meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

UAE banks dig in for new era

11 April 2025

 

Gulf decision makers, like their counterparts elsewhere in the world, are gauging the potential impact of the world’s new tariff regime.

Amid the global economic turmoil emanating from Washington DC, UAE banks have reason to be confident about their prospects of withstanding the negative effects, after a strong 2024 that saw double-digit credit growth and solid profits across the board.

Full-year loan growth stood at 11% in 2024, notes ratings agency Fitch Ratings, while UAE banks’ profits reached a record-high level, with a 19.1% return on average equity.

Surprising success

Loan growth surprised on the upside, reflecting stronger activity from government-related entities (GREs), which has provided good business for Emirati banks. For example, majority government-owned Emirates NBD had almost one-quarter of its loan book exposed to the Dubai government and its GREs. 

The broader outlook is positive for UAE banks in 2025. Amid healthy operating conditions and robust liquidity, lending growth should remain close to double figures this year.

The combined net income of Fitch-rated banks was AED80bn ($19.8bn) in 2024, up from AED76bn ($18.8bn) in 2023. This rise was driven by a 10% expansion of the banks’ pre-impairment operating profit, contained loan impairment charges – due to the favourable operating environment – and strong coverage of already crystallised problem loans at most banks, said Fitch Ratings.

The UAE’s largest bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), reported a 13% year-on-year increase in pre-tax profits to AED19bn ($4.7bn), supported by revenue growth of 15%. 

“UAE banks are at the top of the cycle,” says Anton Lopatin, UAE bank analyst at Fitch Ratings. “At Fitch, we’ve upgraded a lot of standalone ratings for banks in the last 24 months. Together with other factors that reflected that in the last two years we have seen some the highest profits ever in the UAE, because of the strong liquidity and the healthy economic environment.”

Although profitability is expected to decrease marginally in 2025, UAE banks will continue to benefit from solid internal capital generation and high shareholder support, according to S&P Global, another ratings agency.

Taxes, rates and regulations

UAE banks, like other companies active in the country, have also had to cope with the introduction of corporate tax, imposed in mid-2003 at an average 9% rate. Even so, UAE banks realised a high return on equity in 2024, despite it being the first full year in which banks paid corporate tax. 

UAE banks have benefited from the higher-for-longer interest rates, an avenue of earnings that is gradually closing off in light of the US Federal Reserve’s protracted series of rate cuts. Nonetheless, analysts see the impact remaining supportive through 2025.

“The market consensus is that in 2025, there will be a maximum of two cuts in interest rates. That would mean banks would likely report another return on average equity close to 20% again, in line with what we saw last year,” says Lopatin.

Another source of support is the new credit risk management standards introduced by the UAE Central Bank in November, which are likely to strengthen banks’ long-term creditworthiness.

“From a ratings agency perspective, this is positive, as … target banks have to become more prudent in terms of how they classify loans, and how they book provisions against new impairment cases. This means they should be more conservative than they used to be,” says Lopatin.

The standards are aimed at improving the transparency of the banks’ asset quality and ensure stronger provision coverage for problem loans. Consequently, capital and profitability metrics should face less pressure in times of stress, notes Fitch.

“The Central Bank of the UAE targets the sector average impaired loan ratio to be less than 5% in the long-term. The current average is 4%, but we are in the positive part of the cycle,” says Lopatin.

Some banks may report higher Stage 2 or Stage 3 loans ratios due to the new standards, but Fitch maintains its forecast sector-average impaired loans ratio at 4% for 2025 because the impact on most large and medium-sized banks is likely to be limited, and robust growth should continue to dilute increases in Stage 3 loan ratios.

Pressure has been exerted on banks to offload some of their bad loans, most notably in Abu Dhabi.

The process got rolling in 2023, when Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) offloaded a $1.1bn loan portfolio to US investment fund Davidson Kempner, as part of a move to rid its balance sheet of corporate defaults. The lender is now looking to package off more non-performing loans by the end of 2025 and is reported to be in the early stages of studying such a deal.

In January, FAB also announced its intention to offload some impaired loans and is reportedly looking to sell its portfolio of non-performing loans worth about $800m to Deutsche Bank. This process mirrors what is happening in Saudi Arabia, where the authorities want banks to securitise some of the impaired loans.

Opportunities abroad

While the domestic economic upturn and the servicing of GREs’ credit needs will underpin future Emirati bank growth, lenders also continue to look out for new opportunities beyond the GCC home market.

Turkiye is one of the more promising prospects for UAE banks to grow their footprints. Although an attempt last year by FAB to acquire a stake in the country’s fourth-largest private bank, Yapi Kredi, did not go through, in January Dubai Islamic Bank announced an increase in its shareholding in Turkish financial services provider TOM Group from 20% to 25%.

