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RAKBANK more than doubles its quarterly Net Profit at AED 450M for Q1’23

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RAKBANK delivered a Net Profit increase of 105% for Q1 2023 driven by a robust and diversified growth on both sides of the balance sheet. This was underpinned by strong sales momentum and lower cost of funds.

Raheel Ahmed – CEO of RAKBANK

  • Total Income performance was supported by a strong net interest income of AED 788.8M, up 46.0% YoY. Net interest margins increased to 4.9% against 3.8% (Q1’22) and continues to be among the highest in the Industry. Q1’23 non-interest income of AED 284.4M, up 52.5% YoY. The growth in non-interest income was driven by higher forex and derivative income.

 

  • Gross loans & advances at AED 38.7B, reflecting a 1.4% increase compared to 31 December 2022 on the back of a changing balance sheet mix in line with the strategic direction of the bank.

 

  • Customer deposits stood at AED 46.4B, an increase of 3.3% compared to 31 December 2022. The Bank has a strong Current & Saving Account (CASA) franchise with the CASA ratio of 70.5%.

 

  • Cost of Risk remained low due to the Bank’s diverse business mix and resilient UAE economic environment, leading to a 30.9% reduction in impairments as against Q4’22. Impaired Loan provision coverage ratio increased to 192.1% against 137.8% in Q1’22, remaining one of the strongest in the industry.

The Bank achieved balanced growth across all Business Segments:

Personal Banking:

  • Gross loans & advances at AED 19.1B are up 1% YoY and +2% against FY’22 driven by the sales momentum across products with balance sheet for Auto loans +6%, Mortgages +5% and Personal loans +0.3%.
  • Customer deposits of AED 16.7B, are up 22% YoY and +6% during the quarter driven by higher Term deposits +30% & CASA +0.3%.
  • Q1’23 income supported by net interest income of AED 229M, +19.0% YoY and non-interest income of AED 123M, +1% YoY.

 

Business Banking:

  • Gross loans & advances of AED 9.3B, are up 12% YoY and +3% against FY’22 mainly through higher volumes for Rak business loans +5%.
  • Customer deposits of AED 19.7B, are up 14% YoY and +7% during the quarter driven by higher CASA deposits +7% & Term deposits +2.7%.
  • Q1’23 income supported by net interest income of AED 337M, +57.0% YoY and non-interest income of AED 77M +6% YoY.

 

Wholesale Banking & Others:

  • Gross assets (including lending to banks) of AED 19.8B, are up 13% YoY and +1% against FY’22 mainly driven by higher FI bank lending +2%.
  • Customer deposits of AED 9.9B, are up 13% YoY and +7% during the quarter.
  • Q1’23 income supported by net interest income of AED 224M, +68.0% YoY and non-interest income of AED 84M against a loss of 8Mn in Q1’22.

 

RAKBANK delivered strong shareholder returns with ROE of 19.4% and ROA of 2.8%, and remained highly liquid and well capitalized. 

  • The Bank’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) was at 16.8%.
  • The regulatory eligible liquid asset ratio at 14.8%, compared to 12.8% as at 31 December 2022, and the advances to stable resources ratio stood comfortably at 81.8% compared to 79.7% at the end of 2022.
  • Cost-income ratio improved to 36.2% driven by strong cost discipline, automation and digitization.
  • The Bank’s non-performing loans ratio improved to 3.0% against 3.6% in Q1’22.

 

Raheel Ahmed, CEO of RAKBANK said, Delivering on our multi-year strategy, we accelerated our growth and achieved a record net profit of AED 450M and a record total income of AED 1,073M for the quarter. In addition to this impressive growth, I am very pleased with the progress we are making in laying the foundation for sustainable growth.

