First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) shareholders have approved the distribution of AED8.84B ($2.41B) in cash dividends for the financial year ending 31 December 2025. The decision was confirmed during the bank’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held virtually on Wednesday.
The payout amounts to 80 fils per share and represents the largest cash dividend ever declared by the group.
Highlighting the strength of its strategy and consistent execution, FAB concluded 2025 as the largest bank in the Middle East and Africa, with total assets reaching AED1.40T. The bank said this milestone reinforces its standing as the UAE’s global bank and a major regional financial powerhouse.
The dividend approval follows a year of exceptional financial results. FAB reported a 24% year-on-year rise in net profit to AED21.11B in FY’25, completing a multi-year growth phase during which the group has doubled its net profit since 2020 through disciplined expansion, strong balance-sheet management, and steady performance across market cycles.
The double-digit profit growth was supported by increased transaction volumes across a range of products and asset classes, stronger client engagement, greater cross-selling activity, and enhancements to the group’s investment product offerings.
During 2025, FAB strengthened its leadership position in the UAE while continuing to broaden its international presence across more than 20 markets. Growth in cross-border lending and deposit flows was driven by strategic corridors spanning Europe, Asia, and the wider MENA region. Key expansion milestones included launching operations in Turkey and GIFT City in India, completing landmark transactions in Nigeria, and advancing progress toward subsidiarisation in France.
The year also saw significant progress in FAB’s artificial intelligence strategy. AI adoption was integrated across the organisation, with Microsoft Copilot deployed to all employees and supported by a growing ecosystem of more than 1,000 AI agents. Several use cases are being developed across trade, payments, compliance, finance, and customer operations, contributing to measurable gains in productivity, operational efficiency, and client experience. FAB’s AI Innovation Hub and Responsible AI governance framework continue to guide the bank’s approach to AI deployment, strengthening its position in intelligence-driven banking.
Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of FAB, said that the bank delivered strong and resilient results in 2025, reflecting continued progress in building scale, diversification, and sustainable value. He noted that the group achieved record profitability supported by solid operating income growth, improved asset quality, and disciplined cost management. A diversified revenue base and a sector-leading cost-to-income ratio further strengthened the resilience of the bank’s business model.
He also emphasised that FAB maintained strong capital and liquidity positions throughout the year, with capital ratios comfortably above regulatory thresholds. This financial strength enabled the bank to continue supporting clients and priority sectors while maintaining balance sheet flexibility and prudent risk management.
Hana Al Rostamani, Group Chief Executive Officer of FAB, stated that in 2025 the bank accelerated its regional growth momentum, strengthened corridor activity, expanded its global footprint, and embedded artificial intelligence across its operations to maximise opportunities in cross-border trade and investment.
