence that lasted nearly five years since losing the top spot in 2020 and falling to second place, reflecting the bank’s strong performance and accelerating growth within one of the most competitive banking segments.This shift comes supported by a clear expansion strategy led by Mohamed Bedeir and his executive team, as part of the bank’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its presence in the retail banking market and expand its ability to attract new customer segments.Previously, First Bank published a report on April 15 highlighting the narrowing gap between CIB and QNB Egypt in personal lending, under the headline: “The gap between CIB and QNB Egypt in personal lending reaches its lowest level in 5 years.”According to the standalone financial statements of both banks, QNB Egypt’s personal lending portfolio rose to EGP 68.07 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 62.14 billion at the end of 2025, recording a quarterly growth rate of 9.5%.Meanwhile, CIB recorded a personal lending portfolio of approximately EGP 66.26 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 62.99 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting quarterly growth of 5.2%.This competitive performance in personal lending by QNB Egypt comes as part of broader improvements across its key indicators during the first quarter of 2026, which was clearly reflected in the bank’s profitability and expansion of its operating positions.The bank posted net profits of around EGP 8.86 billion during the first quarter of 2026, compared to EGP 6.95 billion during the same period of 2025, marking a growth rate of 27%.Net interest income also increased by approximately 24% during the first three months of 2026, reaching EGP 13.68 billion, compared to EGP 11 billion during the corresponding period of 2025, while net fees and commissions income amounted to approximately EGP 1.63 billion.On the balance sheet side, total assets grew by around 12% during the first quarter of the year, reaching EGP 1.03 trillion by the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 915.56 billion at the end of 2025.Customer deposits also climbed by around 13% during the same period, reaching EGP 880.94 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 779.31 billion at the end of 2025, while customer loans increased by around 6% to EGP 465.92 billion, compared to EGP 440.65 billion at the end of 2025https://en.firstbankeg.com/12975https://en.firstbankeg.com/12975First BankRelative Stability Dominates the Ranking of Largest Arab Banks by Deposits in Q4 2025Tue, 26 May 2026 04:12:19 +02002026-05-17T15:16:00+02:00«First Bank» ranking of the largest 100 Arab banks by deposits at the end of 2025 revealed a state of stability among the top 20 banks, with the Stability Index reaching nearly 100%. The banks maintained their positions within the top 20 club, despite some minor reshuffling in rankings compared with September 2025 data.«First Bank» had previously launched the Stability Index to measure banks’ movements within the ranking based on four key categories. Banks that maintained their positions without change are classified under “Full Stability,” while those that moved between one and three positions fall under the “Stable Movement” category.Banks whose rankings changed between four and ten positions are classified under “Moderate Movement,” while banks whose positions shifted by more than ten places are categorized under “Major Movements,” reflecting sharp changes in their standings within the ranking.The data showed that the list of the top 10 banks by deposits was the most stable segment within the ranking, as banks from first to eighth place maintained their positions without any change, placing them within the “Full Stability” category.Despite this stability, the top 10 list witnessed an exchange in the final two positions, as Dubai Islamic Bank succeeded in capturing the ninth position, while Saudi Awwal Bank SAB slipped to tenth place. This movement falls within the “Stable Movement” category, given that it involved only a limited ranking shift.As for banks ranked from 11th to 20th, the pace of movement appeared more diverse compared with the top 10, although it still remained within the range of relative stability.Both National Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Finance House maintained their 11th and 12th positions respectively without any change compared with September 2025 data, allowing them to remain within the “Full Stability” category. This reflects the stability of their business volumes and their ability to preserve positions within the tier closest to entering the top 10.Meanwhile, most of the other banks within this segment fell under the “Stable Movement” category, as eight banks recorded slight movements ranging between one and two positions upward or downward, reflecting the continued convergence in business volumes among major banks.Banque Misr advanced to 13th place by the end of 2025, compared with 14th place at the end of last September, while Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank moved up to 14th place from 15th during the same period.In contrast, Alinma Bank slipped to 15th place by the end of 2025 after occupying 13th place at the end of last September.The ranking also witnessed an exchange in positions between Attijariwafa Bank and Arab National Bank, with the former rising to 16th place while the latter retreated to 17th by the end of 2025.Meanwhile, Mashreq Bank advanced to 18th place by the end of 2025, compared with 20th place at the end of last September, while Arab Bank fell to 19th place from 18th during the same period.As for Banque Saudi Fransi, it declined to 20th place by the end of 2025, compared with 19th place at the end of September 2025.