Emirates NBD proposes dividend as income jumps

• Income up 12% last year
• Net profit rises 4% on balanced growth
• Gross lending expansion hits record

Emirates NBD, the largest bank by assets in Dubai, said net profit rose in 2025, driven by balanced growth across lending, deposits, fee income and wealth management.

The bottom line reached AED24 billion ($6.5 billion), up 4 percent from the previous year, the lender said in a statement to the Dubai Financial Market (DFM).

Emirates Islamic, a subsidiary, reported a record pretax profit of AED3.9 billion.

Total income at Emirates NBD rose 12 percent to AED49 billion, driven by strong growth in interest income and non-funded income streams. As a result, the bank proposed an ordinary dividend of 100 fils per share.

Assets surpassed AED1 trillion, supported by record gross lending growth of AED129 billion, an increase of 24 percent year on year, driven by accelerating domestic and international demand. 

“We continue to grow our market share in the UAE and across our other core markets,” chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said.

He said the bank would accelerate development across its international network, with an emphasis on advancing its strategic investment in India and deepening its presence in high-potential regional markets.

Earlier this month, India’s competition regulator gave the green light to Emirates NBD’s proposed acquisition of a majority stake in RBL Bank. Emirates NBD had agreed in October to take a 60 percent share of the Indian private lender for $3 billion through a preferential issue.

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Deposits jumped to AED119 billion, up 18 percent. Low-cost current and savings account (Casa) balances grew by AED69 billion.

“We continue to outperform in Saudi Arabia, with lending up 48 percent in 2025, and our expanding network is expected to reach 24 branches by the first quarter of 2026,” vice chairman and managing director Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim said. 

Emirates NBD’s shares, which trade on the DFM, closed 0.2 percent lower at AED31.05 on Monday. The stock is up 8 percent year-to-date.

Investment Corporation of Dubai owns a 41 percent stake in Emirates NBD.