Banks in the United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Al Hilal Bank Dubai Bank National Bank of Abu Dhabi National Bank of Dubai Union National Bank
ADCB Al Hilal Bank Dubai Bank NBAD NBD Union National Bank

The UAE banking sector includes approximately 45 commercial banks of which over 50% are foreign banks.

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) – The largest bank in the United Arab Emirates. It was formed through the merger of National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) and First Gulf Bank in 2017.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) – One of the biggest banks in UAE with a market share of around 10%-11% in deposits and loans. The company operates a network of about 50 offices and 310 ATMs nationwide. It also has two branches in India, offshore branch in Jersey, and representative offices in London and Singapore.

Citibank has been present in the United Arab Emirates since 1964 when it opened its branch in Dubai. The company provides a wide array of products and services to retail, corporate and institutional customers. Citi also operates in Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Pakistan, Morocco and Algeria.

HSBC Bank Middle East (UAE Branch) is the largest and most widely represented international bank in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates represents a key part of HSBC's business.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) – The Shariah-compliant lender providing personal, business, private and corporate banking services. ADIB has international locations in Egypt, Iraq, Qatar and the United Kingdom. Recently, it acquired Barclays’s retail business in the UAE.

Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait has a presence in the UAE through two branches in Dubai and Abu-Dhabi.

Al Hilal Bank, founded on June 19, 2008, is a 100% government-owned Islamic bank with 20 branches and over 100 ATMs across the country. It was named “Best Islamic Financial Institution” in the UAE by Global Finance magazine and “Best Islamic Asset Management Company” by International Finance Magazine.

Al Khaliji France operates a network of branches across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaima. It is a subsidiary of Al Khalij Commercial Bank, one of Qatar’s leading financial institutions.

ABN Amro Bank N.V. has provided business and private banking services in the UAE since 1974.

Arab Bank for Investment & Foreign Trade (Al Masraf), headquartered in Abu Dhabi, offers a full range of financial services through 11 branches.

Arab African International Bank offers the following products and services: depository and retail asset products, remittances, safe boxes, trade finance and credit facilities.

Arab Bank PLC (Dubai) is a subsidiary of Arab Bank plc, a global Arab banking group headquartered in Amman, Jordan.

Bank of Baroda (UAE Branch) was established in 1974 and is located in Dubai.

Banque Du Caire has four branches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras al Khaima and Sharjah.

Bank Melli Iran (U.A.E.) has offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah.

Bank Saderat Iran has 8 branches and one regional office in the United Arab Emirates. The Bank's profit is one of the highest among foreign banks in the UAE.

Bank of Sharjah – A publicly listed Islamic financial services company. It operates through 5 branches located in the Emirates of Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and City of Al Ain.

Barclays Bank PLC (Dubai International Financial Centre Branch)

Blom Bank France offers corporate and retail banking services in the UAE including trade finance, project financing, current accounts and term deposits.

BNP Paribas operates the full-service commercial branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as well as BNP Paribas Wealth Management (DIFC) Ltd in Dubai.

Commercial Bank International (CBI) provides standard banking services. The company’s shares are listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

Commercial Bank of Dubai operates through a network of approximately 30 branches and more than 200 ATMs nationwide.

Doha Bank, one of the largest commercial banks in Qatar, operates two branches and 23 ATMs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Dubai Bank, established in 2002, was an Islamic bank providing corporate and personal banking services through more than 20 branches across the country. It was acquired by Emirates Islamic Bank.

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) – A public joint stock company and one of the largest sharia-compliant lenders in the United Arab Emirates. As of March 15, 2018, it had a market capitalization of US$7.5 billion.

Emirates Investment Bank (formerly known as Arab Emirates Investment Bank) provides private and investment banking services.

Emirates Islamic bank – The second-largest Shariah-compliant lender in Dubai. It offers retail and corporate banking services through over 60 branches and 100 ATMs. It operates as a subsidiary of Emirates NBD PJSC.