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12973https://en.firstbankeg.com/1297326 Banks Operating in Egypt Included in «First Bank» Ranking of the Top 100 Most Profitable Arab BanksTue, 26 May 2026 03:59:04 +02002026-05-17T14:16:00+02:00A recent ranking issued by «First Bank» for the Top 100 Most Profitable Arab Banks in 2025 revealed the presence of 26 banks operating in the Egyptian market, including 13 local banks carrying Egyptian brands and 13 banks affiliated with foreign banking groups operating in Egypt.The ranking was based on banks’ reported net profits converted into U.S. dollars, providing a unified comparison tool among different banking institutions. The ranking also excluded banks that did not disclose official financial data, in order to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the adopted methodology.<h3 data-end="742" data-section-id="som8qh" data-start="701">Egyptian Banks Included in the Ranking</h3>National Bank of Egypt secured the 6th position among Arab banks and ranked first among Egyptian banks after recording net profits of approximately $3.68 billion during 2025.Banque Misr came in 14th place regionally and second among Egyptian banks, with net profits amounting to $1.90 billion during 2025.Meanwhile, Commercial International Bank “CIB” ranked 16th among Arab banks and third among Egyptian banks after posting net profits of $1.72 billion during 2025.Arab African International Bank ranked 36th regionally and sixth among Egyptian banks with net profits of $362.12 million, followed by Housing and Development Bank in 37th place regionally and seventh locally after generating net profits of approximately $360.71 million during 2025.Banque du Caire captured the 41st position regionally and ninth among Egyptian banks with net profits of $338.21 million during 2025, while Bank of Alexandria ranked 45th regionally and tenth locally with net profits totaling $289.08 million during the same year.Suez Canal Bank secured the 70th position regionally and 14th among Egyptian banks with net profits of $134.62 million, followed by Export Development Bank of Egypt in 75th place regionally and 16th locally after recording net profits of $125.91 million during 2025.Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt ranked 83rd regionally and 19th among Egyptian banks after posting net profits of $90.78 million, followed by EGBANK in 85th place regionally and 20th locally with net profits of $85.65 million during 2025.BANK NXT came in 89th place regionally and 24th among Egyptian banks with net profits amounting to $66.64 million during 2025.Meanwhile, The United Bank ranked 96th regionally and 26th among Egyptian banks with net profits of $48.34 million during 2025.<h3 data-end="2828" data-section-id="2nnhg7" data-start="2758">Banks Operating in Egypt with Parent Groups Included in the Ranking</h3>Emirates NBD ranked third among Arab banking groups after recording profits of approximately $6.54 billion during 2025, while the group’s Egyptian subsidiary generated net profits of about $127.52 million during the same year.First Abu Dhabi Bank captured the 4th position regionally with profits totaling approximately $5.77 billion during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary posted net profits of around $349.25 million during the same year.Qatar National Bank ranked 5th among Arab banking groups after recording profits of approximately $4.75 billion during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary achieved net profits of about $610.49 million during the same year.Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank came in 7th place regionally with profits totaling approximately $3.12 billion during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary generated net profits of about $120.04 million during the same year.Kuwait Finance House secured the 9th position regionally after recording profits of approximately $2.34 billion during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary achieved net profits of about $85.62 million during the same year.National Bank of Kuwait ranked 12th regionally with profits of nearly $2 billion during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary posted net profits of approximately $169.60 million during the same year.Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank came in 13th place regionally after generating profits of around $1.93 billion during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary recorded net profits of approximately $256.27 million during the same year.Attijariwafa Bank ranked 20th regionally with profits totaling approximately $1.36 billion during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary posted net profits of around $73.61 million during the same year.Al Baraka Group ranked 39th regionally after recording profits of approximately $356.82 million during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary generated net profits of about $84.28 million during the same year.Bank ABC occupied the 44th position regionally with profits of approximately $327 million during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary posted net profits of about $50.51 million during the same year.Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait ranked 59th regionally after recording profits of approximately $204.51 million during 2025, while its Egyptian subsidiary generated net profits of around $102.70 million during the same year.It is worth noting that both Mashreq Bank and Arab Bank were also included in the ranking, occupying the 15th and 22nd positions respectively among Arab banks. Mashreq Bank recorded net profits of $1.9 billion, while Arab Bank posted net profits of $1.13 billion during 2025. However, neither bank disclosed the profitability of its Egyptian operations.