UAE Banking Sector Overview: Key Players and Services 2025

Q: UAE's Largest Banks

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB): Largest bank in the UAE and one of the largest in the Middle East. Total assets: approximately AED 1.3 trillion. Formed from the merger of First Gulf Bank (FGB) and National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) in 2017. Emirates NBD: Second largest UAE bank. Total assets: approximately AED 800 billion. Majority-owned by the Dubai government (Investment Corporation of Dubai). Has a major retail, corporate, and private banking franchise. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB): Third largest UAE bank. Total assets: approximately AED 600 billion. Formed from the merger of ADCB, Union National Bank, and Al Hilal Bank in 2019. Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB): Largest Islamic bank globally by assets in some rankings. Total assets: approximately AED 400 billion. Offers Sharia-compliant banking products. RAK Bank (RAKBANK): Focused on personal banking and SME banking in the UAE. Strong retail banking brand, particularly popular with expats and SMEs.

📅 Last reviewed: August 4, 2026📋 By: UAE Freezone Compare Finance Team✅ Fact-checked by UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team

The UAE has one of the most sophisticated banking systems in the Middle East. Here is a complete overview of the UAE banking sector in 2025.

UAE Banking Sector Structure

The UAE banking sector is regulated by: the UAE Central Bank (CBUAE), which oversees all UAE-licensed banks (conventional and Islamic), sets monetary policy, and enforces AML/CFT compliance. The UAE has 23 domestic banks and 26 foreign bank branches operating in the UAE (as of 2025). Total banking assets: approximately AED 4.5 trillion (approximately USD 1.2 trillion), making UAE one of the largest banking systems in the Arab world.

UAE’s Largest Banks

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB): Largest bank in the UAE and one of the largest in the Middle East. Total assets: approximately AED 1.3 trillion. Formed from the merger of First Gulf Bank (FGB) and National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) in 2017. Emirates NBD: Second largest UAE bank. Total assets: approximately AED 800 billion. Majority-owned by the Dubai government (Investment Corporation of Dubai). Has a major retail, corporate, and private banking franchise. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB): Third largest UAE bank. Total assets: approximately AED 600 billion. Formed from the merger of ADCB, Union National Bank, and Al Hilal Bank in 2019. Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB): Largest Islamic bank globally by assets in some rankings. Total assets: approximately AED 400 billion. Offers Sharia-compliant banking products. RAK Bank (RAKBANK): Focused on personal banking and SME banking in the UAE. Strong retail banking brand, particularly popular with expats and SMEs.