In diversifying our income sources, we achieved robust growth on both sides of the balance sheet, across interest and fee incomes, and in all our segments. In terms of building deeper customer relationships, we achieved strong growth in digitally active customers with digital transactions growing by 12% YoY. Our high CASA ratio in our deposit base of 70.5% despite the high interest rate environment is a testament of the strong relationships we built with our customers and clients. We enhanced our operational leverage and improved our cost-income ratio through our strong cost discipline, and our cost of risk reduced via diversifying our business mix. The Bank remains well capitalized and liquid with a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 16.8% and an Eligible Liquid Asset Ratio of 14.8%. As a result of our progress, we achieved an ROE of 19.4% and ROA of 2.8%.

Being one of the largest SME banks in the UAE, we continue to back entrepreneurs and start-ups by opening more than 4,000 business accounts in Q1 2023, of which 1,600 accounts were opened for start-ups. Similarly, we disbursed AED 571M in business loans, out of which AED 394M were disbursed for new business loan customers.

As we grow, we are investing heavily in technology while maintaining cost discipline to digitize customer journeys, upgrade core data architecture, and revamp compliance and risk infrastructure. This investment will enable RAKBANK’s journey to provide a superior customer experience that is characterized by its hyper-personalization and relevance. The recent launch of our first fully digital accounts opening capability with straight-through processing is a good example of how we are digitizing our customer journeys.

Continuing from Q4 2022, we are focusing on expanding strategic hires to lead our growth, and we remain committed to and supporting the career aspirations and ambitions of our colleagues. Special attention is drawn to developing our Emirati talents as we align ourselves to the UAE leadership’s mission of growing and nurturing local talent.

As one of the nation’s leading financial institutions, RAKBANK recognizes our responsibility to support the ‘UAE Net Zero by 2050’ initiative. The team is actively engaged with RAK Government on COP28 submissions, working on financial inclusion and reducing emissions. We continue to support financial inclusion and accelerate digital remittances through our wages protection system partner and the United Nations Capital Development Fund.

Lastly, our outlook for FY 2023 remains positive yet cautious, with the buoyant UAE economy and uncertain global macro set up as backdrops. While we closely monitor the headwinds of inflation, rising interest rates, geopolitical developments, we will continue building on the Bank’s strengths and remain committed to delivering on our strategy.”

Digital Transactions

 

+12% YoY

Card Spends


+24% YoY

Payment through our rails (In/Out)
+9% YoY
 
Digitally Active Customers

+15% YoY

 

 

 

Financial Highlights for Q1 2023

Income Statement Highlights Quarter Results Variance
(AED Mn) Q1’23 Q4’22 Q1’22 Q1’23 Q1’23
vs Q1’22 vs Q4’22
Net Interest Income and net income from Islamic financing 788.8 733.1 540.4 46.0% 7.6%
Non-Interest Income 284.4 261.6 186.5 52.5% 8.7%
Total Income 1,073.2 994.8 726.9 47.6% 7.9%
Operating Expenditures (389.0) (371.4) (372.4) (4.5%) (4.7%)
Operating Profit Before Provisions for Impairment 684.2 623.3 354.6 93.0% 9.8%
Provisions for Impairment (233.9) (338.7) (134.5) (73.9%) 30.9%
Net Profit 450.3 284.6 220.1 104.6% 58.2%

 

Balance Sheet Highlights Results as at Variance
(AED Bn) Mar’23 Dec’22 Mar’22 Q1’23 Q1’23
vs Q1’22 vs Q4’22
Total Assets 68.9 66.4 60.0 14.8% 3.8%
Gross Loans & Advances 38.7 38.1 37.2 4.1% 1.4%
Deposits 46.4 44.9 39.8 16.4% 3.3%
Key Ratios Quarter Ratios Variance
Percentage Mar’23 Dec’22 Mar’22 Q1’23 Q1’23
vs Q1’22 vs Q4’22
Return on Equity* 19.4% 12.5% 10.5% 8.9% 6.9%
Return on Assets* 2.8% 1.7% 1.5% 1.3% 1.1%
Net Interest Margin* 4.9% 4.5% 3.8% 1.1% 0.4%
Cost to Income 36.2% 37.3% 51.2% 15.0% 1.1%
Impaired Loan Ratio 3.0% 3.0% 3.6% 0.6% 0.0%
Impaired Loan Coverage Ratio 192.1% 181.7% 137.8% 54.3% 10.4%
Total Capital Adequacy Ratio Basel III** 16.8% 16.4% 16.5% 0.3% 0.4%
* Annualized
**After application of Prudential Filter