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12932https://en.firstbankeg.com/12932First Bank«First Advice»: National Bank of Egypt Chases Standard Bank… The Battle for African Leadership Reveals the Other Side of Exchange Rates!Sun, 17 May 2026 12:18:41 +02002026-05-17T12:18:41+02:00In one of the hottest banking races across the African continent, the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) continues to pursue Standard Bank Group for leadership of Africa’s banking sector, amid rapid transformations reshaping the map of banking power.Over the past three years — specifically from the end of 2022 until the end of 2025 — Standard Bank Group succeeded in capturing the top position in Africa after its total assets rose to $218.55 billion by the end of 2025, compared to $169.89 billion at the end of 2022, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%.Meanwhile, the National Bank of Egypt ranked second in Africa, despite increasing its total assets to approximately $191.03 billion by the end of 2025, compared to around $176.55 billion at the end of 2022, recording a CAGR of 2.7%. This reflects an apparent gap in dollar-denominated growth compared to its South African rival.However, reading these figures solely in U.S. dollar terms does not present the full picture of actual performance.Analyzing the asset size in local currencies for both banks reveals a different reality, highlighting the National Bank of Egypt’s clear superiority in terms of operational growth momentum.NBE’s assets in local currency increased to EGP 9.1 trillion by the end of 2025, compared to EGP 4.37 trillion at the end of 2022, reflecting a strong CAGR of 27.7%. This demonstrates substantial and genuine expansion in banking activity within the Egyptian market.In contrast, Standard Bank Group recorded lower growth in its local currency, as its assets rose to ZAR 3.62 trillion by the end of 2025, compared to ZAR 2.88 trillion at the end of 2022, achieving a CAGR of 7.9%.Here lies the key paradox: while dollar-based measurement gives Standard Bank Group the advantage in leading the continent, measurement in local currencies reveals the National Bank of Egypt’s clear superiority in terms of real operational growth strength and expansion within its domestic market.This divergence is largely linked to exchange rate fluctuations during the analyzed period. The Egyptian pound lost a significant portion of its value after the U.S. dollar surged by 92.7% from the end of 2022 until the end of 2025, placing heavy pressure on the dollar valuation of NBE’s assets despite its strong domestic growth.On the other hand, the South African rand appreciated by around 2.4% against the U.S. dollar during the same period, supporting the dollar valuation of Standard Bank Group’s assets and giving it a clear advantage in rankings denominated in U.S. currency.Accordingly, the competition between the two banks appears to go beyond a simple numerical comparison of dollar-denominated assets. At its core, it reflects structural differences in the economic and monetary environments of the two largest banking sectors on the African continent.It also confirms that assessing the true strength of banks should not rely solely on dollar-based valuations, but should extend to analyzing real growth in local currencies and measuring each bank’s ability to sustain expansion and maintain operational momentum despite sharp disparities in economic conditions and foreign exchange markets.In light of the above, if exchange rates in Egypt stabilize while the National Bank of Egypt maintains its strong growth momentum, these developments could strengthen its chances of reaching the top of Africa’s banking sector by the end of 2026.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12919https://en.firstbankeg.com/12919A historic leap in «CIB»deposits over five years, with growth reaching 359%, and the portfolio surpassing EGP 1.56 trillion by the end of March 2026.Thu, 14 May 2026 12:54:55 +02002026-05-14T12:54:55+02:00«CIB»boosted its deposit base significantly over the past five years, as reflected in the portfolio rising to EGP 1.56 trillion by the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 340.09 billion at the end of 2020, representing a growth rate of 359% and an absolute increase of EGP 1.22 trillion.Tracking its performance over the analysis period shows that 2024 recorded the highest annual growth rate and the largest increase in the portfolio, with customer deposits rising to EGP 967.9 billion by the end of 2024, compared to EGP 675.31 billion at the end of 2023, representing a growth rate of 43.3% and an increase of EGP 292.59 billion.During the current year, the deposit portfolio continued its upward trajectory, reaching EGP 1.21 trillion by the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 1.11 trillion at the end of 2025, reflecting a quarterly growth rate of 9.5%.Alongside deposit growth, CIB delivered strong profitability performance during the current year, recording net profits of EGP 17.74 billion in Q1 2026, compared to EGP 16.60 billion in the same period of 2025, representing a growth rate of 6.9% and an absolute increase of EGP 1.14 billion.Pre-tax profit rose to EGP 25.46 billion in Q1 2026, compared to EGP 22.70 billion in the same period of 2025, reflecting growth of around 12.2%.Net interest income increased to EGP 29.53 billion in the first three months of 2026, compared to EGP 25.30 billion in the same period of 2025, representing a growth rate of 16.7%.Net fees and commissions income jumped by 13.6% to reach EGP 2.19 billion in Q1 2026, compared to EGP 1.92 billion in the same period of 2025.On the balance sheet side, total assets rose to EGP 1.56 trillion by the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 1.44 trillion at the end of 2025, representing quarterly growth of 8.6%.Customer loan portfolio increased to EGP 545.90 billion by the end of March 2026, compared to EGP 503.36 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting growth of approximately 8.5% on a quarterly basis.