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

Emirates NBD is the largest banking group in Dubai and one of the leading financial institutions in the Middle East. Formed in 2007 through the merger of Emirates Bank International and the National Bank of Dubai, Emirates NBD provides a comprehensive range of financial services including retail banking, corporate banking, Islamic banking (through its subsidiary Emirates Islamic), investment banking, private banking, and asset management. The bank is listed on the Dubai Financial Market and is majority-owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai, the emirate’s sovereign wealth arm.

UAE Context

Emirates NBD has grown aggressively both domestically and internationally, expanding into markets including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, India, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The bank manages total assets exceeding USD 200 billion and operates one of the largest branch and ATM networks in the UAE. Emirates NBD has positioned itself as a leader in digital banking innovation, launching Liv., one of the region’s first fully digital banks, and investing heavily in mobile banking, AI-driven customer service, and blockchain-based trade finance. The bank’s Islamic banking subsidiary, Emirates Islamic, is among the largest Sharia-compliant retail banks in the UAE, reflecting the dual conventional and Islamic banking structure that characterizes the country’s financial system.

Key Data

  • Formed: 2007 (merger of Emirates Bank International and National Bank of Dubai)
  • Total assets: Over USD 200 billion
  • International presence: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, India, Singapore, UK, and others
  • Listed: Dubai Financial Market (DFM)
  • Digital banking: Liv. digital bank, advanced mobile banking platforms
  • Headquarters: Dubai

Significance for Vision 2031

Emirates NBD anchors Dubai’s position as a financial services hub and provides the banking infrastructure needed to support Vision 2031’s economic diversification goals. The bank’s investments in digital banking technology position the UAE at the forefront of fintech innovation, while its international network facilitates the cross-border trade and investment flows essential to a globally connected economy. Emirates NBD’s Islamic banking capabilities also reinforce the UAE’s ambition to be the global capital of the Islamic economy.

  • FAB - First Abu Dhabi Bank, the UAE’s largest bank and Emirates NBD’s primary competitor
  • Dubai Islamic Bank - Pioneer of Islamic banking in the UAE
  • Takaful - Islamic insurance sector complementing the banking ecosystem