Meanwhile, Emirates NBD and FAB acted as coordinators and bookrunners on a $1.2bn loan for Turkiye Wealth Fund in March of this year. The sovereign fund raised a two-year syndicated loan from 20 banks.

Overseas expansion, mixed with continued domestic credit growth opportunities, should help UAE lenders maintain their recent performances – whatever global headwinds result from US President Donald Trump’s new era of trade barriers.

MEED’s May 2025 report on the UAE includes:

> GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY: UAE looks to economic longevity
> BANKING: UAE banks dig in for new era
> UPSTREAM: Adnoc in cruise control with oil and gas targets
> DOWNSTREAM: Abu Dhabi chemicals sector sees relentless growth
> POWER: AI accelerates UAE power generation projects sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Dubai construction continues to lead region
> TRANSPORT: UAE accelerates its $60bn transport push
 

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13640614/main.jpg
James Gavin

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Libya and Tunisia reschedule joint oil and gas licensing round

    19 August 2026

    The Libyan-Tunisian Joint Oil Exploration, Exploitation and Petroleum Services Company (Joint Oil) has rescheduled its planned licensing round for offshore exploration and development projects in a zone spanning the waters of both countries.

    The bidding process is now due to open on 7 September 2026, with bid submissions due by 8 January 2027.

    Previously, in May, Joint Oil said it planned to open the bid round on 1 August 2026.

    The upcoming round will offer two oil and gas packages. The first is an exploration package across the 3,000-square-kilometre Joint Oil Block, in water depths of 80-120 metres.

    Significant data are available on the geology of this area, including 6,500km of 2D and 1,900 square kilometres of 3D seismic data. Data also exists from a run of legacy wells dating to 1976.

    The second package covers development of the Zarat discovery specifically. This is a gas-condensate reservoir straddling the boundary between Tunisia’s national acreage and the jointly-held Joint Oil Block.

    Joint Oil is equally owned by Tunisia’s national oil company, ETAP, and OLA Energy Holdings, a subsidiary of the Libya Africa Investment Portfolio (LAIP).

    LAIP is a subsidiary of Libya’s sovereign wealth institution, the Libya Investment Authority.

    Joint Oil was established under a bilateral agreement between Libya and Tunisia in 1988 to explore and develop hydrocarbons in offshore areas shared by the two countries.

    The key dates from the new schedule for the licensing round are:

    • 7 September 2026: Bid round opens; qualified offshore operators can apply for access to the Virtual Data Room
    • 9 September 2026: Joint Oil presents the opportunity at the MMEA Scout Group meeting in London
    • 29-30 September 2026: Joint Oil presents at the World Energy Summit in London
    • 31 December 2026: Bid round closes
    • 8 January 2027: Bid submissions due
    • 26 February 2027: Winning bidders notified
    • 30 April 2027: Formal awards expected

    Texas-based Moyes & Co is acting as a strategic adviser on the licensing round.

    Houston-headquartered Marathon discovered the Zarat field in 1992. It is estimated to hold around 0.4 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas and 50 million barrels of liquids.

    A previous development project concept centred on a mobile production unit, worth around $1bn, tied back to the nearby Miskar platform.

    Despite this, the field has remained undeveloped for over three decades.

    One of the key challenges to developing the reserve is its high carbon dioxide content.

    Joint Oil has run bid rounds for the acreage before without success, including as recently as late 2023.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18861047/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • UAE cuts trade and financial links with Iran

    19 August 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    The UAE has halted all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on 19 August.

    The suspension has been imposed in light of escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security, the ministry said. It did not specify a timeframe for any resumption.

    The ministry rejected allegations regarding the status of the economic relationship between the UAE and Iran, and restated the UAE's commitment to dialogue, cooperation and regional integration as means of advancing peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

    It said the UAE remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the financial system, in line with international law and global standards.

    The suspension covers the full range of commercial and financial links between the two countries. The UAE has historically been one of Iran's most significant trading partners, with much of the relationship built on re-export trade routed through Dubai to Iranian ports across the Gulf.

    The ministry statement did not detail the mechanism for enforcing the halt, the sectors affected, or arrangements for existing contracts and in-transit cargo.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18857953/main0856.jpg
    Colin Foreman
  • Abu Dhabi begins Dar Al-Funoon Saadiyat construction

    19 August 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Abu Dhabi-based piling contractor APCC Piling & Marine Contracting has started the enabling works on Dar Al-Funoon, a cultural development near the Saadiyat Cultural District.

    The project, commissioned by the Department of Culture & Tourism – Abu Dhabi, was designed by the late Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry.

    The venue is scheduled to open in 2030.

    MEED understands that the main contract bids are under evaluation and the project is slated for award soon.

    The complex will feature a multipurpose hall with more than 2,000 seats, a 3,500-seat open-air amphitheatre, a 400-seat studio theatre and a 250-seat jazz venue, bringing total capacity to more than 6,000 across its performance spaces.