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12916https://en.firstbankeg.com/12916Competitiveness Index: Narrow Margins… Three Banks Engage in a Fierce Race Among Egypt’s Largest Personal Lending PortfoliosWed, 13 May 2026 16:01:58 +02002026-05-13T16:01:58+02:00As part of the continuous monitoring conducted by First Bank of developments in the Egyptian banking sector—particularly amid intensifying competition among emerging banks—2025 data revealed escalating competition among three banks that are now operating within an extremely close range: EGBANK, ABK-Egypt, and saib.According to the data, EGBANK ranked eighth among the largest banks operating in the personal lending segment by the end of 2025, followed by ABK-Egypt in ninth place and saib in tenth, reflecting intense competition and highly comparable market sizes among the three institutions.In terms of annual performance during 2025, EGBANK recorded the strongest pace of expansion, with its personal lending portfolio surging to EGP 25.10 bn by the end of 2025, up from EGP 13.04 bn at the end of 2024, achieving an annual growth rate of 92.5%, This reflects a clear acceleration in the bank’s expansion strategy within the personal lending sector.Meanwhile, ABK-Egypt continued to deliver more stable and less aggressive growth, with its personal lending portfolio increasing to EGP 25.06 bn by the end of 2025, compared to approximately EGP 22.03 bn at the end of 2024, representing an annual growth rate of 13.8%.Similarly, saib recorded strong expansion, as its personal lending portfolio rose to EGP 24.44 bn by the end of 2025, compared to EGP 16.77 bn at the end of 2024, achieving an annual growth rate of 45.7%.These figures indicate that competition among the three banks has entered a more intense phase, particularly as the gaps between them have narrowed to limited levels, making the sustainability of current growth rates a decisive factor in reshaping rankings over the coming years.Looking ahead to the future trajectory of the three banks by the end of 2026, the compound annual growth rates «CAGR» over the past three years—specifically from 2022 to 2025—highlight clear differences in expansion dynamics. ABK-Egypt recorded a CAGR of 28.3%, compared to significantly higher and closely aligned rates for EGBANK and saib at 46.3% and 46.2%, respectively, reflecting a faster expansion pace for the latter two institutions.Assuming current expansion trends continue without major structural changes, the competitive landscape appears poised for a notable reshuffling by the end of 2026, EGBANK is expected to maintain its eighth-place ranking, with its portfolio exceeding EGP 36 bn, while saib may advance to ninth place with a portfolio approaching EGP 35.7 bn, surpassing ABK-Egypt, whose portfolio is projected to reach around EGP 32 bn, amid the continued relative growth advantage enjoyed by EGBANK and saib.As this relative convergence persists, competition among the three banks is likely to witness further shifts in the coming periods, particularly as maintaining growth momentum has become the most influential factor in determining the balance of power within Egypt’s personal lending market—one of the most competitive segments of retail banking in the Egyptian banking sector.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12914https://en.firstbankeg.com/12914The Big Numbers Race: Despite Sohar’s Rapid Growth, Muscat Maintains Sole Leadership of Oman’s Banking SectorThe Omani banking sector is witnessing intensifying competition among major banks, as each institution seeks tWed, 13 May 2026 15:26:27 +02002026-05-13T15:26:27+02:00The Omani banking sector is witnessing intensifying competition among major banks, as each institution seeks to strengthen its market share and expand its business base within a relatively stable banking environment characterized by high levels of regulation and supervision.Despite maintaining its position as the largest bank in the Sultanate of Oman in terms of size, outreach, and profitability, Bank Muscat continues to dominate the market, Meanwhile, Sohar International has increasingly established itself as one of the fastest-growing banks in the Omani market, benefiting from a strong expansion pace that has been clearly reflected across various financial and operational indicators in recent years.According to 2025 data, Bank Muscat ranked as the leading bank in the Omani banking sector, while Sohar International came in second place. In terms of balance sheet size, Bank Muscat recorded total assets of approximately 39.30 billion dollars by the end of 2025, compared to 23.71 billion dollars for Sohar International during the same period.Bank Muscat also maintained its lead in deposits, reaching 22.71 billion dollars by the end of 2025, versus 17.73 billion dollars for Sohar International.On the lending side, Bank Muscat continued to outperform, with net financing reaching approximately 