• Published on 18 July 2024
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Emirates NBD posts record $3.7B profit, up 12% in H1 2024

Emirates NBD delivered a record profit of AED 13.8 billion ($3.7 billion) in the first half of 2024, driven by increased lending across its regional network and substantial impaired loan recoveries.

Quarterly profit topped AED 7 billion ($1.9 billion) for the first time, helped by the strongest-ever results from Emirates Islamic, improving margins in DenizBank and sizeable recoveries bolstered by a buoyant economy. Lending grew 6% in the first half of 2024 to surpass the half-a-trillion dirham (AED 500 billion or $136 billion) milestone on strong regional demand.

All business units achieved an outstanding performance, delivering record retail lending, a one-third market share of UAE credit card spend and growing assets under management (AUM) by an incredible 41% y-o-y. Corporate lending originated AED 48 billion ($13.06 billion) of gross new loans, securing landmark deals across the network as it leverages the group’s regional presence. Retained earnings boosted capital ratios and the rock-solid balance sheet, coupled with a market-leading banking infrastructure, makes Emirates NBD a regional powerhouse to drive future growth.

Key highlights – first half 2024

12% profit growth on significant loan growth, a stable low-cost funding base and substantial recoveries

• Total income up to AED 21.4 billion ($5.8 billion) on strong loan growth across all business segments coupled with an excellent stable, low-cost funding mix
• Strong loan growth with lending up 6% in H1-24, surpassing AED 500 billion ($136.1 billion) for the first time
• Deposit mix is a key strength growing AED 39 billion ($10.6 billion) in the first half, evenly split between current and savings accounts and fixed deposits
• Net interest margin improved to 3.65% in the second quarter of 2024 as DenizBank NIMs increased on favourable loan pricing and stable funding costs
• Impairment credit of AED 2.2 billion ($598 million) on regularisation of loan payments as clients benefit from a buoyant economy with impaired loan ratio improving to 4.2%
• Emirates Islamic delivered record profit of AED 1.7 billion ($462.8 million) in H1-24 as balance sheet surpassed AED 100 billion ($27.2 billion)
• Earnings per share up significantly by 13% to 214 fils in the first half of 2024

 Emirates NBD’s investment in customer-focused services and products is propelling business growth

• AUM grew by an impressive 41% y-o-y to $25 billion, reflecting ongoing success of our wealth management strategy
• Fractional bonds and sukuk available through ENBD X, broadening investment opportunities for customers
• Aani instant payment platform, launched by the Central Bank of the UAE, available on ENBD X and EI + as a simple and fast way to move money domestically using mobile numbers
• First Trade Commodity Murabaha transaction provided to customers
• Emirates NBD Capital successfully advised on the AED 1.38 billion ($375.7 million) Spinneys IPO
• AED 500 million ($136.1 million) of competitive financing allocated to SMEs to support 'Dubai International Growth Initiative', facilitating Dubai-based SMEs’ global expansion
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia branch network doubling to 18 last year, driving 33% loan growth in H1-24
• Moody’s improved the outlook on Emirates NBD’s credit rating to ‘positive’

Looking to the future, Emirates NBD is transforming into a data-first, digital-focused and environmentally responsible regional powerhouse

• First UAE bank to publish Climate Strategy through assured Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report
• Leading GCC bank in ESG ranked by Sustainalytics and rated 5th out of 311 diversified banks globally
• Emirates Islamic successfully issued its debut $750 million sustainability sukuk
• Global SustainTech Accelerator programme launched, empowering green fintech companies to develop innovative solutions and support a climate-resilient future
• Generative AI implementation across business operations in partnership with Microsoft
• Emirates NBD strengthens merchant acquiring solutions in partnership with Pine Labs
• Emirates NBD and Nium join forces to transform global cross-border payments in the Middle East, to offer a seamless, instantaneous, cost-effective remittance experience
• Continued growth in Swift for corporate solution, with 120 active clients facilitating over AED 100 billion ($27.2 billion) in transactions

Shayne Nelson, group CEO said: “Quarterly profit surpassed AED 7 billion ($1.9 billion) for the first time ever, helped by the strongest ever results from Emirates Islamic, improving margins in DenizBank and sizeable recoveries bolstered by a buoyant economy."

