FAB named top firm in TIME and Statista’s inaugural Arabia’s Top Companies 2026

First Abu Dhabi Bank has been ranked number one in TIME and Statista’s first Arabia’s Top Companies list, citing strong H1 2026 results and notable sustainability initiatives.

FAB leads inaugural TIME and Statista Arabia ranking

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has been placed first in TIME’s inaugural Arabia’s Top Companies of 2026, compiled in partnership with Statista. The list recognises the 200 leading firms across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, judged on employee satisfaction, recent revenue growth and transparency on sustainability measures.

The banking and finance sector was the single most represented industry on the list, accounting for 15.5% of the companies featured. FAB’s top position follows a robust first half of 2026, during which the bank posted a net profit of AED10.73 billion and reported total assets of AED1.41 trillion.

FAB has described the ranking as aligned with its ongoing strategy to expand its international franchise and deepen client capabilities. The bank has highlighted a number of recent milestones in innovation and sustainable finance. In September, FAB became the first institution in the Middle East and Africa to complete live US dollar transactions at scale via Swift’s Ledger MVP using tokenised deposits.

On sustainability, FAB is the first bank from the MENA region to join the United Nations Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles and has set a target of AED100 billion for blue finance. These commitments build on the bank’s record of facilitating sustainable and transition financing, which amounted to AED395 billion as of the first half of 2026.

TIME and Statista’s methodology places particular weight on workforce sentiment alongside financial performance and public disclosure of environmental, social and governance practices. For FAB, the combination of profitability, balance-sheet scale and a growing sustainable finance portfolio are cited as factors contributing to its top ranking.

Observers say the recognition underscores Abu Dhabi’s role as a regional financial centre and reflects broader national ambitions to channel capital towards sustainable and innovative projects. FAB’s position may also support the UAE’s strategic objectives in green and blue finance, as policymakers and institutions continue to prioritise environmental transition across the Gulf.

While the ranking covers several Gulf states, FAB’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi and its prominent regional profile make the achievement notable for the emirate’s financial sector.

Source: WAM