23.59 billion dollars by the end of 2025, compared to 14.97 billion dollars for Sohar International during the same year.However, despite Bank Muscat’s clear advantage in scale, an analysis of growth trends over the last three years (specifically from 2022 to 2025) reveals a remarkable acceleration in Sohar International’s expansion pace, The bank recorded total asset growth of 121%, compared to only 18.1% for Bank Muscat over the same period.This strong performance contributed to narrowing the asset gap between the two banks to approximately 15.59 billion dollars by the end of 2025, compared to a gap of 22.54 billion dollars at the end of 2022, reflecting Sohar International’s success in accelerating its pace toward catching up with the market leader.The impact of Sohar International’s strong growth appears even more evident in deposits, where the bank recorded total growth of 166.7% over the last three years, compared to 17.7% for Bank Muscat during the same period, This helped reduce the deposit gap between the two institutions to 4.97 billion dollars by the end of 2025, down from 12.65 billion dollars at the end of 2022.Regarding financing activity, Sohar International recorded total growth of approximately 97.1% over the past three years, compared to 13.7% for Bank Muscat during the same timeframe, As a result, the financing gap narrowed to 8.62 billion dollars by the end of 2025, compared to 13.15 billion dollars in 2022.In terms of profitability, Bank Muscat continued to reinforce its operational superiority, generating net profits of 663.73 million dollars in 2025, alongside a return on assets «ROA» of 1.76% and a return on equity «ROE» of 10.15%.By comparison, Sohar International posted net profits of 260.95 million dollars in 2025, while recording an ROA of 1.22% and an ROE of 9.79%, reflecting the continued profitability gap in favor of Bank Muscat despite Sohar International’s notable performance improvements.Regarding capital strength, Bank Muscat maintained a relatively larger capital base, with shareholders’ equity reaching approximately 1.95 billion dollars by the end of 2025, compared to 1.82 billion dollars for Sohar International during the same period.From an operational perspective, Bank Muscat manages an extensive network of 198 domestic branches, in addition to a branch in Riyadh and representative offices in Dubai, Singapore, and Iran, supported by approximately 4,462 employees as of the end of 2025.In contrast, Sohar International operates 55 commercial banking branches and 20 Islamic banking branches across Oman, supported by approximately 1,715 employees. This reflects a clear difference in business models between the two banks: while Bank Muscat relies on broad geographic and operational expansion supported by a massive business base, Sohar International adopts a leaner and more efficiency-driven expansion model.Based on the above data, Bank Muscat continues to consolidate its dominance over the Omani banking sector, supported by its substantial scale, strong profitability, and broad operational footprint. At the same time, Sohar International is steadily positioning itself as the market’s leading emerging challenger, backed by exceptional growth momentum in recent years.As the gap between the two banks continues to narrow across key indicators, competition is no longer limited to maintaining traditional rankings. Instead, it increasingly reflects a gradual shift in the balance of power within Oman’s banking sector—one that may pave the way for a reshaping of banking leadership in the Sultanate over the coming years.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12974https://en.firstbankeg.com/12974First BankMusical Chairs Emerge in the Ranking of the Top 20 Arab Banks Between 2024 and 2025Tue, 26 May 2026 04:04:37 +02002026-05-12T16:16:00+02:00«First Bank» ranking of the largest 100 Arab banks by the end of 2025 revealed a high degree of stability among the top 20 banks, with the stability index reaching nearly 90%, reflecting the limited changes in the rankings of major banks compared with 2024 data.“First Bank” had previously launched its Stability Index to measure banks’ movements within the ranking based on four main categories. Banks that maintained their positions without change are classified under “Full Stability,” while banks that moved between one and three positions fall under the “Stable Movement” category.Banks whose rankings changed between four and ten positions are classified under “Moderate Movement,” while those that shifted by more than ten positions are categorized under “Major Movements,” reflecting sharp changes in their standings within the ranking.The data showed that the top 10 Arab banks were the most stable segment within the ranking, as banks occupying positions from third to eighth maintained their rankings without any change, placing them within the “Full Stability” category. This reflects the strength of their competitive positions and the stability of their business volumes.Despite this overall stability, the top 10 list still witnessed limited movements. First Abu Dhabi Bank succeeded in capturing the top position in the Arab banking sector, while Qatar National Bank retreated to second place.Meanwhile, Kuwait Finance House advanced to ninth place, while Riyad Bank slipped to tenth. These changes fall under the “Stable Movement” category, as they were limited to minor ranking shifts.As for banks ranked from 11th to 20th, the pace of movement appeared more diverse compared with the top 10, although it generally remained within the range of relative stability.Both Saudi Awwal Bank “SAB” and Dubai Islamic Bank