Arab National Bank

Arab National Bank, commonly known as anb, is a Saudi commercial bank headquartered in Riyadh. It provides banking services to individuals, businesses, institutions and public-sector customers, with activities spanning retail banking, corporate banking and investment-related services. The bank operates a large domestic branch network and has also maintained an international presence through a branch in London. The institution emerged from the Saudi development of Arab Bank's operations. Arab Bank opened a foreign branch in Jeddah in 1949. During the period in which Saudi Arabia transferred foreign-owned banking operations into local ownership, Arab Bank's six Saudi branches were transferred in 1980 to the newly established Arab National Bank. The new bank therefore combined a Saudi ownership structure with historical links to the wider Arab Bank network. An associated service agreement with Arab Bank continued until 1988 and was not renewed. Ownership has included Saudi and Kuwaiti government participation, although those stakes were described as relatively small and later represented approximately 8% of the bank between them in 2002. Arab Bank remains the largest individual shareholder, with a 40% interest, while the balance is held by Saudi shareholders. This structure gives the bank a connection to a regional banking group while retaining a predominantly Saudi shareholder base. Arab National Bank's business scope includes everyday accounts and payment services for retail customers, financing and cash-management services for companies, and investment and treasury-related offerings. Its domestic footprint has been reported at 156 branches in Saudi Arabia, supporting the bank's role as a broad-based national institution rather than a narrowly focused financial specialist. The bank is described as one of the larger banks in Saudi Arabia and among the larger banking institutions in the Middle East. The bank is publicly traded in Saudi Arabia and has been included in regional financial rankings. Reference material reports that Arab National Bank was ranked 18th in Forbes Middle East's 30 Most Valuable Banks 2025 list and 29th in the publication's Top 100 Listed Companies 2025 ranking. Standard & Poor's has also assigned the bank an 'A' rank according to the cited reference material. These rankings and ratings reflect the bank's regional scale and market standing, although the available material does not provide sufficient detail to summarize the underlying methodology or current financial figures. In brand terms, anb presents itself as a comprehensive Saudi banking institution with a national branch network, a broad range of customer segments and a regional heritage connected to Arab Bank. Detailed information on its current chief executive, current product names, revenue, assets, market share and recent strategic initiatives is not established by the supplied sources.

Arab National Bank's institutional history is tied to Arab Bank's early presence in Saudi Arabia. Arab Bank opened a foreign branch in Jeddah in 1949, establishing the precursor operation from which the later Saudi bank developed. At the time, Arab Bank had a pan-Arab orientation and operated across several countries, but changes in Saudi banking policy eventually required foreign-owned banking operations to be transferred into local ownership. In 1979, Arab Bank's Saudi operations were affected by the wider nationalization process involving foreign-owned banks. In 1980, the bank's six Saudi branches were transferred to Arab National Bank, a newly created Saudi institution. This transfer marks the formal beginning of the modern Arab National Bank. The supplied historical material identifies Prince Khalid, a son of Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz, among the bank's founders, but does not provide enough detail to establish a complete founding group or precise governance roles. The early ownership structure included small stakes held by the governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, each described as being approximately 10% in the initial period. These government interests reflected the local ownership framework surrounding the bank's creation. Arab Bank retained a substantial strategic relationship and ultimately became the largest shareholder, holding 40% of Arab National Bank. The remaining ownership was attributed to Saudi shareholders, with the reference describing approximately 5,000 Saudi investors holding the other 60%. By 2002, the Saudi and Kuwaiti governments were reported to own approximately 8% of the bank between them. Arab National Bank maintained a service agreement with Arab Bank after its establishment. That agreement expired in 1988 and was not renewed, marking a separation in operating arrangements even though Arab Bank continued as a major shareholder. The bank later expanded its international reach by opening a branch in London, while its principal operating base and branch network remained in Saudi Arabia. Over time, anb developed into a diversified commercial bank serving retail customers, companies and institutional clients. Its activities have been described as including retail banking, corporate banking and investment services. The bank's reported Saudi network of 156 branches gives it substantial physical distribution within the country. Its regional significance has also been reflected in descriptions placing it among the larger banks in the Middle East. Arab National Bank is listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange. More recent reference material reports regional recognition in Forbes Middle East rankings: 18th among the publication's 30 Most Valuable Banks in 2025 and 29th among its Top 100 Listed Companies in 2025. The same material cites an 'A' rank from Standard & Poor's. The supplied sources do not establish a detailed chronology of leadership changes, product launches, acquisitions, financial performance or current management, so those aspects remain undocumented in this dossier.

1. 2025Forbes Middle East regional rankings

   The bank was reported as 18th among Forbes Middle East's 30 Most Valuable Banks and 29th in its Top 100 Listed Companies ranking.

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2. 1988Service agreement with Arab Bank expires

   The service agreement between Arab National Bank and Arab Bank ended and was not renewed.

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3. 1980Arab National Bank is established

   Arab Bank transferred its six Saudi branches to the newly created Arab National Bank.

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4. 1979Saudi banking nationalization affects foreign-owned operations

   Arab Bank's Saudi operations were drawn into the broader transfer of foreign-owned banking activities into local ownership.

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5. 1949Arab Bank opens a Jeddah branch

   Arab Bank established a foreign branch in Jeddah, creating the Saudi operating predecessor of Arab National Bank.

   Source

A broad-based Saudi commercial bank combining domestic branch coverage with regional Arab Bank heritage and services for retail, corporate and institutional customers.

• Retail bankingConsumer banking

  Arab National Bank's retail banking business serves individual customers through its Saudi branch network and associated banking channels. The supplied material identifies retail banking as a core activity but does not provide a verified list of current account names, card products, digital services or consumer-finance brands.

• Corporate bankingBusiness banking

  Corporate banking is one of the bank's principal business areas. It is intended for companies and institutional customers and may encompass financing, deposits, payments and treasury services, although the supplied references do not document specific product names or eligibility terms.

• Investment servicesInvestment banking

  The bank is described as offering investment services alongside retail and corporate banking. The available references do not specify whether particular offerings are delivered directly by the bank, through a subsidiary or through a separate securities platform.

• 1988Do not renew the Arab Bank service agreementOther

  Arab National Bank had operated under a service agreement with Arab Bank after its formation.

  What changed. The agreement expired in 1988 and was not renewed.

  Aftermath. The end of the agreement separated the banks' service arrangement, although Arab Bank remained Arab National Bank's largest shareholder.

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• 1980Create a locally owned successor to Arab Bank's Saudi branchesStrategy

  Saudi policy was transferring foreign-owned banking operations into local ownership, and Arab Bank's six Saudi branches were affected by that process.

  What changed. The branches were transferred to the newly established Arab National Bank.

  Aftermath. Arab National Bank became the Saudi operating institution, while Arab Bank retained a major ownership interest and the two banks' service agreement later ended in 1988.

  Source

• 2025Arab National Bank included in Forbes Middle East's 30 Most Valuable Banks 2025

  Arab National Bank was reported as ranking 18th in Forbes Middle East's 2025 list of the region's 30 most valuable banks.

  Other
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• 2025Arab National Bank included in Forbes Middle East's Top 100 Listed Companies 2025

  The bank was reported as ranking 29th in Forbes Middle East's 2025 ranking of the region's top listed companies.

  Other
  Source
• Arab National Bank receives an 'A' rank from Standard & Poor's

  The supplied reference describes Arab National Bank as having received an 'A' rank from Standard & Poor's, without specifying the date or the precise rating category.

  Other
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1. Arab National Bank