Emirates NBD Bank – One of the largest banking groups in the Middle East and the second largest bank in the UAE. As of September 30, 2017, it had total assets of AED 461 billion (US$126 billion).

First Gulf Bank (FGB), founded in 1979, completed the merger with National Bank of Abu Dhabi in April 2017.

Habib Bank AG Zurich (HBZ UAE) is one of the top five foreign banks in the United Arab Emirates.

ICICI Bank Ltd (Abu Dhabi Representative Office, Dubai Representative Office)

Invest bank – A premier commercial bank offering a comprehensive range of products and services to corporate and retail customers. It is the first UAE bank to open a branch in Lebanon.

Mashreq Bank is the largest private sector bank in the UAE with a growing retail presence in the region including Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Bahrain. As of March 14, 2018, it had a market capitalization of US$3.7 billion.

National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), established in 1968, merged with First Gulf Bankin in 2017.

National Bank of Bahrain (Abu Dhabi Branch)

National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) is a corporate bank operating through about 20 branches in Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dibba, Deira, Dubai, Jebel Ali, Mussafah, Masafi, Qidfah, Ajman, Tawian, Al Ain, Fujairah Free Zone and Fujairah City Centre.

National Bank of Oman – The only Omani bank licensed to operate in Dubai.

National Bank of Umm Al-Qaiwain (NBQ) operates through around 30 branches across the seven Emirates. As of March 15, 2018, it had a market of AED 5.5 billion.

Noor Bank (formerly Noor Islamic Bank) – A Shari’a compliant commercial bank, established in 2007. It is owned by Emirates Investment Authority and Noor Investment Group.

RAKBANK – The trading name of the National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah. It provides retail and corporate banking services through a network of more than 30 branches. The company was founded in 1976 and is based in the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah. Rakbank is 52.8% owned by the Government of Ras Al-Khaimah.

Scotiabank offers precious metals products and services in the UAE. It is the first Canadian bank to operate in Dubai.

Standard Chartered operates the most extensive branch network among foreign banks in the UAE, with more than 10 branches, 5 electronic banking units and over 100 ATMs.

Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) – An Islamic bank providing a diverse range of Sharia’a compliant retail, commercial, corporate, investment and international banking services. As of September 30, 2017, the company had total assets of AED 37.8 billion.

UBS Group, a Swiss global firm, has a representative office in Abu Dhabi as well as UBS AG Dubai branch.

Union Bancaire Privée, a family-owned Swiss private bank, has a subsidiary (Union Bancaire Privée (Middle East) Ltd) and representative office in Dubai.

Union National Bank – One of the leading local banks in the UAE with 110 retail branches and business offices, 257 ATMs and over 1,840 employees. It also has overseas branches in Egypt, Qatar and Kuwait as well as a representative office in China. UNB was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Abu Dhabi.

United Arab Bank (UAB) was founded in 1975 and is based in Sharjah. It provides commercial and retail banking services through a network of over 30 offices across the Emirates. It was named Most Innovative SME Bank and Best Retail Bank in the United Arab Emirates.

 Biggest Banks in the UAE

 Following are the largest banks the United Arab Emirates ranked by total assets.

Rank Company Total assets, US$b Balance sheet
1 First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) * 175.335 09/30/2017
2 Emirates NBD 125.511 09/30/2017
3 Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank 70.665 09/30/2017
4 Dubai Islamic Bank 54.758 09/30/2017
5 MashreqBank 33.142 09/30/2017
6 Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) 33.011 09/30/2017
7 HSBC Bank Middle East - UAE Operations 31.024 12/31/2016
8 Union National Bank 28.475 09/30/2017
9 Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) 18.776 09/30/2017
10 Emirates Islamic Bank 16.469 06/30/2017
11 National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBANK) 12.537 09/30/2017
12 Al Hilal Bank 11.629 06/30/2017
13 Noor Bank 10.866 06/30/2017
14 Sharjah Islamic Bank 10.039 06/30/2017
15 National Bank of Fujairah 9.588 09/30/2017

* First Abu Dhabi Bank was created through the merger of National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank in 2017.