maintained their 11th and 12th positions respectively without any change compared with the previous year, allowing them to remain within the “Full Stability” category. This reflects the stability of their business volumes and their ability to preserve positions within the tier closest to entering the top 10.In contrast, most of the other banks within this segment fell under the “Stable Movement” category, as six banks recorded slight changes ranging between one and two positions upward or downward, reflecting the continued convergence in business volumes among major banks.Only two banks witnessed moderate movements within this segment. Banque Misr climbed four places, advancing from 18th position at the end of 2024 to 14th by the end of 2025.On the other hand, Banque Saudi Fransi dropped from 13th to 17th place during the same period, placing it as well within the “Moderate Movement” category according to the index.In light of these limited movements across the major banking segments, it can be said that the Arab banking sector is experiencing a state of relative stability in the leading positions.These results also indicate that the gaps between banks have become increasingly narrow and sensitive, making even slight improvements in performance or modest growth in assets capable of causing ranking changes—albeit gradually and without creating major structural shifts in the overall ranking landscape.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12972https://en.firstbankeg.com/12972First Bank«SAB» Reclaims Ninth Spot Among Largest Arab Banks by Deposits overtaking Dubai Islamic BankTue, 26 May 2026 03:47:17 +02002026-05-11T14:15:00+02:00Despite the relative stability witnessed among the top 10 Arab banks by deposit size, competition remained intense between Saudi Awwal Bank SAB and Dubai Islamic Bank for the ninth position in the ranking.«First Bank» Ratings Center had previously published a report highlighting Dubai Islamic Bank’s success in capturing the ninth spot from SAB under the headline: “Relative Stability Among the Top 10 Arab Banks in Deposits… Dubai Islamic Bank Creates the Only Shift.”By the end of 2025, Dubai Islamic Bank had climbed to ninth place, while SAB slipped to tenth, compared with the “First Bank” ranking of the largest 100 Arab banks by deposits at the end of September 2025.However, first-quarter 2026 results reshaped the competition once again, as SAB successfully reclaimed the ninth position, overtaking Dubai Islamic Bank, which retreated back to tenth place.According to the consolidated financial statements, SAB’s deposit portfolio rose to $88.31 billion by the end of March 2026, compared with $86.19 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter growth rate of 2%, which supported its return to ninth place.Meanwhile, customer deposits at Dubai Islamic Bank grew at a slower pace, increasing to $87.66 billion by the end of March 2026, compared with $87.18 billion at the end of 2025, representing a quarterly growth rate of 0.6%.These closely matched movements reflect the intensity of competition among Arab banks for leading positions in deposit rankings, particularly given the narrow gaps in deposit volumes, where ranking changes are increasingly dependent on quarterly growth rates.The data also indicate that competition between SAB and Dubai Islamic Bank is likely to continue in the coming periods, as each bank seeks to strengthen its deposit base and reinforce its competitive position within the Arab banking sector.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12894https://en.firstbankeg.com/12894Retail Index: Mortgage Loan Portfolio at «QNB Egypt» Records a Historic Growth of 485% Over the Last 5 YearsMon, 11 May 2026 11:55:12 +02002026-05-11T11:55:12+02:00<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-42" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-6a00637c-646c-83ea-b644-88341a42b2e4-12" data-turn-id-container="request-6a00637c-646c-83ea-b644-88341a42b2e4-12" dir="auto">The standalone financial statements of Qatar National Bank «QNB» Egypt revealed a significant expansion in mortgage lending over the past five years, with the portfolio increasing by 485% to reach 12.63 EGP bn by the end of March 2026, compared to 2.16 EGP bn at the end of 2020, achieving an absolute increase of more than 10 EGP bn.Tracking the portfolio performance during the analysis period shows that it recorded its highest annual growth rate in 2022, rising by 68% to reach 4.77 EGP bn by the end of 2022, compared to 2.85 EGP bn at the end of 2021.The mortgage portfolio also recorded its second-highest annual growth rate in 2025, increasing by 42% to reach 11.94 EGP bn by the end of December 2025, compared to 8.40 EGP bn at the end of 2024.During the first quarter of 2026, the portfolio grew by 6% to reach 12.63 EGP bn by the end of March 2026.Alongside the growth in mortgage lending, «QNB» Egypt delivered strong financial performance in Q1 2026, posting net profits of 8.86 EGP bn compared to 6.95 EGP bn in Q1 2025, recording a growth rate of 27%.Net interest income increased by 24% during the first three months of 2026, reaching 13.68 EGP bn compared to 11 EGP bn in the same period of 2025.Net fee and commission income recorded 1.63 EGP bn in Q1 2026.On the balance sheet side, total assets grew by 12% during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 1.03 trillion EGP by the end of March 2026, compared to 915.56 EGP bn at the end of 2025.Customer deposits increased by 13% during Q1 2026, reaching 880.94 EGP bn compared to 779.31 EGP bn at the end of 2025.Customer loans also increased by 6% during the same period, reaching 465.92 EGP bn by the end of March 2026, compared to 440.65 EGP bn at the end of 2025.