National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah reported a 25.4 per cent surge in its first-quarter net profit as loans and advances grew and impairment charges fell amid continued economic recovery.
Net income for the three months to the end of June climbed to Dh191.2 million ($52.1m), the bank said in a statement on Tuesday to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.
Provisions for credit losses for the quarter decreased by Dh114.4m to Dh296.6m, a more than 27 per cent year-on-year drop. Loans and advances grew to Dh33.2 billion, a 3.1 per cent increase from the end of December 2020 level, the bank said.
“This is a crucial turning point for us as we see growth in our loan book and customer deposit and that is a very positive sign,” RAKBank chief executive, Peter England, said. “Our provisions for this quarter are the lowest they have been for many years as we see the re-balancing of our portfolio, which we have undertaken over the years, bear very positive results.”
The second quarter was “very strong” for the bank, with total income also growing after a number of quarters of decline since the beginning of the pandemic, he said.
RAKBank’s total income for the three months to June-end rose to Dh831.8m, from Dh800m recorded in the first quarter of this year.
“It also demonstrates the significant rebound in the UAE economy and a strong return of consumer confidence that we have witnessed during the first half of this year,” Mr England said.
Like their global peers, banks in the UAE faced headwinds last year as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted economic activity. However, operating conditions have improved as the economy recovers on the back of monetary and fiscal support and continuing mass inoculation programme.
The UAE has so far introduced economic support measures worth Dh388bn after the pandemic tipped the global economy into its worst recession since the 1930s. As part of its support measures, the Central Bank of the UAE also introduced Dh50bn Targeted Economic Support Scheme to boost liquidity in the banking and financial sector.
RAKBank's total assets increased by Dh1.5bn to Dh54.3bn from the end of December 2020 level. Its investments also climbed by Dh949m for the period.
The lender said it is sufficiently provisioned against loan losses, with a coverage ratio of 127.7 per cent and is bullish on growth amid the continuing economic bounce-back.
“We are very encouraged with the signs we are seeing both for RAKBank and the broader UAE economy going forward,” Mr England said. “We expect to see continual improvement in the coming quarters with sustained income growth, lower provisions and sound cost control.”
The second quarter has marked the “beginning of a turnaround” for the bank after “very challenging 12 months” and it will remain focused on further digitalisation across its businesses, he added.
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
