Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) — Key Facts
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Listed On | Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) |
| Major Shareholder | Abu Dhabi Investment Council (~60.6%) |
| Total Assets | ~AED 590+ billion (2023) |
| Type | Commercial Bank (Conventional) |
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is one of the UAE’s three largest banks by total assets, serving retail, corporate, and government clients with a full range of banking and financial products. Listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi government, ADCB plays a central role in the UAE’s banking system and is a key financier of the emirate’s major development projects.
Who Owns Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank?
ADCB is majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), a sovereign wealth arm of the Abu Dhabi government, which holds approximately 60.6% of the bank’s shares. ADIC is responsible for managing Abu Dhabi’s investment portfolio and holds stakes in key financial institutions including ADCB. The remaining approximately 39.4% of ADCB’s shares are publicly traded on the ADX and held by institutional and retail investors from the UAE and internationally.
History and Background
ADCB was formed in 1985 through the merger of three Abu Dhabi banks: Emirates Commercial Bank, Federal Commercial Bank, and Khaleej Commercial Bank. It has since grown through organic expansion and acquisitions. The most significant recent milestone was ADCB’s merger with Union National Bank (UNB) in May 2019, and the simultaneous acquisition of Al Hilal Bank (which operates as a standalone Islamic bank subsidiary), creating one of the UAE’s largest banking groups by assets and customer base.
Business Segments
ADCB operates through Consumer Banking (personal accounts, mortgages, credit cards, personal finance), Wholesale Banking (corporate lending, trade finance, project finance, treasury), and Private Banking & Wealth Management. The bank’s Islamic banking arm offers Sharia-compliant products through the Al Hilal Bank brand. ADCB operates across the UAE, with branches also in India, the UK, and Jersey.