First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE's largest lender, reported a 5 per cent year-on-year rise in pre-tax profit to Dh20.22 billion for the first nine months of 2026. Net profit climbed 3 per cent to Dh16.46 billion over the same period, the bank said in its latest financial results.
Group operating income grew 7 per cent to Dh29.71 billion, while net interest income rose 11 per cent to Dh16.98 billion, driven by higher lending volumes and improved margins. On the balance sheet side, loans and advances expanded 10 per cent since the start of the year to Dh679 billion, and customer deposits grew 5 per cent to Dh885 billion. Total assets rose 7 per cent to Dh1.47 trillion.
International income was a standout performer, climbing 31 per cent, underscoring FAB's push to expand its footprint beyond the UAE market. On asset quality, the bank's non-performing loan ratio improved to 2.1 per cent, down from 2.6 per cent a year earlier, while return on equity stood at 18.6 per cent.
The results land shortly after the UAE Central Bank kept its base rate unchanged at 3.9 per cent this month, mirroring the US Federal Reserve's decision to hold rates steady. Steady rates typically support banks' net interest margins in the near term, and analysts say FAB's latest numbers suggest the lender is well-positioned to keep growing both its loan book and international business heading into the final quarter of the year.