</section>https://en.firstbankeg.com/12893https://en.firstbankeg.com/12893First Index: Post-Acquisition.. «Kuwait Finance House – Egypt» Achieves a Surge in Financing Market Under the Leadership of Hala SaadekMon, 11 May 2026 11:38:25 +02002026-05-11T11:38:25+02:00<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-38" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-6a00637c-646c-83ea-b644-88341a42b2e4-10" data-turn-id-container="request-6a00637c-646c-83ea-b644-88341a42b2e4-10" dir="auto">Kuwait Finance House – Egypt recorded strong growth in its financing portfolio following its acquisition of Ahli United Bank, with results exceeding expectations that customer base stability might be affected after the transition to an Islamic bank. Instead, the bank continued to attract new clients and expand its financing portfolio at a rapid pace, driven by the philosophy of Hala Saadek, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, who focused on strengthening internal stability and implementing a balanced growth strategy that supported the expansion of Sharia-compliant credit.Customer financing portfolio witnessed exceptional growth over the past four years, increasing by 100.2% a rise of 48.45 EGP bn, reaching 96.82 EGP bn by the end of 2025, compared to 48.37 EGP bn at the end of 2022.This performance was driven by strong expansion in corporate financing, which grew by 88.3%, rising from 50.39 EGP bn in 2022 to 94.91 EGP bn in 2025, an increase of more than 44.51 EGP bn, reflecting the bank’s strategy of supporting corporate and large institutional clients.At the same time, the bank strengthened its retail banking presence, as retail financing rose by 218% to reach 9.88 EGP bn by the end of 2025, compared to 3.10 EGP bn in 2022, an increase of 6.77 EGP bn.Direct corporate financing also grew strongly by 77.5%, reaching 69.71 EGP bn in 2025 compared to 39.28 EGP bn in 2022, an increase of 30.43 EGP bn.Syndicated financing recorded growth of 63.2%, reaching 10.73 EGP bn in 2025 compared to 6.57 EGP bn in 2022, an increase of 4.16 EGP bn.On the deposits side, the bank achieved significant expansion, with customer deposits rising by 102.5% an increase of 71.55 EGP bn, reaching 141.35 EGP bn in 2025 compared to 69.80 EGP bn in 2022.Total assets also grew by 101%, increasing by 86.31 EGP bn to reach 171.81 EGP bn in 2025 compared to 85.49 EGP bn in 2022.Issued and paid-in capital doubled during the period, rising by 100% to reach 10 EGP bn in 2025 compared to 5 EGP bn in 2022, an increase of 5 EGP bn.On the profitability side, net profits recorded strong growth of 103.5%, increasing by 2.08 EGP bn to reach 4.08 EGP bn in 2025 compared to 2.01 EGP bn in 2022.</section>https://en.firstbankeg.com/12967https://en.firstbankeg.com/12967First Bank«CIB» Advances 7 Positions in the Ranking of the Largest Arab Banks Within One YearMon, 25 May 2026 01:35:01 +02002026-05-10T17:16:00+02:00«First Bank» list of the largest 100 Arab banks by the end of 2025 revealed a notable improvement in the ranking of Commercial International Bank-Egypt «CIB», as the bank climbed to 38th place by the end of 2025, compared to 45th place in the 2024 ranking, advancing seven positions under the leadership of Hisham Ezz Al Arab, the bank’s CEO, and his management team.This progress was supported by strong growth in the bank’s total assets, which increased by 26.6% during the past year to reach $30.11 billion by the end of 2025, compared to $23.79 billion at the end of 2024.This performance highlights the bank’s growing competitive strength at the regional level, placing it on an upward trajectory that could further enhance its ranking in the coming period if the current pace of performance continues.In addition to asset growth, Commercial International Bank delivered strong results during the past year, with net profit rising to $1.72 billion in 2025, compared to $1.09 billion in 2024, reflecting an annual growth rate of 57.3%.Net interest income increased by 25.8% during the past year, reaching $2.25 billion in 2025, versus $1.79 billion in 2024.Net fee and commission income surged to $191.94 million in 2025, compared to $138.97 million in 2024, recording annual growth of 38.1%.On the deposits side, the bank’s portfolio rose by 21.7% during the past year, reaching $23.17 billion by the end of 2025, compared to $19.04 billion at the end of 2024.Meanwhile, net customer loans climbed to $10.55 billion by the end of 2025, compared to $6.71 billion at the end of 2024, representing year-on-year growth of approximately 57.4%.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12965https://en.firstbankeg.com/12965First Bank«Wio Bank» topped «First Bank» list of the Fastest-Growing «Major Arab Banks» by Customers’ Deposits in 2025Mon, 25 May 2026 01:13:16 +02002026-05-10T15:17:00+02:00The latest rankings by First Bank revealed that «Wio Bank» topped the list of the fastest-growing major Arab banks in customer deposits during 2025.This was driven by a 65.6% increase in the bank’s customer deposit portfolio over the past year, reaching $15.60 billion by the end of 2025, compared to $9.42 billion at the end of 2024.The ranking covered major Arab banks, which First Bank defines as banks with total assets exceeding $15 billion. These banks numbered 60 institutions within the list of the largest 100 Arab banks by the end of 2025.The ranking methodology was based on ordering banks according to the growth rates of their asset portfolios, as disclosed in official financial statements and denominated in U.S. dollars, providing a unified