Emirates Islamic
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA UAE-based Islamic bank providing Sharia-compliant retail, business and corporate banking services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Emirates Islamic is a Dubai-based Islamic banking brand serving customers in the United Arab Emirates. Established in 2004, it was created to provide banking and financing products structured according to Sharia principles. The bank serves several customer groups, including individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and larger corporations, and operates as part of Emirates NBD Group. Its offering spans everyday banking, deposits, payment services, consumer finance, business banking, corporate finance, investment-related products and wealth services. The brand's proposition combines Islamic contractual structures with the delivery channels and service model expected of a contemporary commercial bank. Its products are intended to meet requirements such as personal savings, household financing, business working capital and corporate banking facilities while observing Islamic finance principles. Emirates Islamic has positioned digital access as an important part of its customer proposition. In 2019 it announced banking services through WhatsApp, describing the initiative as a first for an Islamic bank. It has also received industry recognition for innovation and digital banking, including the Islamic Finance News award for Most Innovative Islamic Bank in 2019 and Euromoney's 2025 recognition as the world's best Islamic digital bank. These awards indicate the bank's emphasis on technology-led service, although they do not by themselves establish market leadership across every banking category. The bank maintained a physical UAE presence alongside its digital channels. It operated 40 branches in the country as of December 2024 and reported more than 860,000 bank accounts by 2025. Its retail and business propositions include the Emirates Islamic Saadiq range and Emirates Islamic Business Banking. The bank also serves corporate customers through Sharia-compliant facilities, including a reported AED 110 million facility for Middle East Specialised Cables Company in 2026. Emirates Islamic was historically connected with the Dubai Financial Market through its shares. In June 2025, Emirates NBD announced the acquisition of the remaining shares and the bank announced plans to delist from the exchange. This transaction further consolidated Emirates Islamic's position within the Emirates NBD group. The brand remains active in the UAE, with its identity focused on Islamic finance, digital convenience, customer service and the integration of retail, business and corporate banking capabilities.
History
Emirates Islamic was established in Dubai in 2004 to provide banking services aligned with Sharia principles. Its creation took place within the development of the UAE's Islamic finance sector, where banks sought to offer alternatives to conventional interest-based products while serving the same broad household, business and corporate requirements. The bank subsequently became part of Emirates NBD Group and developed as one of Dubai's Islamic banking institutions. The brand's business scope expanded beyond basic deposits. It built propositions for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, covering accounts, consumer and property-related finance, payment products, business services, investment products and corporate facilities. The Emirates Islamic Saadiq range represents its Islamic retail and financing proposition, while Emirates Islamic Business Banking addresses the needs of commercial customers. Technology became a visible part of the bank's development. In April 2019, Emirates Islamic announced banking through WhatsApp, presenting the channel as a first for an Islamic bank. During the same year, the bank received recognition from Islamic Finance News as Most Innovative Islamic Bank and was named Best Islamic Bank in the UAE at the Global Industry Awards. These developments reinforced a public positioning based on innovation alongside Sharia compliance. The bank continued to operate a physical network while expanding digital services. It had 40 UAE branches as of December 2024 and more than 860,000 bank accounts by 2025. Euromoney named it the world's best Islamic digital bank for 2025, adding international recognition to its technology-focused strategy. Ownership and listing arrangements changed in 2025. Emirates NBD acquired all remaining shares in Emirates Islamic, after which the bank announced its delisting from the Dubai Financial Market. The move strengthened the parent group's ownership and reduced the relevance of Emirates Islamic's former public-market status, while the banking brand continued operating for UAE customers. In 2026, Emirates Islamic announced a mobile-app investment service giving customers access to certified physical gold and silver bars. It also helped Middle East Specialised Cables Company obtain Sharia-compliant banking facilities reported at AED 110 million. These developments illustrate the breadth of the bank's later offering, extending from digital retail investment access to structured corporate finance.
- 2026
Digital precious-metals investment service launches
[1]The bank launches a mobile-app service for investing in certified physical gold and silver bars.
- 2025
Remaining shares are acquired and delisting is announced
[1]Emirates NBD acquires all remaining shares and Emirates Islamic announces its delisting from the Dubai Financial Market.
- 2024
UAE branch network reaches 40 locations
[1]The bank operates 40 branches in the United Arab Emirates as of December.
