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

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the largest bank in the United Arab Emirates by total assets and one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East and North Africa region. FAB was formed in 2017 through the merger of National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) and First Gulf Bank (FGB), creating a banking powerhouse with comprehensive capabilities across retail banking, corporate and investment banking, private banking, wealth management, and global markets. The bank is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and is majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi government through various sovereign entities.

UAE Context

FAB’s creation through the NBAD-FGB merger represented the largest banking consolidation in the Middle East and signaled Abu Dhabi’s intent to build globally competitive financial institutions. The bank holds total assets exceeding USD 300 billion, giving it the scale to compete with international banks for major corporate mandates, project finance deals, and capital markets transactions. FAB operates in over 20 countries and provides the full spectrum of banking services to individuals, corporations, governments, and institutional investors. The bank plays a key role in financing the UAE’s infrastructure development, real estate sector, and energy transition projects.

Key Data

  • Formed: 2017 (merger of NBAD and FGB)
  • Total assets: Over USD 300 billion
  • International presence: Over 20 countries
  • Listed: Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)
  • Services: Retail, corporate, investment banking, wealth management, global markets
  • Headquarters: Abu Dhabi

Significance for Vision 2031

FAB is a cornerstone of the UAE’s ambition to become a global financial center. The bank’s size and international reach enable it to attract foreign capital, facilitate cross-border investment, and provide the sophisticated financial products that a diversifying economy requires. FAB’s capacity to underwrite major sovereign and corporate debt issuances, arrange project finance for infrastructure development, and serve as a gateway for international investors makes it structurally important to achieving Vision 2031’s economic transformation objectives.

  • Emirates NBD - Dubai’s largest bank and FAB’s primary domestic competitor
  • Sovereign Wealth Fund - Government investment vehicles that are FAB shareholders
  • ADCB - Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, another major Abu Dhabi-based lender