 

Profitability Growth supported by Income momentum and improvement in Provisions

  • Net Profit increased by 104.6% to 450.3M (vs Q1’22 104.6% and Q4’22 58.2%).
  • Net Interest Income and Income from Islamic products net of distribution to depositors increased by 46.0% to AED 788.8M (vs Q4’22 7.6%).
  • Interest income from conventional loans and investments increased by 79.7%, while interest costs on conventional deposits and borrowings increased by 300.5%. Net income from Sharia-compliant Islamic financing increased by 7.8%.
  • Non-Interest Income increased by 52.5% to AED 284.8M (vs Q1’22 52.5% and Q4’22 8.7%), primarily due to forex and derivative income booked in Q1 2023.
  • Total Income increased by 47.6% (vs Q4’22 7.9%), benefiting from the balance sheet growth momentum.
  • Operating Expenditure was AED 389.0M (vs Q1’22 AED 372.4M), reflecting a 4.5% increase compared to the same period in 2022, and a 4.7% increase compared to Q4 2022, due to the Bank’s growth investments.
  • Operating Expenses increased mainly due to higher staff costs, card expenses, and other operating expenses. However, these were partly offset by lower IT expenses, occupancy costs, depreciation, and communication expenses.
  • Cost-to-Income ratio for the bank decreased to 36.2% (vs Q1’22 51.2% and Q4’22 37.3%).
  • Provision for credit loss increased by 73.9% to AED 233.9M for Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022, due to prudent precautionary measures in anticipation of expected developments. However, compared to Q4 2022, the provision for credit loss decreased by 30.9% for Q1 2023.
  • Net Credit Losses to average loans and advances closed at 2.5% (vs Q4’22 3.4%).

 

Balance Sheet crosses AED 68.9B with a strong uptick across all customer segments.

  • Balance sheet crosses AED 68.9B as the Total Assets increased by AED 2.5B compared to 31 December 2022, reflecting a growth of 3.8%, with an increase in Cash/Central Bank balances by AED 929.2M, Investments by AED 805.8M, Gross Loans and Advances by AED 551.9M and Lending to Banks by AED 480.3M as compared to 31 December 2022.
  • Business Banking portfolio increased by AED 264M, Retail Banking by AED 286.2M and Wholesale Banking segment (including bank lending) increased by AED 211M compared to 31 December 2022.
  • Business Banking recorded 2.9% growth compared to 31 December 2022 with Business Loans growing by 5.3% and an increase of 1.5% on the Trade and Working Capital Loans portfolio.
  • Retail Banking reflected a growth of AED 286.2 M supported by a strong sales momentum across products with Mortgages growing by 4.8% and Auto Loans by 6.4%.
  • Non-performing Loans and Advances to Gross Loans and Advances ratio remained same at 3.0% as at 31 March 2023 compared to 31 December 2022.

 

Robust Growth in Customer Deposits as we continue to be the main bank for most of our customers

  • Q1’23 Customer deposits increased by 3.3% compared to 31 December 2022, mainly due to an increase of AED 1,089.5M in CASA deposits and AED 404.7M in time deposits, endorsing the trust our customers place in RAKBANK’s solutions and services. RAKBANK has built a strong CASA franchise with a CASA ratio of 70.5 % as at 31 March 2023.

