Commercial Bank of Dubai delivers record FY2025 net profit before tax of AED 3,844 million; with strong growth underpinned by net loans exceeding AED 100 billion

Dubai, UAE, 21 January 2026: Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) today announced record financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025, achieving an exceptional milestone of 22 consecutive quarters of net profit growth - a record unmatched by any other bank in the UAE over the same period - and surpassing a historic milestone with net loans of over AED 100 billion, supporting the growth of UAE individuals and businesses.

 

CBD recorded net profit before tax of AED 3,844 million, an increase of 15.6% compared to the prior year, while net profit after tax rose to AED 3.5 billion, up 15.5% year-on-year. The Bank achieved a record net profit before tax of AED 1 billion in Q4 2025, underscoring its strength and consistency of performance. The Bank also achieved a top-tier return on equity (ROE) of 22.15% after tax, an increase of 75 bps.

 

Dr. Bernd van Linder, Chief Executive Officer of CBD, said achieving net profit growth for 22 consecutive quarters and recording net loans of over AED 100 billion are significant achievements that underline the bank's robust fundamentals. 'We achieved consistent results over the past five years, despite global headwinds, demonstrating the strength of our strategy to drive sustained growth and long-term value creation for all our stakeholders.'

 

He added: 'The FY2025 results highlight disciplined and high-quality execution as we continued to focus on being customer-centric, driving all-round digital transformation and empowering national talent. I thank the Board Members, our team, customers, partners and shareholders for their continued support. In 2026, we will remain committed to empowering our customers with seamless, secure and personalised digital financial experiences, while contributing to the UAE's economic transformation and global ambition.'

 

 

CBD's strong FY2025 results were driven by sustained lending momentum, enhanced customer engagement, and a strong national operating environment. The Bank's operating income increased 7.8% over FY2024 to AED 5,919 million, attributed to an increase in Net Interest Income by 9.3% led by strong growth in loans and CASA, and 4.5% growth in Non-Funded Income.

 

Operating expenses were AED 1,554 million, up 10.8% as the Bank continued to invest in digitisation, technology, governance and regulatory compliance. The cost-to-income ratio remained strong at 26.25%, underlining disciplined operating efficiency as the Bank enhanced its capabilities and growth initiatives.

Growth in assets and customer deposits

The Bank's total assets stood at AED 160.3 billion as at 31 December 2025, up 14.4% from AED 140.2 billion at year-end 2024. Gross loans and advances increased 7.2% to AED 105.4 billion, with net loans and advances rising 8.6% to AED 101 billion.

 

Customer deposits increased 14.1% to AED 111.4 billion, with low-cost CASA balances comprising 49% of total deposits. The loan-to-deposit ratio improved to 90.75%, and the advances to stable resources ratio was 83.14%, well below the UAE Central Bank regulatory ceiling, showcasing a prudent and robust liquidity profile.

 

CBD's asset quality also further strengthened in 2025. The non-performing loan ratio declined to 3.58% from 4.35% at the end of 2024. The Bank's capital position remained strong, with a capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 15.52%, a Tier 1 ratio of 14.39% and Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 12.54%, all well above minimum regulatory requirements.

 

 

CBD continued to accelerate its transformation agenda, leveraging digital technologies and partnerships to enhance customer experience across all segments. The Bank recorded its highest SME Net Promoter Score in more than three years, supported by improvements in onboarding and service delivery.

 

In December 2025, CBD became the first bank in the UAE to completely activate Open Finance at scale, establishing CBD as a market leader in this initiative and reinforcing our role as an early adopter of next-generation financial infrastructure. The Bank further supported national initiatives such as Aani payments, UAE Central Bank Digital Currency, the Financial Infrastructure Transformation Programme and the Xport Xponential Programme by Etihad Credit Insurance, reinforcing its alignment with the UAE's vision for financial innovation and inclusion.

 

CBD's strong credit profile was reiterated with Fitch Ratings assigning an A- rating with a 'Stable' outlook and Moody's maintaining a Baa1 rating with a 'Stable' outlook, reflecting its sound capitalisation, balanced funding mix and prudent risk management.

 

CBD's leadership in innovation was recognised through multiple regional awards, including Best Digital Bank for Trade Service Finances in the UAE and Middle East; Best Hybrid Cloud Implementation Award and Excellence in Digital Banking.