Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Emirates NBD recorded a net profit of Dh19 billion for the first nine months of 2025, maintaining last year’s level, as profit before tax rose 6% to Dh23.4 billion, supported by record loan growth and resilient income streams across its operations.
The bank’s total income surged 12% year-on-year to Dh36.7 billion, driven by strong growth in both interest and non-funded income across all geographies, segments and products. Operating profit increased by 10% to Dh25.5 billion, reflecting “robust business momentum and effective balance sheet management,” the bank said in a statement.
Lending increased by a record Dh99 billion, or 19%, in the first nine months, while deposits grew Dh94 billion (14%), bolstered by a Dh56 billion rise in low-cost current and savings account balances. Emirates Islamic, the Group’s Islamic subsidiary, reported a record Dh3.2 billion profit before tax, highlighting its strength as an Islamic banking leader in the UAE.
Record Growth and Strategic Expansion
Vice Chairman and Managing Director Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim said Emirates NBD’s results underscore its position as a regional banking powerhouse.
“Emirates NBD delivered Dh36.7 billion in income, up 12% for the first nine months of 2025, propelled by outstanding loan growth and a healthy deposit mix,” Al Qassim said.
“Lending grew by a record Dh99 billion in the first nine months as we continue to expand our market share in the UAE and across our core markets. Emirates Islamic continued its growth momentum, delivering record profit before tax of Dh3.2 billion, highlighting its position as an Islamic banking powerhouse.”
He added that the Group maintained a 35% market share in UAE credit card spend, reaffirming its position as the number one credit card issuer in the Middle East and Africa. “We successfully signed a $350 million aircraft financing deal with Emirates Airline, supporting its fleet expansion and growth strategy,” Al Qassim said.
Group Chief Executive Officer Shayne Nelson said Emirates NBD continues to leverage strategic investments to deepen its presence in key markets.
“Our investment in RBL Bank is a testament to our confidence in India’s vibrant and expanding economy and reflects our ambition to deepen Emirates NBD’s presence in our core markets,” Nelson said.
Under the agreement announced on October 18, 2025, Emirates NBD will acquire a 60% stake in India’s RBL Bank for $3 billion, through a preferential equity share issuance, subject to regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
“The Group’s ability to substantially grow income is a direct benefit of our strategic investment in our domestic and regional footprint, digital and GenAI initiatives, helping to offset the impact of lower interest rates,” Nelson added.
He noted that the bank’s operations in Saudi Arabia continued to outperform, with lending up 38% in the first nine months and total branches expected to reach 23 by year-end. Emirates NBD’s digital wealth platform, launched last year, has already surpassed Dh5 billion in trading volumes within its first year.
Group Chief Financial Officer Patrick Sullivan said Emirates NBD’s balance sheet remained “rock-solid,” reflecting strong capital, liquidity, and asset quality.
“Operating profit before impairment increased by 10% year-on-year to Dh25.5 billion, reflecting strong and resilient income growth in a lower interest rate environment,” Sullivan said. “Profit before tax increased 6% to Dh23.4 billion despite lower recoveries during the third quarter.”
He added that the bank benefited from a healthy credit environment, recording an impairment credit of Dh300 million and improving its impaired loan ratio to 2.5%, compared with 3.9% a year earlier.
“On the back of record lending, we are pleased to revise our loan growth guidance upwards to the low 20s, reflecting a surge in demand in Q3 2025,” Sullivan said.
