Emirates NBD
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA major UAE banking group created in 2007 through the merger of Emirates Bank International and National Bank of Dubai.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Emirates NBD is a major banking group headquartered in Dubai and one of the prominent institutions in the United Arab Emirates banking sector. The group provides retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, investment banking, Islamic finance, private banking, wealth management, treasury services and related financial products. Its customer-facing businesses include conventional Emirates NBD banking, Emirates NBD Islamic and the digitally oriented Liv brand. The group traces its institutional origins to National Bank of Dubai, established on 19 June 1963 by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. National Bank of Dubai was the first national bank founded in the United Arab Emirates. The modern Emirates NBD group was formed when National Bank of Dubai merged with Emirates Bank International in March 2007. Its shares began trading on the Dubai Financial Market on 16 October 2007. Emirates NBD expanded beyond its UAE base through acquisitions, branch development and correspondent relationships. Its international footprint has included Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey, Singapore and the United Kingdom. In Egypt, the group acquired the Egyptian assets of BNP Paribas in 2013 and operates through Emirates NBD Egypt. In Turkey, it agreed in 2018 to acquire DenizBank from Sberbank; the transaction was completed in 2019 and gave the group a substantial banking platform in the Turkish market. The bank also entered Saudi Arabia earlier than many UAE peers, receiving a licence to operate there in 2004. In the UAE, the group has built a broad financial-services franchise spanning consumer accounts, cards, mortgages, personal lending, business banking, cash management, trade finance, capital-markets services and Islamic banking. Its digital strategy has included mobile and online banking investment and the creation of Liv, a digital banking proposition aimed particularly at younger and digitally engaged customers. Emirates NBD Skywards connects selected banking products with the Emirates airline loyalty ecosystem. The group has also used acquisitions and disposals to adjust its portfolio. It acquired Dubai Bank in 2012 and sold its ordinary-shareholding position in BankIslami Pakistan to JS Bank in 2022. Emirates NBD is listed on the Dubai Financial Market under the symbol ENBD. Its scale, UAE base, government-linked institutional history, regional subsidiaries and technology investment make it one of the most visible banking brands in the Gulf and the wider Middle East.
History
Emirates NBD's history combines the development of Dubai's banking sector with the regionalization of a modern UAE financial group. Its oldest predecessor, National Bank of Dubai, was founded on 19 June 1963 by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. It was the first national bank established in the United Arab Emirates and became closely associated with the economic growth of Dubai. Emirates Bank International was another important UAE banking institution and, before the merger, provided a second large domestic platform. National Bank of Dubai and Emirates Bank International merged in March 2007. The transaction created Emirates NBD, a new banking group with the scale to compete across retail, corporate, investment and Islamic banking. The group's shares were listed on the Dubai Financial Market on 16 October 2007, giving the combined institution a public-market identity under the ENBD ticker. The bank subsequently pursued a combination of domestic consolidation and international expansion. In December 2012 it acquired Dubai Bank, strengthening its position in the local market. In 2013 it acquired the Egyptian assets of BNP Paribas, creating the foundation of its Egyptian subsidiary and extending the group into North Africa. Saudi Arabia had already become part of the group's international strategy: Emirates NBD was the first UAE-based bank to receive a licence to operate in the Kingdom, in 2004. The most significant later international transaction was the acquisition of DenizBank. Emirates NBD agreed in 2018 to buy the Turkish bank from Sberbank, and the transaction was completed in July 2019. DenizBank gave the group a substantial presence in Turkey and broadened its exposure to a large regional banking market. The group also maintained operations or representative activities in India, Singapore and the United Kingdom. In India, it continued developing its network and in 2021 announced plans for additional branches in Gurugram and Chennai following regulatory approval. Portfolio management has included divestments as well as acquisitions. In October 2022, Emirates NBD sold its ordinary shares in BankIslami Pakistan to JS Bank. The transaction illustrated the group's willingness to reshape non-core or minority holdings while concentrating on its principal markets and operating businesses. Alongside geographic expansion, Emirates NBD developed a multi-brand and multi-channel model. Its conventional retail bank serves mass and affluent customers, while Emirates NBD Islamic provides Sharia-compliant products. Liv was created as a digital banking proposition, reflecting the group's effort to attract customers through mobile-first services. Emirates NBD Skywards links banking benefits with the Emirates airline loyalty programme. These offerings sit alongside corporate banking, treasury, investment banking, wealth management and private-banking activities. Today, Emirates NBD is an active listed banking group based in Dubai. Its identity is rooted in the UAE but its business is regional and international. The group competes through balance-sheet scale, a broad product range, subsidiaries in important Middle Eastern markets, Islamic-finance expertise and continued investment in digital customer service.
- 2022
BankIslami Pakistan stake disposal
[1]Emirates NBD sold its ordinary shares in BankIslami Pakistan to JS Bank.
- 2019
DenizBank acquisition completed
[1]The acquisition of Turkey's DenizBank from Sberbank was completed in July.
- 2013
Egyptian expansion
[1]The group acquired BNP Paribas's assets in Egypt.
- 2012
Dubai Bank acquisition
[1]Emirates NBD acquired Dubai Bank.
