Emirates NBD, FAB and Mashreq Top GCC Rankings for AI Adoption

UAE-based lenders Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), and Mashreq have emerged as the most AI-mature financial institutions in the GCC. The latest industry rankings indicate that these three banks lead the regional sector in integrating artificial intelligence across their operational and customer-facing frameworks. UAE Banks Dominate Regional Index According to the Evident AI Index, which benchmarks global banks on their AI capabilities, Emirates NBD secured the highest position among GCC lenders. First Abu Dhabi Bank and Mashreq followed closely, outperforming other regional peers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The evaluation focuses on four critical pillars: talent acquisition, innovation through research, leadership commitment, and transparency in AI ethics. The rankings highlight a significant concentration of AI talent and investment within the UAE banking sector. Emirates NBD, in particular, has prioritized internal research and development, while FAB and Mashreq have scaled their digital infrastructure to support generative AI and predictive analytics. These technologies are currently utilized to automate credit scoring, detect fraudulent transactions, and personalize…