First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) announced on Wednesday that it achieved record earnings for the first nine months of 2025, with the Group’s net profit rising by 24% year-on-year to Dh16.02 billion — marking its highest ever for this period.
Pre-tax profit increased by 26% to Dh19.25 billion, while the return on tangible equity (RoTE) reached 20%, surpassing the bank’s medium-term goals.
This strong performance reflects comprehensive growth across all sectors, driven by robust client activity, diverse revenue sources, and productivity improvements from FAB’s AI-driven transformation strategy.
Operating income grew 16% year-on-year to Dh27.65 billion, fueled by ongoing business momentum. Net interest income increased by 2% to Dh14.96 billion, and non-interest income surged 37% to Dh12.7 billion — constituting nearly half of the total revenue — thanks to higher fees, commissions, and investment returns.
In the third quarter alone, net profit increased by 21% to Dh5.39 billion. Loans and advances grew 13% year-to-date to Dh596 billion, reflecting high demand for trade-related financing, while customer deposits increased 8% to Dh848 billion. Total assets rose 14% to Dh1.38 trillion, with capital and liquidity ratios comfortably exceeding regulatory standards.
FAB’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio was 13.7%, and its Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) was 158%.
Group CEO Hana Al Rostamani stated that the record results highlight FAB’s sustained growth momentum and successful diversification strategy. “We strengthened client relationships, expanded across key trade corridors, and solidified our role as a trusted partner in global investment flows,” she said. FAB is expanding in Europe, Turkey, and Nigeria, and plans to open a new branch in India to enhance its position as a leading corridor bank.
Al Rostamani emphasized the significant impact of FAB’s AI adoption, noting that AI integration across operations has greatly improved agility and efficiency. “By embedding intelligent technologies throughout the Group, we are transforming client services and driving long-term value creation,” she said.
Group CFO Lars Kramer remarked that FAB’s strong third-quarter performance was boosted by resilient margins and double-digit revenue growth across all divisions. “Our balance sheet remains robust, allowing us to pursue strategic priorities from a position of strength,” he said. Kramer also highlighted FAB’s commitment to sustainable finance, mentioning the bank’s issuance of its first Blue Bond — a first for GCC banks — and its inaugural Low Carbon Energy Bond.
FAB’s international operations continue to yield strong results, contributing 17% of Group revenue. Loans and deposits from overseas markets rose by 23% and 18%, respectively, reinforcing the bank’s role as a regional hub for cross-border capital and trade flows.
The bank also sets a benchmark in AI-enabled transformation, deploying 18 live AI agents across functions such as trade operations, customer service, and finance analytics. These systems have doubled processing capacity and cut turnaround times by up to 50%, cementing FAB’s status as a leader in technology-driven banking excellence.
Analysts noted that FAB enters the final quarter of 2025 with strong momentum, solid capital reserves, and high confidence in maintaining its growth path into 2026 and beyond.