    The venue will host leading international productions, delivering high-quality cultural experiences for audiences locally, regionally and globally.

    Upon completion, it will become one of the region’s largest performing arts venues.

    The project was announced by Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council in June, as MEED reported.

    During a review of the plans, he was briefed on the architectural concept and the development and construction phases, as well as the venue’s advanced technical capabilities, which are being designed to meet the highest international standards for staging major global productions.

    The announcement is part of the ongoing development of Saadiyat Island, which already includes Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18852155/main4145.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Contractor wins Dubai Canal drainage deal

    19 August 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Local firm Detech Contracting has won an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to upgrade and rehabilitate the East Dubai Canal stormwater system.

    The project, known as TF-16-C1, is part of Dubai’s Tasreef strategic plan to improve the emirate’s stormwater network, increase flood protection and enhance the resilience of Dubai’s infrastructure.
     
    According to a source, Lebanon's Khatib & Alami has also been appointed as a consultant on the project.

    The works will focus on upgrading existing stormwater infrastructure to increase capacity and improve reliability during heavy rainfall.

    The scope includes upgrading the stormwater drainage system, laying pipelines and constructing manholes and gullies. It also includes the construction of pumping stations and diversion works, site clearance and other associated facilities.

    In February, MEED reported that the municipality had invited consultants to qualify for a contract to supervise three stormwater drainage projects (TF-16-C1, TF-15-C2 and TF-13-C1)

    China State Construction Engineering Corporation announced in July that it had won the EPC contract for the TF-15-C2 stormwater drainage network project located on Umm Suqeim Road in the Al-Barsha and Al-Quoz areas of Dubai.

    MEED understands contractor bids are still being evaluated for the TF-13-C1 project, which focuses on developing a drainage system for the Al-Marmum area.

    Detech has been awarded several packages under the Tasreef programme in the past 18 months.

    These include:

    • TF-16-C1: upgrading and rehabilitation of East Dubai Canal stormwater system
    • TF-15-C1: stormwater drainage system at Al-Wasl Road for communities west of Dubai Canal
    • TF-05-C1: stormwater drainage system in Jebel Ali 
    • TF-04: stormwater drainage system on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Al-Yalayis Road
    • DS-419: Tasreef rainwater drainage network: West Deira stormwater system upgrade and rehabilitation 

    As MEED exclusively reported, the municipality recently issued a letter of award for the TF-15-C1 project, covering the construction of a stormwater drainage system on Al-Wasl Road and communities west of Dubai Canal.

    The project includes the construction of a gravity-based stormwater pipeline network with diameters of up to 3.5 metres. It is estimated to cost $100m.

    This week, Dubai Municipality also issued three tenders for stormwater and sewerage infrastructure projects serving Hind City, Dubailand and surrounding areas.

    The projects cover drainage networks for Hind 4, connections to the stormwater network in Dubailand and a stormwater trunk line serving Hind 3, Hind 4 and Umm Al-Daman.

    All three have bid submission deadlines of 10 September.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18850438/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Maaden and Aramco sign deal to create joint venture

    18 August 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) and Saudi Aramco have signed a shareholders’ agreement to form a joint venture (JV). Maaden will hold a 51% stake in the JV, while Aramco will own the remaining 49%.

    Before signing the shareholders’ agreement, the two Saudi state-owned companies signed a non-binding heads of agreement in January 2025 aimed at establishing the JV.

    “Combining the strengths of two leaders in their respective fields, the JV will focus on copper and other minerals critical to the energy transition,” the two parties said in a joint statement.

    The JV will focus on exploration across Zone 4, also known as the Transition Zone, within the Arabian Platform in Saudi Arabia. Spanning approximately 182,000 square kilometres – nearly 10% of the kingdom’s total land area – the expected exploration area stretches along a 100-kilometre-wide corridor running parallel to the Arabian Shield.

    “It represents a major new opportunity for mineral discovery in the kingdom,” Maaden and Aramco said.

    Copper, which is increasingly significant for electric vehicles, power networks, energy storage and renewable energy systems, will be a main focus of the JV.

    Copper accounts for more than 20% of the $1.2tn mined-metals market. The copper market is currently valued at about $250bn and is projected to grow to more than $400bn by 2035.

    The JV will also explore for other energy transition minerals, including zinc, lead and rare earth elements, “that are expected to be crucial to industries of the future”.

    “Leveraging advanced computational algorithms, [artificial intelligence] AI, and high-performance computing, the JV intends to target areas most likely to contain copper and valuable minerals, accelerating the path from regional screening to target definition and discovery. This is expected to support long-term sector development, reinforce the kingdom’s role in the global minerals value chain, and help meet rising demand for transition minerals,” the partners said.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18833329/main.jpg
    Indrajit Sen