First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) reported record earnings for the first nine months of 2025, with Group net profit rising 24 percent year-on-year to Dh16.02 billion, marking its highest ever for this period.
Profit before tax increased by 26 percent to Dh19.25 billion, while the return on tangible equity (RoTE) stood at 20 percent, well above the bank’s medium-term target.
The robust performance reflects broad-based growth across all divisions, driven by strong client activity, diversified revenue streams, and productivity gains from FAB’s AI-driven transformation strategy.
Operating income rose 16 percent year-on-year to Dh27.65 billion, supported by sustained business momentum. Net interest income increased 2 percent to Dh14.96 billion, while non-interest income surged 37 percent to Dh12.7 billion, accounting for nearly half of total revenue, boosted by higher fees, commissions, and investment income.
In the third quarter alone, net profit advanced 21 percent to Dh5.39 billion. Loans and advances grew 13 percent year-to-date to Dh596 billion, reflecting strong demand in trade-linked financing, while customer deposits rose 8 percent to Dh848 billion. Total assets climbed 14 percent to Dh1.38 trillion, with capital and liquidity ratios comfortably above regulatory requirements.
FAB’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio stood at 13.7 percent and its Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) at 158 percent.
Group CEO Hana Al Rostamani said the record results underscore FAB’s sustained growth momentum and the success of its diversification strategy. “We deepened client relationships, expanded across key trade corridors, and strengthened our role as a trusted partner in global investment flows,” she said. FAB is expanding its presence in Europe, Turkey, and Nigeria, and plans to open a new branch in India as part of its strategy to reinforce its position as a leading corridor bank.
Al Rostamani highlighted the growing impact of FAB’s artificial intelligence adoption, noting that AI integration across operations has significantly enhanced agility and efficiency. “By embedding intelligent technologies across the Group, we are redefining how we serve clients and driving long-term value creation,” she said.
Group CFO Lars Kramer said FAB’s strong third-quarter performance was supported by resilient margins and double-digit revenue growth across all divisions. “Our balance sheet remains strong, enabling us to pursue strategic priorities from a position of strength,” he said. Kramer also pointed to FAB’s commitment to sustainable finance, citing the bank’s issuance of its inaugural Blue Bond — the first by a GCC bank — and its first Low Carbon Energy Bond.
FAB’s international operations continue to deliver robust results, contributing 17 percent of Group revenue. Loans and deposits from overseas markets rose 23 and 18 percent respectively, reinforcing the bank’s role as a regional anchor for cross-border capital and trade flows.
The bank also continues to set a benchmark for AI-enabled transformation, deploying 18 live AI agents across functions including trade operations, customer service, and finance analytics. These systems have doubled processing capacity and reduced turnaround times by up to 50 percent, underscoring FAB’s position as a pioneer in technology-driven banking excellence.
Analysts said FAB enters the final quarter of 2025 with strong momentum, solid capital buffers, and high confidence in sustaining its growth trajectory into 2026 and beyond.
