DUBAI, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Shareholders of National Bank of Abu Dhabi NBAD.AD and First Gulf Bank FGB.AD will both meet on Dec. 7 to approve the merging of the two Abu Dhabi-based banks, according to separate statements to the emirate's bourse.

The pair announced in July that their boards had approved the tie-up, which will create one of the largest banks in the Middle East and Africa with assets of around $175 billion. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N19P02J

(Reporting by David French; Editing by Richard Pullin) ((davidj.french@thomsonreuters.com; +971 4 362 5864; Reuters Messaging: davidj.french.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))