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WAM reported that First Abu Dhabi Bank has reinforced its standing as the highest-rated banking group in the MENA region and one of the highest-rated worldwide following the latest affirmations of its AA- or equivalent ratings with stable outlooks by Moody’s, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings. The combined assessments place the lender at the upper end of global bank credit quality, supported by its robust standalone fundamentals, disciplined approach to risk and systemic importance to the UAE banking sector. The affirmations arrived against a backdrop of regional developments yet highlighted the bank’s resilience across key metrics including capital adequacy, liquidity buffers, asset quality and earnings generation.
Stable outlooks from all three agencies signal their confidence that First Abu Dhabi Bank can maintain this performance through economic cycles, according to the WAM dispatch. The bank’s credit profile draws additional strength from its dominant UAE franchise, diversified funding sources and close sovereign linkage as the primary financial partner to the Government of Abu Dhabi and major government-related entities. FAB’s investor relations disclosure lists its precise ratings as Aa3 with stable outlook from Moody’s, AA- with stable outlook from S&P Global Ratings and AA- with stable outlook from Fitch Ratings.
The lender has sustained ready access to international wholesale funding markets, underpinned by a wide and diversified base of global investors, WAM reported. Issuances have been consistently oversubscribed, enabling the bank to raise more than Dhs22 billion, equivalent to $6 billion, in the year to date. Such market reception reflects the value attached to its high credit standing even as conditions evolve.
Moody’s global banking outlook published in December 2025 projected a stable sector environment for 2026, driven by continued economic expansion and reduced interest rates that support asset quality at financial institutions worldwide. First Abu Dhabi Bank’s metrics align with this view through its demonstrated strength in core areas, the WAM summary noted. The bank plays a central role in the UAE economy, which further bolsters its standing.
Compilations from The Banker magazine for 2026 rank First Abu Dhabi Bank among leading global institutions, with its rating combination standing out in the MENA region where few peers achieve equivalent scores from all three major agencies. A Fitch Ratings assessment from May 2026 specifically pointed to the bank’s flagship position in the UAE and Abu Dhabi, its solid domestic market share, strong funding and liquidity position and healthy asset metrics. These attributes together allow the institution to deliver consistent performance and returns regardless of market phase.
Earlier reviews by S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s have similarly upheld their respective ratings and outlooks in line with the latest affirmations detailed on July 17, 2026. The bank’s liquidity coverage ratio and capital levels have repeatedly been flagged as buffers that exceed regulatory minima by comfortable margins. This overall credit resilience has enabled FAB to navigate periods of volatility while continuing to expand its international footprint.
