Emirates NBD Posts Record Dh29.8B Profit Before Tax On Strong Lending, Expanding Balance Sheet

Emirates NBD on Monday reported a record profit before tax of Dh29.8 billion for 2025, a 10 per cent increase from the previous year, as soaring loan growth, resilient customer deposits and continued investments in digital and regional expansion strengthened the bank's financial performance. The Group's net profit rose 4 per cent year‐on‐year to Dh24 billion.

Total income climbed 12 per cent to Dh49.3 billion, supported by broad‐based momentum across both funded and non‐funded income lines. Net interest income grew 10 per cent to Dh35.5 billion, while non‐funded income surged 18 per cent to Dh13.8 billion, reflecting the Group's diversified revenue streams and higher transaction and fee‐based activity.

The bank's balance sheet crossed the Dh1 trillion milestone for the first time, closing the year at Dh1.164 trillion - a 17 per cent increase from 2024. Lending was the strongest driver of growth, with gross loans expanding by Dh129 billion, or 24 per cent, amid healthy demand in the UAE and across the bank's international markets. Deposits also saw robust momentum, rising Dh119 billion to Dh786 billion. Low‐cost current and savings account (CASA) balances grew by Dh69 billion, helping support the Group's margins in a lower interest rate environment.

Operating profit rose 13 per cent to Dh34.3 billion, offsetting a higher impairment charge of Dh1.5 billion, compared with just Dh0.1 billion a year earlier, due in part to normalisation after an unusually low impairment cycle in 2024. Despite this, asset quality improved, with the non‐performing loan ratio falling to 2.4 per cent from 3.3 per cent. The cost‐to‐income ratio declined to 30.5 per cent, reflecting productivity gains and the scaling of new digital initiatives.

Emirates Islamic, the Group's Shariah‐compliant subsidiary, delivered record profit before tax of Dh3.9 billion, cementing its position as one of the region's leading Islamic finance institutions. DenizBank, the Group's Turkish franchise, saw its performance strengthen as inflationary pressures eased. Meanwhile, the bank's Saudi Arabia operations continued to grow rapidly, with lending up 48 per cent and two new branches set to open in the first quarter of 2026, bringing its network to 24 branches.

The Group also highlighted substantial growth in its digital wealth business. Assets under management and administration surpassed $100 billion, with digital wealth transactions exceeding Dh40 billion in value during the year. Across the bank, more than 2.5 million customers are now active on its mobile platforms, supported by an expanding suite of digital services, including over 187 integrated APIs and more than 50 AI‐driven initiatives.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates NBD, described 2025 as a“landmark year,” citing the bank's expansion in lending, technology investments and international reach.“The Group's balance sheet achieved a new milestone, with total assets exceeding Dh1 trillion,” he noted, adding that Emirates NBD would continue accelerating its regional and global growth, particularly in India, while supporting Dubai's D33 economic strategy.

Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim emphasised the role of technology, customer experience and regional diversification in driving results. He noted that the Group's investment in India's RBL Bank reflects confidence in the country's long‐term economic prospects.“Our expanding digital ecosystem continues to deliver seamless, customer‐centric solutions,” he said.

Group CEO Shayne Nelson highlighted the benefits of Emirates NBD's diversified model and continued digital transformation.“Technology remained a key strategic focus as we advanced our cloud‐native platforms and adopted AI to enhance customer experience,” he said, pointing to the launch of the region's first AI‐powered contact centre platform.

Looking ahead, the bank expects continued economic momentum in the UAE in 2026, underpinned by strong population growth, active project spending and a supportive policy environment. The board has proposed an ordinary dividend of 100 fils per share in light of the bank's strong capital position and record performance.

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