Union of Arab Banks

The Union of Arab Banks (UAB) is a regional professional association established to connect Arab banks and financial institutions, strengthen cooperation among them, and support the development of banking and finance across the Arab world. It was formed on March 13, 1974, after a meeting of Arab banking and management leaders held under the umbrella of the Arab Administrative Development Organization. Its creation reflected an effort to build a specialized Arab institution operating within the wider network of organizations associated with the Arab League and to give the region’s banking community a common platform for representation, research, training, and dialogue. Headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon, the Union maintains regional offices in Egypt, Sudan, and Jordan, alongside relationships with banking, financial, and economic institutions in other Arab countries. Its membership includes Arab banks, financial institutions, investment institutions, joint Arab-foreign banks, central banks, banking associations, and other related bodies. Membership is divided into active and observer categories. Active members include Arab banking, financial, and investment institutions and qualifying joint Arab-foreign institutions. Observer members include Arab central banks, banking associations, and joint institutions in which the Arab ownership share falls below the threshold for active membership but remains significant. The Union’s core role is institutional rather than commercial. It does not operate as a retail bank or present a conventional consumer product portfolio. Instead, it provides a regional framework for coordinating the interests of its members, encouraging the exchange of banking expertise, and supporting the modernization and development of Arab financial systems. Its activities include research, sector studies, comparative analysis of financial and banking legislation, information services, professional consultations, technical assistance, conferences, seminars, and publications. A major part of the Union’s work is its training and knowledge-sharing program. It organizes banking seminars and professional events intended for bank employees, executives, regulators, and other specialists. These events address current issues affecting Arab and international finance and create opportunities for officials from different banking systems to compare experience and discuss common challenges. The Union also organizes high-level banking and financial conferences, bringing together Arab and international bankers, economists, policymakers, and experts. These gatherings are intended to promote contacts, develop cooperation, and produce recommendations concerning sound banking practices and financial-sector development. The Union also acts as an information and research resource. Its Arab Banking Data Bank is intended to gather and disseminate information about Arab banking and financial institutions, joint Arab-foreign institutions, national banking sectors, and broader regional trends. Its publications include a specialized banking and financial magazine, Ittihad Al Masaref Al Arabiya, as well as research papers, books, studies, and other professional materials. Through these activities, the Union presents itself as a reference point for the Arab banking community and as a channel for communicating sector knowledge. Organizationally, the General Assembly is the Union’s supreme authority and is responsible for broad policies and plans. The Board of Directors serves as the principal executive authority and implements the objectives established by the General Assembly. Board members represent Arab countries with active members, while certain other institutions may participate as observers. The General Secretariat provides the technical and administrative structure, led by the Secretary General and supported by assistant secretaries and professional staff. The Union’s stated long-term purpose is to consolidate relations among members, coordinate their activities, affirm a shared Arab banking identity, and support economic and social development through stronger financial institutions. It therefore occupies a role closer to that of a regional trade association, professional network, research body, and convening institution than a conventional financial-services company. Reference material identifies Mohammed Mahmoud Ahmed El-Etreby as its chairman.

