FAB lifts nine-month net profit to Dh16.46 billion as assets pass Dh1.47 trillion
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) posted net profit of Dh16.46 billion for the first nine months of 2026, up 3% on the same period last year. Group operating income rose 7% to Dh29.71 billion and profit before tax climbed 5% to Dh20.22 billion, according to financial results the bank announced on Thursday 29 October.
The bank kept its momentum in the third quarter. Quarterly profit before tax rose 9% year on year to Dh7.01 billion, and net profit for the quarter reached Dh5.74 billion, up 6%. The bank attributed the performance to healthy business activity, solid revenue generation and disciplined cost management.
Net interest income grew 11% to Dh16.98 billion on higher business volumes and improved margins, while non-interest income rose 3% to Dh12.73 billion, or 43% of total operating income. Operating profit increased 8% to Dh23.32 billion, and return on tangible equity stood at 18.6%, above the group's medium-term guidance of more than 16%.
On the balance sheet, total assets reached Dh1.47 trillion, up 7% since the start of the year, including Dh437 billion of international assets, or 30% of group assets. The common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio stood at about 14% and the liquidity coverage ratio at 140%, indicators of a comfortable capital and liquidity buffer. FAB is the UAE's largest bank by assets, and its shares are listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
Al Majlis Analysis: FAB's results come in a year of clear regional volatility, yet the bank kept growing both income and profit, a sign of how resilient the UAE banking sector is and how well it absorbs pressure. Notably, operating profit grew faster than net profit, meaning the bank is earning more from its core business while taking a more cautious line on provisions and tax. International assets now make up nearly a third of the balance sheet, which diversifies income and reduces dependence on a single economic cycle. The dip in return on tangible equity to 18.6% from 20% does not change the overall picture, as it remains above the group's medium-term guidance. The question for the final quarter is whether lending and fee growth can keep the same pace as global interest rates shift.