Strong Capital and Liquidity position

  • The Bank’s Capital and Liquidity ratios remained strong.
  • With a Total Capital Ratio as per Basel III, after the application of prudential filter, at 16.8% compared to 16.4% at the end of 2022.
  • The regulatory eligible liquid asset ratio at the end of 31 March 2023 at 14.8%, compared to 12.8% as at 31 December 2022, and the advances to stable resources ratio stood comfortably at 81.8% compared to 79.7% at the end of 2022.

 

Healthy Cash Flows from operating activities

  • Cash and cash equivalent as at 31 March 2023 were AED 4.7B compared to AED 4.3B as at 31 December 2022.
  • Net cash generated from operating activities was AED 1.2B, AED 819.8M was used in investing activities and AED 4.7M used in financing activities.

Impact of Projected Capital Expenditure and Development

  • The Group incurred AED 37.3M in capital expenditure in Q1 2023.
  • RAKBANK will carry on advancing its investment towards customer-centric technology transformation.

Ratings

RAKBANK gets continuously rated by leading rating agencies with their latest ratings shown in the table below. This rating reflects the institutional strength of the Bank that is backed up by trust and transparency in financial reporting.

 
Rating Agency Last Update Deposits Outlook
Moody’s November 2022 Baa1 / P-2 Stable
Fitch April 2023 BBB+ / F2 Stable
Capital Intelligence August 2022    A- / A2 Positive

 

 

 

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Edenred UAE strengthens market leadership with financially inclusive payroll solutions, C3Pay serving 2.5 million users

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Edenred, a leading digital platform for services and specific purpose payments and the undisputed market leader in salary processing and financial inclusion for the underbanked in the UAE, continues to reinforce its leading position in payroll card solutions, value-added financial services, and compliance-first innovation under the leadership of newly appointed Managing Director Claudio Di Zanni.

As the first company authorised by the Central Bank of the UAE to process WPS salaries, Edenred UAE has long positioned financial inclusion as the foundation of its offer in UAE — ensuring that access to financial services isn’t an added benefit, but a guaranteed outcome of getting paid. 

Trusted by both large enterprises and a growing base of SMEs, the backbone of the UAE economy, Edenred UAE now serves more than 15,000 corporate clients, 2.5 million cardholders, and partners with over 10 banks and 20 financial institutions. Demand has been strong in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and facility management—where reliability and seamless execution are critical.

Edenred UAE salary cards, C3Pay, powered by RAKBANK and part of the Mastercard network, can be used globally. A key driver of Edenred’s adoption success is its unmatched expertise in on-site training at worker accommodations, which helps large enterprises efficiently onboard thousands of employees. This ensures that workers understand how to activate their cards, utilise app features, and engage with key financial tools.

Claudio Di Zanni, Managing Director, Edenred Middle East, said: “Edenred UAE has set the benchmark for payroll and financial access in the region with digital innovative solutions, great ambitions and internationally committed teams. Our ambition now is to extend that lead by deepening trust with our clients, scaling services that matter to end users, and ensuring full compliance in a fast-evolving regulatory landscape. With unmatched reach, an expanding client base, and a proven model for financial inclusion, we are ready to shape the next phase of the region’s salary card ecosystem — developing its full potential and contributing to giving workers who were previously excluded from the financial system a secure, transparent, and dignified way to manage their money.

Edenred UAE remains the reference in payroll solutions, as it continues to scale high-impact services, deepen banking partnerships, and reinforce its role as the benchmark for secure, compliant, and ethical financial access in the UAE and beyond. With a sharpened focus on innovation and strengthened leadership, it is entering a new chapter of platform excellence as the backbone of financial access for the UAE’s workforce.

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Dhruva urges UAE firms to focus on data sovereignty in e-Invoicing transition

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The 2026 mandate is an opportunity for businesses to align compliance with stronger data governance standards

With the UAE’s mandatory eInvoicing framework set to launch in 2026, Dhruva urges taxpayers to move beyond data residency considerations and focus on the critical issue of data sovereignty when selecting accredited service providers (ASPs). When adopting any cloud solution, it’s crucial to take the UAE National Cloud Security Policy into consideration, which provides a comprehensive checklist for cloud customers. This policy details necessary arrangements with cloud service providers, outlines contract requirements and sets cloud security requirements and enforcement measures.Dhruva is a leading tax advisory firm specializing in VAT, corporate tax, transfer pricing, and international taxation in the Middle East.

