First Abu Dhabi Bank, the largest lender in the UAE by assets, reported a nearly 21 per cent jump in its third-quarter net income as revenue surged on strong growth momentum across the lender’s business units.
Net profit for the three months to the end of September climbed to Dh5.38 billion ($1.46 billion), the lender said on Wednesday in a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.
FAB’s operating income rose nearly 14 per cent higher on an annual basis to Dh9.3 billion.
“FAB’s third-quarter performance marked another strong set of results,” Lars Kramer, group chief financial officer, said.
“All business divisions delivered record revenue, driven by effective balance sheet deployment and growth in fee-based businesses supporting an enhanced revenue mix, while interest margins remained resilient.”
FAB’s earnings growth comes amid continued economic momentum in the UAE as it diversifies away from hydrocarbons.
The UAE economy grew by 3.9 per cent year-on-year to Dh455 billion in the first three months of this year, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) said in preliminary economic data released last month.
Non-oil GDP grew 5.3 per cent to Dh352 billion, while oil-related activities accounted for 22.7 per cent of the country’s economic output.
The UAE Central Bank has increased its 2025 growth forecast for the country’s economy from 4.4 per cent to 4.9 per cent last month. The economy is projected to further expand by 5.3 per cent in 2026, the banking regulator said in its Quarterly Economic Review report in September.
FAB said net profit for the first nine months of this year surged more than 24 per cent on an annual basis to record Dh16 billion.
Group operating income for the reporting period climbed 16 per cent year on year to Dh27.65 billion.
The lender’s financial performance for the nine-month period reflects “strong momentum”, as “we continued to deliver on our priorities, deepening client relationships, diversifying revenue streams, and deploying capital efficiently to drive sustainable growth and returns", Hana Al Rostamani, group chief executive, said.
The bank has expanded its international footprint in Europe, Turkey, Nigeria, and opened a new branch in India, as it aims to build its position as the “leading corridor bank across key geographies”, she added.
FAB said its balance sheet in the first nine months of this year grew, with loans and advances rising 13 per cent on an annual basis to Dh596 billion. Customer deposits during the period increased 8 per cent to Dh848 billion.
The bank’s assets reached Dh1.38 trillion, up 14 per cent since the beginning of this year.
“FAB remains strongly positioned to capitalise on both global trade flows and the UAE’s expanding economic landscape and diversification agenda,” Ms Al Rostamani said.
“We enter the final quarter of 2025 with solid momentum, a resilient balance sheet, and firm confidence in our ability to sustain strong performance and deliver consistent returns into 2026 and beyond.”
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
1999 - 1st round
2000 - 1st round
2001 - Quarter-finalist
2002 - 1st round
2003 - Winner
2004 - Winner
2005 - Winner
2006 - Winner
2007 - Winner
2008 - Finalist
2009 - Winner
2010 - Quarter-finalist
2011 - Quarter-finalist
2012 - Winner
2013 - 2nd round
2014 - Finalist
2015 - Finalist
2016 - Semi-finalist
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20750hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20800Nm%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%207%20Speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20332kph%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012.2L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYear%20end%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1%2C430%2C000%20(coupe)%3B%20From%20Dh1%2C566%2C000%20(Spider)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km
The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20S%20Frederick%20Starr%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Oxford%20University%20Press%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20290%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2024%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