comparison tool among different banking institutions. The ranking also excluded banks for which official data was unavailable, in order to ensure the accuracy of the results and the reliability of the adopted methodology.Overall, Wio Bank delivered strong performance during the past year, with net profit rising to $169.26 million in 2025, compared to $107.55 million in 2024, representing an annual growth rate of 57.4%.Net interest income increased by 47.2% during the past year, reaching $180.38 million in 2025, versus $122.57 million in 2024.Fee and commission income, along with other revenues, surged to $158.76 million in 2025, compared to $96.20 million in 2024, recording annual growth of 65%.The bank’s net financing portfolio jumped to $920.57 million by the end of 2025, compared to $208.84 million at the end of 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth rate of 340.8%.Meanwhile, the bank’s total asset portfolio rose by 63.5% during the past year, reaching $16.63 billion by the end of 2025, compared to $10.17 billion at the end of 2024.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12887https://en.firstbankeg.com/128874 Egyptian Banks Among the Fastest-Growing «Major Arab Banks» in Customer Deposits During 2025Sun, 10 May 2026 14:15:41 +02002026-05-10T14:15:41+02:00A list published by «First Bank» of the fastest-growing major Arab banks in customer deposits during 2025 revealed the presence of four Egyptian banks.«Banque Misr» ranked fifth among major Arab banks and first among Egyptian banks, with a growth rate of 29.2% over the past year. Its customer deposits increased to 63.5 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared to 49.13 USD bn at the end of 2024.The «National Bank of Egypt» ranked tenth among major Arab banks and second among Egyptian banks, recording a growth rate of 24.5% over the past year. Its deposit portfolio reached 121.57 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared to 97.62 USD bn at the end of 2024.The «Commercial International Bank – Egypt «CIB» ranked 13th among major Arab banks and third among Egyptian banks, as its customer deposits rose to 23.17 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared to 19.04 USD bn at the end of 2024.The «Arab African International Bank» ranked 42nd among major Arab banks and fourth among Egyptian banks, after its deposit portfolio reached 14.4 USD bn by the end of 2025, compared to 13.21 USD bn at the end of 2024.It is worth noting that the ranking included major Arab banks, defined by «First Bank» as banks with total assets exceeding 15 USD bn. The classification is based on ranking banks according to the growth rates of their asset portfolios denominated in US dollars, providing a unified comparison tool across different banking institutions. The ranking excluded banks for which official data were not available, to ensure accuracy and reliability of the methodology.The classification also included parent banking groups across Arab countries and did not include their foreign subsidiaries.To view the full list, click <a href="https://en.firstbankeg.com/12883" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">here</a>.https://en.firstbankeg.com/12886https://en.firstbankeg.com/12886Decision Makers: Ahmed Galal’s Strategy Drives «EBank» Loan Portfolio Toward Strong Growth Over the Past 3 YearsSince Ahmed Galal assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Egyptian ExportSun, 10 May 2026 14:07:20 +02002026-05-10T14:07:20+02:00Since Ahmed Galal assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Egyptian Export Development Bank «EBank» on 13 December 2022, the bank has entered a new phase of differentiated performance characterized by accelerated growth, improved asset quality, and stronger competitive presence within the Egyptian banking sector.In this episode of Decision Makers, we examine Ahmed Galal’s role and the impact of his strategy on achieving strong growth in the bank’s customer loan portfolio over three years, in addition to recording record growth rates across key financial portfolios, reinforcing its position as one of the most important banks in the Egyptian market.Customer loans at «EBank» witnessed strong growth, rising by 95.9% to reach 84.17 EGP bn by the end of 2025, compared to 42.98 EGP bn at the end of 2022, an overall increase of 41.2 EGP bn.This strong expansion under Ahmed Galal’s leadership is mainly driven by the growth of the corporate loan portfolio, which increased by 81.1% to reach 72.94 EGP bn by the end of 2025, compared to 40.28 EGP bn at the end of 2022, with an increase of 32.65 EGP bn.In addition, the retail loan portfolio recorded a remarkable surge of 204.6%, increasing by 9.28 EGP bn to reach 13.81 EGP bn by the end of 2025, compared to 4.54 EGP bn   at the end of 2022, reflecting nearly a tripling in size.Regarding the loan-to-deposit ratio at «EBank», the bank adopted a conservative approach, reflected in a slight decline to 57.7% by the end of 2025, compared to 58.99% at the end of 2022.Overall, Ahmed Galal’s strategy delivered strong financial performance, with net profits surging by 388.7% to reach 6 EGP bn   in 2025, compared to 1.23 EGP bn in 2022.On the balance sheet side, total assets increased by 113.9%, rising by 110.18 EGP bn » to reach 206.93 EGP bn by the end of 2025, compared to 96.76 EGP bn in 2022.Customer deposits also grew by 100.1%, increasing by 72.91 EGP bn to reach 145.76 EGP bn » by the end of 2025, compared to 72.85 EGP bn in 2022.Meanwhile, the bank’s issued and paid-in capital recorded a significant jump of 157.9%, reaching 13.6 EGP bn  by the end of 2025, compared to 5.27 EGP bn in 2022.