The eInvoicing rollout, based on the OpenPeppol five-corner model, will route all business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) invoices through ASPs that validate, exchange, and report tax-relevant data directly to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA). This shift makes the question of where data lives and who ultimately controls it – a matter of legal, operational, and financial consequence.

Commenting on the development, Nimish Goel, Partner and Head of GCC, Dhruva Consultants, said: “Businesses cannot afford to mix data residency with sovereignty. Hosting tax data within UAE data centres is necessary, but it does not, by itself, guarantee compliance or protection. True sovereignty means that encryption keys, administrative controls, and audit logs remain fully under UAE jurisdiction and cannot be accessed by foreign authorities. For taxpayers, this distinction is not technical—it is a fundamental risk-management decision.”

Dhruva highlights that this distinction is becoming urgent for three reasons. First, the UAE has enacted a robust Federal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and sector-specific rules that demand explicit safeguards on cross-border data flows. Second, with eInvoicing deadlines approaching, taxpayers must evaluate how each provider’s hosting model aligns with UAE data hosting requirements, sovereignty and National Cloud Security Policy laws. Finally, the operational reality is that migrating data and applications between clouds is not seamless. Factors such as data gravity, proprietary platforms, and audit trail integrity make switching providers slow, risky, and expensive.

“E-invoicing will not only redefine how businesses transact with government authorities, but also how they safeguard their most sensitive tax and financial records,” Goel added. “Companies need to recognise that the choice of ASP is a long-term strategic decision. The location of the cloud operator, the jurisdiction under which they fall, and the location of their control plane and encryption keys all impact compliance and data security far more than the physical location of the server rack.”

Dhruva advises taxpayers to approach ASP selection with a structured due-diligence process aligned with the policy for cloud customers in the UAE. This policy covers key domains such as governance, data location and sovereignty, interoperability, security incident and access management, data confidentiality, architecture and infrastructure companies should ensure that all storage, backups, and logs are held within UAE borders, that operational control and key management remain in UAE jurisdiction, and that providers comply with the UAE’s Peppol interoperability standard. Audit logs should be immutable, recovery sites must be located in the country, and exit strategies need to be documented and tested, with transparency on egress costs.

“Taxpayers cannot treat this as a simple IT procurement,” Goel emphasized. “It is a compliance and sovereignty choice that will determine their risk exposure for years to come. The time to ask these questions is now—before companies find themselves locked into providers that may not meet their future regulatory and operational needs.”

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DUBAI’S RISE TO FINANCIAL DOMINANCE POWERED BY TRUST, TAX AND TIMING

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Professional headshot of a businessman in dark suit and white shirt against gray background

Attributed by: Nicholas Wright, Head of Institutional Sales, Saxo Bank

Dubai’s winning combination of UK-inspired regulation, investor-friendly tax policies, and a strategic time-zone advantage is propelling the city to the forefront of global wealth destinations, attracting a wave of new millionaires from traditional centres like London.

Its evolution from a regional trading outpost to a global financial centre has been one of the defining economic success stories of the past two decades. Once viewed primarily as a gateway to the Gulf, the city is now positioning itself as a trusted bridge between East and West, a place where capital, talent, and innovation converge.

This transformation is intentional, driven by a powerful combination of regulatory trust, tax advantages, and a strategic location. These combined “push-and-pull” forces are attracting a fresh wave of global investment and high-net-worth migration, solidifying Dubai’s role in the world’s financial architecture.

 Building Global Confidence: Regulation that Mirrors London

A critical pillar of Dubai’s ascent has been the credibility of its regulatory ecosystem, anchored by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The DFSA’s adoption of a UK-style, principles-based framework has created a familiar and trusted environment for international investors, particularly those from established markets such as London, Zurich, and Hong Kong.

