Global Finance Names National Bank of Abu Dhabi and National Bank of Kuwait the World’s Safest Banks 2013 in the Middle East and Africa
New York, August 26, 2013 - Global Finance magazine has named the Safest Banks in the Middle East and Africa in an exclusive survey to be published in the October 2013 issue. Winners were selected through an evaluation of long-term credit ratings—from Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch—and total assets of the 500 largest banks worldwide.
National Bank of Abu Dhabi and National Bank of Kuwait lead the rankings in the Middle East and Africa, and have the same credit ratings. They are ranked here according to their assets.
Saudi Arabian banks perform very well again this year, taking six of the top ten positions. The full report evaluates the safest banks in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, Latin America and Australasia.
“Bank counterparty assessment has become an intrinsic part of the job of a CFO and treasurer,” says Global Finance publisher Joseph D. Giarraputo. “ Global Finance ’s Safest Banks ranking provides an objective tool for benchmarking and analysis of regional banks.”
| Rank | Group Name | Country |
| 1 | National Bank of Abu Dhabi | UAE |
| 2 | National Bank of Kuwait | Kuwait |
| 3 | Qatar National Bank | Qatar |
| 4 | Samba Financial Group | Saudi Arabia |
| 5 | National Commercial Bank | Saudi Arabia |
| 6 | Al-Rajhi Bank | Saudi Arabia |
| 7 | Riyad Bank | Saudi Arabia |
| 8 | Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank | UAE |
| 9 | Banque Saudi Fransi | Saudi Arabia |
| 10 | SABB | Saudi Arabia |
Ratings current as of July 30, 2013