A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) has achieved an Emiratisation rate of 43.5% at the end of 2025, up from 42.7% at the end of 2024, according to the Integrated Report filed by the bank with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
“Throughout the year Emiratisation remained a core strategic focus. We expanded initiatives to attract, train, and retain Emirati talent,” the report said.
“This commitment is reflected in the consistent and measurable increase in the Bank’s Emiratisation percentages over recent years,” the report said. Emiratisation reached 41.1% at the end of 2023, 42.7% at the end of 2024, and 43.5% at the end of 2025.
“This year-on-year progress demonstrates NBF’s strong commitment to the UAE national agenda and its continued investment in developing national talent,” the report said.
NBF’s Emiratisation efforts were also recognised through the NAFIS Awards for two consecutive years in the Medium-Sized Entities category — achieving first place for 2023–2024 and second place for 2024–2025, the report said.
The bank said Emiratisation formed part of its broader people strategy aimed at strengthening leadership capabilities and building a future-ready workforce. Initiatives included targeted recruitment, development programmes and participation in platforms such as Ru’ya Careers UAE Redefined, alongside internal training and management development initiatives.
NBF said its workforce stood at 878 employees representing 38 nationalities. Women accounted for 47.6% of the workforce, while employee engagement stood at 79%.
The bank reported another year of strong financial performance in 2025. Net profit before tax rose to Dh1.325 billion from Dh934.8 million in 2024, while net profit after tax reached Dh1.205 billion.
Operating income increased by 9.3% to Dh2.662 billion, supported by disciplined balance sheet management, prudent risk practices and a diversified business portfolio, the report said.
Total assets rose to Dh69.37 billion, while loans and advances and Islamic financing receivables increased to Dh37.47 billion. Customer deposits and Islamic deposits climbed to Dh50.98 billion.
The bank said the results reflected growth across its corporate, business, retail and Islamic banking segments, supported by digital transformation initiatives, stronger customer engagement and disciplined risk management.
The Board of Directors has proposed a cash dividend of 20% for 2025, compared with 15% in 2024, reflecting the bank’s strong financial performance during the year.
NBF said it will continue to focus on expanding its presence across the UAE, strengthening its SME and mid-market banking franchise, and investing in digital technologies and sustainable finance initiatives to support long-term growth.
Saleh Bin Mohamed Bin Hamad AlSharqi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said the bank strengthened its market position during the year despite a challenging interest rate environment.
“We reinforced our presence in priority segments, expanded our deposit base, and improved margins despite a volatile rate environment,” the chairman said.
“At the heart of our success is our commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience. In 2025, we enhanced our network and presence and accelerated our digital transformation agenda,” he said.
Referring to the bank’s people strategy, AlSharqi said the nationalisation agenda continued to make progress during the year.
“Our nationalisation agenda advanced meaningfully, with our Emiratisation ratio rising to 43.5%, supported by targeted recruitment, development, and upskilling initiatives,” he said.
Looking ahead, the chairman said the bank remains confident about its growth prospects.
“In the year ahead, we look forward with confidence, prudence, and a clear sense of responsibility in an evolving regional and global environment. NBF is well positioned to sustain growth, reinforce resilience, and continue delivering long-term value,” he said.