• Deposits grew at a faster rate than loans
  • Liquidity remained stable, despite reduced loan to deposit (LDR) ratios 

Dubai :– Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) today released its latest UAE Banking Pulse for Q2 2018. The report shows that UAE banks’ profitability continued to increase, with operating income and net interest margins significantly higher than in the previous quarter.

Comparing the data of the 10 largest listed banks in the UAE, Alvarez & Marsal’s UAE Banking Pulse report looks at the second quarter of 2018 (Q2 2018) against the first quarter (Q1 2018), identifying the prevailing trends throughout the intervening period.

Key trends for Q2 2018 were as follows:

  • Deposits grew faster (2.18 percent) than loans & advances (L&A) (1.75 percent), resulting in a slightly reduced average loan-to-deposit (LDR) ratio for Q2 2018. Despite this, eight of the top 10 banks remained in the LDR “green zone” of between 80 percent and 100 percent. Four of the top banks grew their L&A market share, and two banks increased market share overall (L&A and deposits).
  • Operating income growth increased significantly (by 2.25 percent) in Q2 2018, reversing the 1.37 percent decline of the previous quarter. This was driven by an increase in interest income, which grew by 3.11 percent in Q2 2018, the result of the increase in L&A and – more importantly – an increase in yield on credit (YoC).
  • Net interest margin (NIM) again increased (by 2.61 percent), at a higher rate than in Q1 2018 (2.55 percent). The increase was driven by a rise in YoC, which more than offset a parallel increase in cost of funds. Only three of the top 10 banks reported a decrease in NIM.
  • However, the increase in operating income was not sufficient to reduce the Cost-to-Income (C/I) ratio, which at 33.0 percent was 70 basis points (bps) higher than in Q1 2018 (32.3 percent). An increased level of Sales & General and Administrative Expenses was the main reason for the increase.
  • Cost of risk was marginally lower (from 0.81 percent in Q1 2018 to 0.78 percent in Q2 2018), as banks continued to reduce their loan loss provisions.
  • Return on equity (ROE) increased due to a decrease in cost of risk and an increase in operating income, despite a slight decrease to return on assets (ROA). Seven out of 10 banks showed an increase in ROE Average Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) increased to 16.33 per cent (compared with 15.6 per- cent in Q1 2018).

Alvarez & Marsal’s report uses independently-sourced published market data and 16 different metrics to assess the banks’ key performance areas including size, liquidity, income, operating efficiency, risk, profitability and capital.

The country’s 10 largest listed banks analysed in A&M’s UAE Banking Pulse are First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Emirates NBD (ENBD), Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), Mashreq Bank (Mashreq), Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Union National Bank (UNB), Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah (RAK), and the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF).

OVERVIEW

The table below sets out the key metrics, with the underlying theme being an increase in profitability, and stable liquidity.

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A&M Managing Director in the firm’s Strategic Performance Improvement Practice Dr. Saeeda Jaffar served as lead author. A&M Managing Directors Asad Ahmed and Neil Hayward, who specialize in turnaround and restructuring, co-authored the report.

Dr. Saeeda Jaffar commented: “The second quarter saw good, steady performance by the UAE’s leading banks, with no major surprises or causes for concern. The most striking feature of the sector’s overall performance was the rise in operating income, the result of increased lending activity and a higher return on credit. This would point to increasing levels of confidence being displayed by the banks, which is also reflected by the reduced cost of risk, continuing the trend we have seen since the beginning of 2018. Overall, the sector continues to perform well. Profitability is maintaining its upward trend while growing returns on equity and liquidity remain at healthy levels. It has been a good first half for the sector and signs indicate these trends will continue in the second half.”

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About Alvarez & Marsal

Companies, investors and government entities around the world turn to Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) when conventional approaches are not enough to activate change and achieve results.

Privately held since 1983, A&M is a leading global professional services firm that delivers business performance improvement, turnaround management and advisory services to organizations seeking to transform operations, catapult growth and accelerate results through decisive action. Our senior professionals are experienced operators, world-class consultants and industry veterans who leverage the firm's restructuring heritage to help leaders turn change into a strategic business asset, manage risk and unlock value at every stage.

When action matters, find us at www.alvarezandmarsal.com . Follow A&M on LinkedIn , Twitter and Facebook.

© Press Release 2018

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