# First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/first-abu-dhabi-bank
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [First Abu Dhabi Bank — official](https://www.bankfab.com/)

## Overview

**First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)** is **the UAE's largest bank** + **operating in 20+ countries serving millions of customers** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [United Arab Emirates report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AE)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: **Forbes Middle East "30 Most Valuable Banks 2025" #3 with market value over US$43 billion**.

**FAB Mobile App** <sup>[3][3]</sup>: Primary digital-banking channel for FAB customers; handles virtually all everyday banking needs without branch visits; 24/7 mobile banking; access to accounts + cards + payments + loans + investments.

## History

**April 1, 2017 — First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) formed via merger** of National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) + First Gulf Bank (FGB) — distinctive UAE mega-bank consolidation creating UAE's largest bank.

**2017-2025 — Mass UAE + multi-country expansion** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: UAE primary + Saudi Arabia + Egypt + Kuwait + Oman + Bahrain + UK + France + Switzerland + US + Singapore + Hong Kong + India + Korea (14+ countries).

**2025 — Forbes Middle East "30 Most Valuable Banks 2025" #3 with market value over US$43 billion** <sup>[2][2]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC** (ADX: FAB) — formed Apr 1, 2017 via NBAD + FGB merger.

**Major shareholders**: **Mubadala Investment Company (Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund) + Abu Dhabi government entities + ADX public float**.

**Regulators**: **CBUAE (Central Bank of the UAE)**.

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | FAB Mobile App (iOS + Android) + FAB cards + FAB branch network |
| **Identifiers** | Phone + email + card number + Emirates ID |
| **AE rail** | **[Aani](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/aani)** (CBUAE national instant payment + IPP) |
| **License** | Bank (FAB full UAE banking license; UAE's largest bank by assets) |
| **Sub-products** | FAB Account + FAB Cards + FAB Credit + FAB Investments + FAB Insurance + FAB for Business + FAB Capital + FAB Wealth |
| **Multi-country presence**: UAE + SA + EG + KW + OM + BH + UK + FR + CH + US + SG + HK + IN + KR (14+ countries) |

## Users & growth

**2025 baseline** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:
- **UAE's largest bank by assets** (post-Apr 1, 2017 NBAD + FGB merger)
- **Forbes Middle East "30 Most Valuable Banks 2025" #3** — market value over US$43 billion
- **20+ countries of operation; millions of customers**
- **Specific 2025 FAB Mobile user numbers**: not publicly disclosed in current sources

## Use cases

UAE + multi-country retail + corporate + investment banking via FAB Mobile + branches; AANI national instant payment + IPP; FAB Capital investment + FAB Wealth + FAB for Business + multi-country international presence (14+ countries).

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC** (ADX: FAB; post-Apr 1, 2017 NBAD + FGB merger).

**Major shareholders**: **Mubadala Investment Company (Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund) + Abu Dhabi government entities + ADX public float**.

**Major UAE banking competitors**:
- **[Emirates NBD (ENBD X)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/emirates-nbd)** (Emirates NBD; Dubai's biggest bank by assets; ENBD X mobile app + Liv X digital bank; 9M+ active customers in MENAT)
- **[Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/commercial-bank-of-dubai)** (Commercial Bank of Dubai; CBD digital banking 120+ services)
- **[Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/abu-dhabi-islamic-bank)** (Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank; ADX: ADIB; UAE Islamic banking)
- **[Mashreq NEO + NEOPAY (UAE)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mashreq-neo)** (Mashreq Bank UAE digital banking)
- **Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) + Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) + Emirates Islamic + RAKBANK** (UAE banking competitors)
- **[Wio Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/wio-bank)** (Batch 27 covered; UAE Abu Dhabi-anchored digital bank; ADQ + e& + Alpha Dhabi + FAB)

**Regulator**: **CBUAE**.

## Fun facts

- **UAE's largest bank by assets** (post-Apr 1, 2017 NBAD + FGB merger).
- **Forbes Middle East "30 Most Valuable Banks 2025" #3** with market value over US$43 billion.
- **20+ countries of operation; millions of customers** — distinctive UAE mega-bank multi-country presence.
- **Apr 1, 2017 NBAD + FGB merger formed FAB** — UAE mega-bank consolidation.
- **Mubadala Investment Company (Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund) major shareholder**.
- **Wio Bank co-investor** — UAE digital banking ecosystem participation.

## Comparison

| Feature | FAB Mobile | [Emirates NBD (ENBD X)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/emirates-nbd) (Dubai's biggest bank rival) | [Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/commercial-bank-of-dubai) (CBD UAE digital banking rival) | [Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/abu-dhabi-islamic-bank) (UAE Islamic banking comparable) | [Wio Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/wio-bank) (Batch 27; UAE Abu Dhabi-anchored digital bank co-investor) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC (ADX: FAB; Mubadala + Abu Dhabi government + ADX public float; post-Apr 1 2017 NBAD + FGB merger)** | Emirates NBD (DFM: EMIRATESNBD; Dubai government-owned) | Commercial Bank of Dubai PJSC (DFM: CBD) | Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC (ADX: ADIB) | Wio Bank (UAE; ADQ + e& + Alpha Dhabi + FAB co-investors) |
| Type | **UAE's largest bank by assets + multi-country bank (14+ countries) + FAB Mobile** | Dubai's biggest bank by assets + MENAT 9M+ customers + ENBD X + Liv X digital bank | UAE digital banking 120+ services | UAE Islamic banking + ADIB Direct corporate + Nov 2025 Smart Sukuk Platform | UAE Abu Dhabi-anchored digital bank |
| Country | UAE + 13+ other countries | UAE + multi-MENAT | UAE | UAE + EG + UK + IQ + SA | UAE |
| Distinctive | **UAE's largest bank by assets; Apr 1 2017 NBAD + FGB merger formed FAB; Forbes ME "30 Most Valuable Banks 2025" #3 with US$43B+ market value; 20+ countries of operation; Mubadala parent** | Dubai government-owned; ENBD X primary mobile-banking; Liv X digital-bank crypto trading Mar 2025 | UAE 120+ services app; instant transfers to BD + IN + PK + PH | UAE Islamic banking; Nov 2025 ADIB Smart Sukuk Platform | UAE Abu Dhabi-anchored; ADQ + e& + Alpha Dhabi + FAB co-investors |

## Status

**Active, UAE's largest bank by assets + Forbes ME "30 Most Valuable Banks 2025" #3** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:
- **First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC (ADX: FAB)** since April 1, 2017 (NBAD + FGB merger).
- **UAE's largest bank by assets**.
- **20+ countries of operation**.
- **Market value over US$43 billion**.
- **Mubadala Investment Company (Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund) major shareholder**.
- **CBUAE regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.bankfab.com/en-ae/about-fab "About FAB — official"
[2]: https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/the-middle-easts-most-valuable-banks "Forbes Middle East 30 Most Valuable Banks 2025"
[3]: https://www.bankfab.com/en-ae/personal/help-and-support/digital-banking/mobile-banking "FAB Mobile Banking App — official"
[4]: https://apps.apple.com/ae/app/fab-mobile/id1383237548 "FAB Mobile App — App Store"
[ae-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AE

- [1] [About FAB — official][1]
- [2] [Forbes Middle East 30 Most Valuable Banks 2025][2]
- [3] [FAB Mobile Banking App — official][3]
- [4] [FAB Mobile App — App Store][4]
- <sup>[United Arab Emirates report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AE)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/AE-united-arab-emirates.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [first-abu-dhabi-bank.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/first-abu-dhabi-bank). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.