Resilience in a shifting environment
In this report, KPMG professionals analyze the financial results of 51 listed commercial banks across the GCC, comprising selected leading banks from the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The report summarizes selected financial results and key performance indicators for the year ended 31 December 2025 and compares them with the prior year.
The 2025 edition, titled Resilience in a shifting environment, highlights the sector’s ability to deliver growth and stability amid evolving regional and global conditions. Key financial trends include:
- Double-digit asset growth
- Strong profitability growth
- Higher credit provisions, reflecting a cautious risk stance
- Stable non-performing loan ratios
- Strong capital adequacy levels
- Improved returns on equity
- Efficiency gains through a lower cost-to-income ratio
- Continued investor confidence, reflected in higher share prices
GCC banks have once again demonstrated resilience, navigating margin pressures and broader uncertainty while maintaining stability and supporting economic activity. The sector’s adaptability, disciplined leadership and continued investment in innovation reinforces its role as a key enabler of regional progress. Banks also continue to advance their digital transformation agendas, respond to ESG priorities and explore emerging technologies that are reshaping banking across the region.
Against a backdrop of the recently elevated geopolitical uncertainty, GCC banks are likely to remain focused on resilience, liquidity, capital discipline and risk management, while pursuing measured growth opportunities. Our key predictions for 2026 include:
- Active management of non-performing loans as asset quality comes under pressure
- Prudent balance sheet growth, supported by strong sovereign buffers but moderated by geopolitical risks
- Healthy net interest margins, with some pressure possible if funding costs increase
- Sustained cost discipline to help protect profitability in a more volatile environment
- Greater emphasis on ESG as banks continue to align with evolving sustainability priorities, and growing regulatory requirements
- Accelerated adoption of AI to improve efficiency and strengthen risk monitoring
- Further consolidation as banks seek greater scale and resilience
- Growing use of Reg-tech to support compliance and agility in a changing regulatory environment
We hope this report provides useful analysis and pragmatic insights for banking leaders, investors and other stakeholders across the region to help drive banking strategies and shape the industry across the region.
GCC listed banks’ results - Resilience in a shifting environment
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