• All business units achieved an outstanding performance with record retail lending, a one-third market share of UAE credit card spend and corporate lending originating AED 48 billion ($13.06 billion) of gross new loans as it leverages the group’s regional presence.
• We are extremely proud that Emirates Islamic generated its highest-ever profit of AED 1.7 billion ($462.8 million) in the first half of 2024 as its balance sheet surpassed the AED 100 billion ($27.2 billion) landmark.
• We are leaders in customer security and services with the implementation of generative AI in partnership with Microsoft and the launch of the Global SustainTech Accelerator programme, empowering green fintech companies to develop innovative ESG solutions.
• Retained earnings boosted capital ratios and the rock-solid balance sheet, coupled with a market-leading banking infrastructure, makes Emirates NBD a regional powerhouse to drive future growth.”

Patrick Sullivan, group chief financial officer said: “Total income of AED 21.4 billion ($5.8 billion) on strong loan growth across all business segments coupled with an excellent stable, low-cost funding mix."

• The group’s net interest margin improved to 3.65% in the second quarter of 2024 as DenizBank NIMs increased on favourable loan pricing and stable funding costs.
• The credit environment remains healthy and clients continue to benefit from a buoyant economy with further regularisation of loan payments, leading to a net impairment credit of AED 2.2 billion ($598.9 million).
• Loan growth guidance was revised upwards on strong regional demand while cost of risk guidance was positively revised downwards on a healthy credit environment.
• The group’s exceptional performance and strong balance sheet was recognised by Moody’s who improved Emirates NBD’s credit rating outlook to positive.”

Business performance

Retail banking and wealth management (RBWM) had an excellent first half of the year with the highest ever revenue, strongest ever loan acquisition and substantial growth in balance sheet

• Lending increased by a record AED 23 billion ($6.2 billion) y-o-y, growing 21% to AED 130 billion ($35.3 billion)
• Deposits grew AED 30 billion ($8.1 billion) y-o-y with a healthy CASA to deposits ratio of 75%
• One-third market share of UAE credit card spend as card spend grew 15% y-o-y
• Income grew 12% y-o-y as RBWM delivered its highest ever half-yearly funded and non-funded income
• AUMs grew by an incredible 41% y-o-y, reflecting ongoing success of our wealth management strategy
• ‘ENBD X’ and ‘EI +’ very highly rated on both Play Store and App Store

Corporate and institutional banking achieved an excellent 64% increase in profit before tax, primarily on higher income and increased recoveries

• Non-funded income grew 21% due to higher fee income on increased lending, a strong contribution from investment banking and improved cross-sell across foreign exchange, derivatives and trade finance
• Corporate lending up 7% in the first half of 2024, driven by AED 48 billion ($13.06 billion) of new lending throughout the region, partly offset by sovereign, real estate and other scheduled repayments
• Continued CASA growth was backed by the group’s best-in-class digital escrow capabilities, including APIs and virtual accounts
• Higher international revenues across locations on capitalisation of network opportunities
• Improved cost of risk due to continued recoveries and enhanced lending credit quality

Global markets and treasury delivered another solid performance, generating AED 1.3 billion ($353.9 million) of income in the first half of 2024

• Net interest income continues to be strong at AED 1.4 billion ($381.1 million) despite the general increase in cost of wholesale funding and term deposits due to higher interest rates
• Trading income was lower y-o-y due to volatility associated with the Egyptian currency devaluation
• Sales delivered strong results, driven by an expanded product offering and new innovative structured solutions for clients
• Fractional bonds and sukuk available through ENBD X, broadening investment opportunities for customers
• Expanded suite of commodities now actively traded for customers

DenizBank delivered an impressive AED 0.8 billion ($217.8 million) profit in H1-24 providing fresh funding to the Turkish economy as their balance sheet grew to AED 161 billion ($43.8 billion)

Outlook

The UAE and Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sectors continue to register healthy growth, offsetting lower hydrocarbon production. This non-oil growth is underpinned by strong infrastructure investment from both the private and public sectors, with a substantial pipeline of new projects in both countries. In Egypt, the increased support from the UAE and multilateral partners since February has helped drive a turnaround in the country’s fortunes with the economic outlook stabilising, while Türkiye’s monetary policy successfully curbed inflation, registering a larger-than-expected fall in inflation in June. Regional geopolitical developments have had some effect on supply chains but businesses have not been unduly affected and tourism numbers in the UAE remain healthy.

Re-disseminated by The Asian Banker