- 2019
WhatsApp banking is announced
[1]Emirates Islamic announces a banking service through WhatsApp, describing the initiative as a first for an Islamic bank.
- 2004
Emirates Islamic is established
[1]The bank is established in Dubai to provide banking services structured according to Sharia principles.
Products and positioning
A UAE Islamic banking brand combining Sharia-compliant retail, business and corporate finance with digital banking and service innovation.
Islamic retail banking
Emirates Islamic Saadiq
The Saadiq proposition groups Sharia-compliant retail banking and financing products for individual customers. It is associated with the bank's effort to provide Islamic alternatives across everyday accounts, savings, consumer finance and related personal banking needs. Specific product structures and eligibility terms can vary by offering and market conditions.
Business banking
Emirates Islamic Business Banking
Emirates Islamic Business Banking serves small and medium-sized enterprises with Sharia-compliant banking and financing services. The proposition is designed around commercial needs such as operating accounts, payments, working-capital support and other business facilities. It complements the bank's retail offering and its larger corporate-banking activities.
Corporate banking
Corporate Sharia-compliant banking facilities
The bank provides structured Islamic banking facilities to corporate customers, including financing and other banking arrangements designed around Sharia principles. Its corporate scope covers larger businesses as well as commercial clients requiring tailored facilities. In 2026, Emirates Islamic helped MESC secure reported facilities worth AED 110 million.
Digital banking · 2019
Digital banking and investment services
Emirates Islamic offers digital access to banking services and has introduced channel-based initiatives such as WhatsApp banking. In 2026, it announced a mobile-app service allowing customers to invest in certified physical gold and silver bars. The digital proposition is a central part of the brand's innovation and convenience positioning.
Brand decisions
2026
Digital precious-metals investment serviceProduct launchBackground
The bank sought to broaden digital investment access for UAE customers.
Action taken
Emirates Islamic launched a mobile-app service for investment in certified physical gold and silver bars.
Aftermath
The service expanded the bank's digital proposition beyond conventional account and financing functions.
2025
Consolidation of ownership and planned DFM delistingM&ABackground
Emirates NBD acquired all remaining shares in Emirates Islamic.
Action taken
Emirates Islamic announced that it would delist from the Dubai Financial Market following the acquisition.
Aftermath
The transaction made Emirates Islamic a more fully controlled group subsidiary and ended its public-market listing presence.
2019
Launch of WhatsApp bankingProduct launchBackground
Customers increasingly expected banks to provide convenient service through familiar mobile communication channels.
Action taken
Emirates Islamic announced banking access through WhatsApp and described the service as a first for an Islamic bank.
Aftermath
The initiative supported the bank's positioning around digital convenience and innovation.
Recent events
- 2026
Emirates Islamic launches digital investment access to certified physical gold and silver[1]
Product launch
The bank launched a mobile-app investment service described as the UAE's first digital service enabling customers to invest in certified physical gold and silver bars.
- 2026
Emirates Islamic provides Sharia-compliant facilities to MESC[1]
Other
The bank helped Middle East Specialised Cables Company secure Sharia-compliant banking facilities reported at AED 110 million.
- 2025
Emirates Islamic named the world's best Islamic digital bank for 2025[1]
Other
Euromoney named Emirates Islamic the world's best Islamic digital bank for 2025.
- 2025
Emirates Islamic announces delisting from the Dubai Financial Market[1]
M&A · Other
Following Emirates NBD's acquisition of all remaining shares, Emirates Islamic announced that it would delist from the Dubai Financial Market.
- 2024
Emirates Islamic operates 40 UAE branches[1]
Other
As of December 2024, the bank operated 40 branches in the United Arab Emirates.
- 2019
Emirates Islamic receives Most Innovative Islamic Bank recognition[1]
Other
Islamic Finance News recognized Emirates Islamic as the Most Innovative Islamic Bank.
- 2019
Emirates Islamic named Best Islamic Bank in the UAE[1]
Other
The bank was named Best Islamic Bank in the UAE at the Global Industry Awards.
- 2019
Emirates Islamic introduces banking through WhatsApp[1]
Product launch · Other
The bank announced a WhatsApp banking service and presented it as the first such service launched by an Islamic bank.
Sources2 sources
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