The Union of Arab Banks emerged from an initiative to create a dedicated regional institution for cooperation among Arab banking and financial organizations. On March 13, 1974, a group of Arab banking and management leaders met under the Arab Administrative Development Organization and agreed to establish an Arab banking organization within the broader institutional framework associated with the Arab League. The initiative reflected the need for a common body capable of representing banking interests, exchanging professional knowledge, and encouraging closer financial relations across Arab countries. From its establishment, the Union developed as a membership-based association rather than as a commercial bank. Its objectives included consolidating relations between members, coordinating their activities, emphasizing their shared Arab identity, and promoting the development of banking and financial institutions. The organization also sought to strengthen the contribution of Arab banks to wider economic and social development and to support the formation of more integrated Arab economic and financial practices. Beirut became the Union’s headquarters, and the organization established regional offices in Egypt, Sudan, and Jordan. It also built working relationships with banking associations, financial institutions, central banks, monetary authorities, and other sector bodies in Arab countries and beyond. Its membership structure distinguishes active members from observer members. Active membership is available to qualifying Arab banks, financial institutions, investment institutions, and certain joint Arab-foreign institutions. Observer participation accommodates central banks, banking associations, and other joint institutions that have a meaningful but comparatively smaller Arab ownership share. The Union’s institutional structure consists of the General Assembly, the Board of Directors, and the General Secretariat. The General Assembly brings together representatives of active and observer members and sets the Union’s general policies and plans. The Board of Directors is the highest executive body and is responsible for adopting measures to implement those objectives. Board members are drawn from Arab countries with active members, while representatives of certain central banks, monetary agencies, and joint institutions may attend in an observer capacity. The General Secretariat serves as the technical and administrative engine of the organization, carrying out decisions and managing day-to-day operations. During its development, the Union expanded its role beyond formal representation. It became a source of sector information, comparative research, professional training, and specialist discussion. Its services include responding to requests for documentation, preparing bibliographies and comparative studies, examining banking and financial legislation, supplying experts for professional events, and providing consultations on legal, economic, banking, and financial matters. This service model made the Union a referral institution for banks and other organizations seeking regional knowledge. Seminars became an important part of the Union’s activities. Regular programs for banking personnel created forums for discussing emerging issues, comparing national experience, and improving professional capabilities. The Union also established a conference program aimed at senior banking, financial, and economic leaders. These events bring together Arab and international participants and are designed to encourage direct professional relationships, debate major economic and financial questions, and develop recommendations concerning banking practice. Research and publishing have likewise remained central to the Union’s identity. The Arab Banking Data Bank was developed as a source of information about Arab banks, financial institutions, joint institutions, national banking sectors, and regional trends. The Union’s specialist magazine, Ittihad Al Masaref Al Arabiya, serves as a publication platform for banking and financial analysis, while books, studies, and research papers extend its educational and reference functions. In the present period, the Union continues to operate as a regional banking association headquartered in Lebanon, with offices and institutional relationships across the Arab world. Reference material describes a membership base of more than 300 Arab banking and financial institutions, although membership totals may change over time and should be verified against current Union disclosures. The organization’s continuing purpose is to support cooperation, professional exchange, research, and the development of Arab banking and financial systems.

• 1974

  Union established

  [1]Union of Arab Banksen.wikipedia.org

  Arab banking and management leaders agreed on March 13, 1974, to create the Union of Arab Banks under the wider institutional umbrella associated with the Arab Administrative Development Organization and the Arab League framework.

A regional representative, knowledge platform, and cooperation network for Arab banks and financial institutions. The Union positions itself as a bridge among banking communities, regulators, experts, and international financial institutions, with emphasis on professional development, sector research, dialogue, and coordinated Arab financial-sector development.

• Data and research service

  Arab Banking Data Bank

  A sector information and research resource focused on Arab banking and financial institutions, joint Arab-foreign institutions, national banking sectors, and broader developments in Arab finance. Its intended function is to support research, comparison, reporting, and access to structured information for banking professionals and related institutions.

• Banking and financial publication

  Ittihad Al Masaref Al Arabiya

  The Union’s specialist magazine covering banking, finance, economics, and developments affecting Arab financial institutions. It provides a platform for analytical studies and contributions from Union specialists, bankers, and other experts, and functions as a professional communication channel for the regional banking community.

• Professional education

  Banking seminars

  Training and knowledge-exchange programs for bank employees and financial-sector professionals. The seminars address current banking issues, encourage comparison of experience among Arab institutions, and support the development of professional capabilities and regional training cooperation.

• Conferences and convening

  Arab banking and financial conferences

  High-level conferences that bring together Arab and international bankers, economists, financial experts, and policymakers. The events are designed to discuss important regional and global financial issues, promote institutional contacts, and develop practical recommendations for banking and economic cooperation.

• Professional services

  Research and advisory services

  Research, documentation, comparative legal and financial analysis, expert referrals, technical assistance, and consultations on banking, economic, legal, and financial matters. These services support members and other sector participants seeking regional expertise or comparative information.

1. 1Union of Arab Banksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Union of Arab Banks official websiteuabonline.org