By aligning with global standards set by IOSCO and Basel, the DFSA has helped ensure that Dubai’s financial regulations meet the expectations of international institutions. Importantly, the city’s common-law legal framework, applied through the DIFC Courts, offers predictability and transparency, qualities that distinguish Dubai from many emerging markets.

Aligning with internationally recognised best practices attracts global firms that value strong governance and reassures private investors that Dubai’s rapid growth is built on solid foundations. In doing so, it turns the city’s financial free zones, particularly DIFC, into a natural extension of the world’s major financial capitals.

Global Tax Shifts and the Migration of Wealth

While regulation provides the foundation of trust, global tax realignments are now accelerating Dubai’s growth. Across Europe and the UK, tightening fiscal regimes and increased scrutiny of offshore structures are prompting many high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and family offices to reassess their base of operations.

The UK’s reform of the long-standing Non-Domiciled (“Non-Dom”) tax regime, combined with higher tax rates and stricter reporting obligations, has diminished London’s appeal as a haven for global wealth. Resulting in a clear outflow of capital, the UK is forecast to lose around 16,500 millionaires in 2025, according to Henley & Partners, the largest net outflow recorded by any country in over a decade.

In contrast, Dubai has emerged as one of the world’s leading destinations for mobile wealth. Over the past decade, the number of millionaires residing in the city has doubled. According to The Rise of Dubai study, the emirate is home to 86,000 millionaires, 251 centi-millionaires, and 23 billionaires, as of June 2025.

This shift represents a classic case of push and pull: mature markets are tightening, while dynamic jurisdictions like Dubai combine transparency with competitiveness. The UAE’s own fiscal evolution,  including the introduction of a federal corporate tax aligned with OECD standards, has enhanced credibility while preserving the hallmark advantages of no personal income tax and a stable, predictable business environment.

At the same time, Dubai’s establishment of family wealth centres, along with trust and foundation structures in the DIFC, is attracting international family offices that value both strong global compliance and flexible local regulations. The DIFC now accommodates over 120 family offices and more than 800 family-related entities, together managing an estimated US$1.2 trillion in assets.

 Dubai’s Enduring Wealth Base and Private Banking Strength

Long before it became a magnet for global capital, Dubai was already a regional hub for private banking, buoyed by decades of oil wealth and the emergence of HNW and UHNW individuals across the Gulf. Historically, much of that wealth was parked offshore in jurisdictions such as Switzerland and London.

Today, that wealth is increasingly being repatriated and managed locally, as the DIFC and DFSA frameworks give investors confidence that their capital is governed under international standards. Making this city a magnet for new millionaires, surpassing other global hubs in attracting mobile wealth.

 Population Growth and the Rise of the Mass Affluent

Dubai’s population surged past 4 million residents in 2025, up from around 1.9 million in 2011. This rapid demographic expansion, fueled by a strong influx of capital, added more than 223,000 new residents in just one year, marking the fastest growth rate in the city’s history.

A significant portion of this growth is concentrated within the affluent and mass-affluent segments, creating strong potential for the next generation of digital and hybrid wealth managers. As professionals, entrepreneurs, and global citizens increasingly choose Dubai as their base, the city’s financial ecosystem is expanding beyond traditional private banking into scalable, tech-enabled wealth management platforms.

The Next Chapter: Sustaining Momentum

As Dubai’s profile grows, so too does the need to maintain the balance between openness and oversight. The DFSA has already demonstrated its adaptability, from developing frameworks for digital assets and fintech innovation to integrating ESG principles into its supervisory approach.

Such responsiveness will be vital as global finance enters a new era shaped by digitalisation, sustainability, and shifting investor expectations. If Dubai can continue to combine rigorous regulation with pragmatic innovation, it will not only retain its current momentum but also strengthen its claim as the most trusted financial hub between London and Singapore.

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