BNP Paribas (Paribas) resulted from the merger of Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) and Banque Paribas. With over 100,000 employees, the French-based group reported EUR 32.09 bil (USD 39.4 bil) for 2005. It has been present in the MENA region for more than three decades, Paribas provides international retail and corporate services, investment banking services and asset management to cater for the needs of its clients. While Bahrain is the regional center in the gulf region, the bank also has operations in North Africa, especially in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco through BNP Paribas Cairo, UBCI and BMCI respectively. In Lebanon, BNP operates through its subsidiary Banque Nationale de Paris Intercontinentale.

In 2005, Paribas received the distinguishing Euromoney award for Best Project Finance House in the Middle East region. The bank was one of the first three foreign banks to get a license to operate in Kuwait. It is one of the lead managers in the 2006 Lebanese Government Eurobond five years maturity USD 257.6 millions T-bills issue. It was selected financial adviser by Saudi Arabian Airlines to over watch its 2006 privatization process.

In 2005, more than 10% of Paribas' private banking international offshore business was generated from the GCC countries and Lebanon. The bank plans to expand its business in the region by introducing new real estate funds, fixed income and Islamic products and opening new branches. Plans are already on their way to open a new branch in Jeddah and another in the industrial part of United Arab Emirates by the end of 2006.