February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is one of the largest banking institutions in the United Arab Emirates, providing a full range of retail banking, corporate banking, treasury, and wealth management services. The bank significantly expanded its scale in 2019 through a three-way merger with Union National Bank (UNB) and the acquisition of Al Hilal Bank, an Islamic banking institution. This consolidation created the third-largest bank in the UAE by total assets. ADCB is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and is majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi government through its sovereign holding company.

UAE Context

The ADCB-UNB-Al Hilal merger was part of a broader wave of banking consolidation in the UAE aimed at creating larger, more competitive institutions capable of serving the country’s growing economy. ADCB now operates a dual banking platform offering both conventional and Islamic financial products, the latter through its Al Hilal Bank subsidiary. The bank manages total assets exceeding USD 130 billion and serves individual, corporate, and government clients through an extensive network of branches and digital platforms. ADCB has invested heavily in digital transformation, including mobile banking applications, contactless payments, and automated lending processes that reduce customer friction and improve operational efficiency.

Key Data

  • Founded: 1985
  • Key merger: ADCB, Union National Bank, and Al Hilal Bank (2019)
  • Total assets: Over USD 130 billion
  • Services: Retail, corporate, Islamic banking, treasury, wealth management
  • Listed: Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)
  • Headquarters: Abu Dhabi

Significance for Vision 2031

ADCB’s post-merger scale positions it as a key financing partner for the UAE’s economic transformation. The bank’s combined conventional and Islamic banking capabilities allow it to serve the full spectrum of the UAE’s financing needs, from consumer lending and mortgage markets to large-scale project finance. ADCB’s digital banking investments contribute to the broader smart government and fintech ecosystem goals embedded in Vision 2031, while its dual platform model reflects the UAE’s unique position at the intersection of conventional and Islamic finance.

  • FAB - First Abu Dhabi Bank, the UAE’s largest bank and ADCB’s Abu Dhabi competitor
  • Emirates NBD - Dubai’s largest bank
  • Takaful - Islamic insurance complementing Al Hilal Bank’s Sharia-compliant products