- 2007
Emirates NBD is formed
[1]National Bank of Dubai merged with Emirates Bank International in March to form Emirates NBD.
- 2007
Dubai Financial Market listing
[1]Emirates NBD shares were officially listed on the Dubai Financial Market on 16 October.
- 2004
Saudi Arabian banking licence
[1]The bank became the first UAE-based bank to receive a licence to operate in Saudi Arabia.
- 1963
National Bank of Dubai is founded
[1]National Bank of Dubai was established on 19 June as the first national bank founded in the United Arab Emirates.
Products and positioning
A large, diversified UAE banking group combining a domestic universal-bank franchise with regional expansion, Islamic finance and digital banking capabilities.
Retail banking
Emirates NBD Retail Banking
The core consumer franchise offers accounts, deposits, payment cards, personal finance, mortgages, vehicle finance and digital banking. It serves everyday banking customers as well as affluent segments and is distributed through branches, contact centres and online and mobile channels.
Islamic banking
Emirates NBD Islamic
Emirates NBD Islamic provides Sharia-compliant alternatives across consumer, business and wealth products. Its range is positioned as an Islamic-finance offering within the wider Emirates NBD group rather than as a separate independent banking group.
Digital banking
Liv
Liv is the group's digital banking brand, designed around mobile onboarding, app-based account management, payments and personal-finance services. It represents Emirates NBD's effort to reach digitally native and younger customers with a less branch-dependent proposition.
Loyalty-linked banking
Emirates NBD Skywards
Emirates NBD Skywards links selected banking products and customer benefits with Emirates Skywards, the loyalty programme associated with Emirates and flydubai. The proposition uses travel rewards to differentiate cards and selected retail banking relationships.
Corporate banking
Corporate and Institutional Banking
The corporate and institutional franchise serves companies, financial institutions and government-related entities with lending, transaction banking, trade finance, cash management, treasury, structured finance and capital-markets services.
Wealth management
Private Banking and Wealth Management
The group provides investment, advisory, portfolio and wealth-planning services for affluent and high-net-worth customers. These activities complement its retail and corporate franchises and extend the relationship beyond deposits and lending.
Brand decisions
2022
Dispose of BankIslami Pakistan sharesStrategyBackground
The group adjusted its portfolio of international holdings.
Action taken
Emirates NBD sold 86,316,964 ordinary shares of BankIslami Pakistan to JS Bank.
Aftermath
The disposal reduced Emirates NBD's holding in the Pakistani bank.
2018
Agree to acquire DenizBankM&ABackground
Emirates NBD pursued a major expansion of its regional banking footprint through Turkey.
Action taken
The group agreed to buy DenizBank from Sberbank.
Aftermath
The deal was completed in July 2019 and made DenizBank a significant Turkish platform within the group.
2013
Acquire BNP Paribas assets in EgyptM&ABackground
The transaction provided a route into Egypt's banking market.
Action taken
Emirates NBD acquired all of BNP Paribas's assets in Egypt.
Aftermath
The acquired platform became the basis for the group's Egyptian banking operations.
2012
Acquire Dubai BankM&ABackground
Dubai Bank was available for acquisition as the UAE banking sector underwent consolidation.
Action taken
Emirates NBD acquired Dubai Bank in December 2012.
Aftermath
The transaction added Dubai Bank's operations to Emirates NBD's domestic platform.
2007
Merge National Bank of Dubai with Emirates Bank InternationalM&ABackground
The two major UAE banking institutions sought to create a larger domestic banking group.
Action taken
They combined in March 2007 under the Emirates NBD name.
Aftermath
The resulting group was listed on the Dubai Financial Market later in the same year.
Recent events
- 2022
Emirates NBD sells BankIslami Pakistan shares to JS Bank[1]
M&A
The bank sold 86,316,964 ordinary shares of BankIslami Pakistan to JS Bank.
- 2021
Emirates NBD expands its Indian branch plans[1]
Other
The bank announced plans for two additional Indian branches in Gurugram and Chennai after receiving approval from the Reserve Bank of India.
- 2019
DenizBank transaction is completed[1]
M&A
The acquisition of DenizBank was completed in July 2019, adding a major Turkish banking subsidiary to the group.
- 2018
Emirates NBD agrees to acquire DenizBank[1]
M&A
Emirates NBD agreed to purchase DenizBank from Russia's Sberbank, expanding its presence in Turkey.
- 2013
Emirates NBD acquires BNP Paribas assets in Egypt[1]
M&A
The group acquired the Egyptian assets of BNP Paribas, establishing a larger operating platform in Egypt.
- 2012
Emirates NBD acquires Dubai Bank[1]
M&A
The group acquired Dubai Bank as part of the consolidation of Dubai's banking sector.
- 2007
National Bank of Dubai and Emirates Bank International merge to create Emirates NBD[1]
M&A
The two UAE banking institutions combined in March 2007, creating the Emirates NBD group.
- 2007
Emirates NBD shares begin trading on the Dubai Financial Market[1]
Other
The bank's shares were officially listed on the Dubai Financial Market on 16 October 2007.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/emirates-nbd · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled