• Published on 26 October 2023
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Emirates NBD’s profit surges 92% to $4.7B in 9 months

Emirates NBD’s profit surges 92% to AED 17.5 billion ($4.7 billion) in the first nine months of 2023 on significant loan growth, a stable low-cost funding base, increased transaction volumes and substantial recoveries.

The third quarter 2023 (Q32023) profit exceeded AED 5 billion ($1.3 billion) for the third consecutive quarter reflecting a buoyant regional economy. Emirates NBD’s market-leading deposit franchise grew AED 67 billion ($18.2 billion), including AED 33 billion ($8.984 billion) of low-cost current and savings accounts (CASA) in 2023. Strong retail lending momentum, coupled with landmark multinational-customer deals drove a healthy 8% loan growth. All business units delivered higher income. Emirates NBD is the principal banking partner for COP28. The group successfully launched its Sustainable Finance Framework and raised $750 million with the largest green bond ever issued by a regional bank, helping our customers align to UAE Vision 2030. 

Key highlights in the first nine months of 2023

The bank saw  92% increase in profit on significant loan growth, a stable low-cost funding base, increased transaction volumes and substantial recoveries.

• Total income up 44% to AED 32.7 billion ($8.90 billion) on excellent deposit mix, solid loan growth and strong fee and commission growth across all business segments
• Solid loan growth, up an impressive 8% on strong retail lending momentum with corporate banking closing landmark deals for large multinational customers
• Deposit mix is a key strength. Deposits grew AED 67 billion ($18.2 billion) in first nine months of 2023  including AED 33 billion ($8.984 billion) of low-cost current and savings accounts
• Net interest margin rose 90 basis points y-o-y to 4.00% on improved loan and deposit mix and higher interest rates
• Impairment allowances substantially down 54% y-o-y as credit quality improved, reflecting the group’s prudent approach to credit provisions
• Balance sheet grew 13% to AED 836 billion ($227.6 billion) at Q32023
• Earnings per share up significantly by 96% to 271 fils
• One of only three UAE banks to have an investment grade unsupported Fitch Viability Rating 

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

• SME lending boosted 34% in UAE, supporting this bedrock sector of the economy
• One-third market share of UAE credit card spend as card spend grew 28 % y-o-y
• ‘ENBD X’ mobile banking app successfully rolled out, using latest technology, security and user experience trends propelling it to become one of the leading banking apps in the region
• Digital wealth platform expanded giving customers access to more than 11,000 global and regional equities, elevating ENBD X as a one-stop solution for both everyday banking and wealth management
• Signature by Priority Banking introduced, offering ultra-high-net-worth customers unrivalled benefits, services and privileges
• AUM grew by an impressive 28% in 2023, reflecting Emirates NBD’s full service platform  
• Landmark corporate deals including AED 10 billion ($2.7 billion) hybrid credit facilities and $3.5 billion revolving credit facility for large multinational customers
• ‘Emirates NBD Pay’, our merchant acquiring service, onboarded more than 20 clients, with over AED 3.5 billion ($952.8 million) transaction value since launch
• Innovation fund makes exciting investment in Komgo to revolutionise its digital trade finance offering
• First repo transaction executed with a KSA asset manager and first Islamic repo with a UAE bank
• KSA loan growth up 26% y-o-y as both corporate and retail lending accelerating as branch network expands to 13

Looking to the future as the UAE hosts COP28, Emirates NBD is delivering ESG solutions to customers as their Net Zero ambitions and sustainability goals drive economic activity.

• Principal banking partner of COP28, marking Emirates NBD’s commitment to UAE’s Year of Sustainability
• ESG-linked supply chain finance programme pioneered in collaboration with Emirates Global Aluminium
• Sustainable finance framework published allowing green and sustainability-linked bond issuance
• $750 million green-bond issued, the largest ever from a regional bank
• Net Zero goals commitment by signing UAE Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge
• Gender Equality commitment by signing UAE Gender Balance Pledge
• Accelerator programme launched with green fintechs to boost sustainability-focused finance solutions
• Carbon trading introduced as Emirates NBD becomes first UAE bank to offering carbon emission offsetting solution to customers
• Deniz Ventures makes innovation fund investment in sustainability start-up Erguvan

Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, vice chairman and managing director of Emirates NBD said: “Emirates NBD’s profit hit a record high of AED 17.5 billion ($4.7 billion) for the first nine months of 2023, reflecting the group’s increasing regional presence and leading digital capabilities."

The buoyant economy, coupled with our focus on service excellence through new product and service delivery, is propelling growth.

"We expanded our branch network to 13 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is helping drive a 26% y-o-y increase in lending across corporate and retail banking. We boosted lending to small and medium enterprises by 34% in the UAE, supporting this important sector and bedrock of the economy.  We pledged our commitment to Net Zero 2050 and Gender Balance goals in the UAE and are proud to be the principal banking partner of COP28.”

Shayne Nelson, group CEO of Emirates NBD, said: “Emirates NBD’s profit surges 92% in the first nine months of 2023 on significant loan growth, a stable low-cost funding base, increased transaction volumes and substantial recoveries."

"We delivered an impressive 8% loan growth on strong retail lending momentum coupled with the corporate bank closing landmark deals for large multinational customers."

The market-leading deposit franchise grew AED 67 billion ($18.2 billion), including AED 33 billion ($8.984 billion) of low-cost current and savings accounts.

"We successfully rolled out the ‘ENBD X’ mobile banking app using latest technology, security and user experience trends, propelling it to the number one banking app in the region. We expanded our digital wealth platform, giving customers access to more than 11,000 global equities, and enhanced our priority offering for ultra-high-net-worth customers, which helped drive 28% growth in assets under management.”

Patrick Sullivan, group chief financial officer of Emirates NBD, said: “Quarterly profit exceeded AED 5 billion ($1.3 billion) for the third consecutive quarter as all business units generated a substantial increase in income."

The group’s low-cost current and savings account deposit base was stable in the third-quarter, enabling the bank to benefit from higher interest rates. The group’s strong capital base enabled the balance sheet to grow 13%, to AED 836 billion ($227.6 billion), in 2023.

Emirates NBD’s strength is recognised by Fitch, being one of only three UAE banks to have an investment grade unsupported Viability Rating. The group successfully launched its Sustainable Finance Framework and raised $750 million with the largest green bond ever issued by a regional bank, helping our customers align to UAE Vision 2030.”

Business Performance

Retail banking and wealth management (RBWM) continued its excellent performance with its highest ever nine-month revenue, strongest ever acquisition, and substantial growth in balance sheet.

• Lending increased 16% by AED 15 billion ($4.08 billion) and deposits grew by AED 29 billion ($7.8 billion) in first nine months of 2023 with a strong CASA to deposits ratio of 78%
• One-third market share of UAE credit card spend as card spend grew 28% y-o-y
• Income grew 36% on the back of record volumes, improved margins and highest ever non-funded income
• ‘ENBD X’ mobile banking app successfully rolled out, using latest technology, security and user experience trends
• Signature by Priority Banking launched offering ultra-high-net-worth customers unrivalled benefits, services and privileges
• AUM grew by an impressive 28% in 2023 on the back of the digital wealth platform expansion, reflecting Emirates NBD’s full-service platform giving customers access to over 11,000 global equities   

Corporate and institutional banking strengthened its strategic partnership with major government entities and corporates by enhancing digitised service platforms

• Profitability jumped 104% due to significant growth in revenue on increased lending activity, higher cross-sell across products and strong recoveries
• Corporate lending (ex. sovereign) up 15% on strong origination throughout region in manufacturing, trade, transport, communication and conglomerates
• Landmark corporate deals including AED 10 billion ($2.7 billion) hybrid credit facilities and $3.5 billion revolving credit facility closed for large multinational customers
• ‘Emirates NBD Pay’, our merchant acquiring service, onboarded more than 20 clients, with over AED 3.5 billion ($952.8 million) transaction value since launch
• ESG-linked supply chain finance programme launched in collaboration with Emirates Global Aluminium

Global markets and treasury delivered an outstanding performance, generating almost AED 3 billion ($816.7 million) in income in the first nine months of 2023.  

• Income grew by 186% driven by favourable balance sheet positioning coupled with a significant increase in banking book investment income
• The trading desk reported robust numbers with foreign exchange trading posting 89% growth
• Sales delivered strong growth, driven by foreign exchange and structured products
• Group funding issued a $750 million green bond, the largest ever from a regional bank

DenizBank profit up 63% to AED 1.9 billion ($517.2 million) helped by higher income and strong recoveries

Outlook

GCC economies have been resilient against a weaker global backdrop and higher interest rates. PMI surveys indicate robust activity in non-oil sectors in the first half of 2023 across the region. Emirates NBD research revised up their forecast for UAE non-oil GDP growth to 5.0% this year, from 3.5% previously, with their forecast for UAE growth in 2023 adjusted to 2.9% on the expectation of a contraction in hydrocarbon GDP.  The UAE’s national energy strategy expects up to AED 200 billion  ($54.4 billion) of investment as it triples the contribution of renewable energy by 2030. Other economic sectors such as tourism are flourishing with Dubai tourist numbers recovering to pre-pandemic levels. In the wider MENAT region, Egypt continues to explore asset sales reflecting their commitment to revamp the economy and Türkiye increased interest rates to help address inflation.

Re-disseminated by The Asian Banker