The Bank closed the year with net profit of US$50.3 million, after deduction of taxation charge implemented in Bahrain effective January 2025. The net profit for the year before tax and zakah grew by 13% (2025: $59.5 million vs. 2024: $52.7 million). The robust result reflects the growth in core business income, compensating for continuing market challenges characterised by geopolitical uncertainty and declining profit rate environment. The bank's total assets reached $3.3 billion, growth of 14.3% on year-on-year while it continues to maintain healthy capital ratios.
Bank ABC Islamic, received several prestigious industry awards, including Best Sukuk House in Bahrain by Euromoney in 2025. This award reflects the Bank's continued excellence in structuring, arranging, and distributing Sukuk transactions, as well as its growing prominence in the regional Islamic finance landscape. The award is one among a total of nine award titles the Bank won in 2025.
Key Performance Highlights
- Net profit of US$50.3 million compared to $52.3 million in 2024. Net profit before tax and zakah of $59.5 million compared to $52.7 million in 2024.
- Total Operating income after profit on murabaha and other payables and before attribution to quasi-equity stood at US$184.7 million, 3.3% higher than last year, while net income attributable to quasi-equity increased by 4.3%.
- Operating expenses of US$10.1 million, 26.9% lower compared to US$13.8 million for last year.
- The bank's capital base remains strong with a capital adequacy ratio of 40.15%.
Commenting on the results, Mr. Hammad Hassan, Managing Director of Bank ABC Islamic said, “2025 was another strong year for the Bank, that has been growing steadily on a year-on-year basis. During 2025 Bahrain implemented the domestic minimum top-up tax (DMTT), which resulted in a tax charge of $8.7 million for the year. This was the first year in which tax applied to the Bank. The Bank recorded net profit of $50.3 million. However, the income before tax and zakah increased to $59.5 million, compared to $ 52.7 million in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of approximately 13%. The improvement in pre-tax profitability was driven by strong operating income growth, supported by higher income from core client business and investments, a significant increase in fees and commission income, disciplined cost management, and improved credit performance reflected in net reversal of expected credit losses.
Our 2025 results demonstrate the underlying strength of our business model, with double digit growth in pre-tax profitability and continued focus on income diversification, efficiency, and asset quality.
We have also been recognized in 2025 by Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards as the Best Sukuk House in Bahrain and also received 8 different awards from IFN (Islamic Finance News) that recognized us on various achievements, including the award of Best Islamic Corporate Bank in Bahrain.
We look forward to continued resilience in performance in 2026, Inshallah.
Business Performance (three-months period):
- Net profit for the fourth quarter was US$10.9 million compared to US$14.4 million reported in the fourth quarter of last year.
- Allowances for credit losses for the fourth quarter were a charge of US$2.1 million, compared to a reversal of US$ 0.7 million in the same period of last year.
- Operating expenses were US$2.7 million, compared to US$2.6 million for the same period of last year.
Business Performance (Full Year):
- Net profit of US$50.3 million compared to $52.3 million in 2024.
- Total Operating income after profit on murabaha and other payables and before attribution to quasi-equity stood at US$184.7 million, 3.3% higher than last year, while net income attributable to quasi-equity increased by 4.3%.
- Allowances for credit losses for the year were a reversal of US$0.5 million compared to US$1.4 million charge reported last year.
- Operating expenses of US$10.1 million, 26.9% lower compared to US$13.8 million for last year. Adjusting for the extraordinary one-off charge, expenses were 2.7% higher than last year.
Balance Sheet:
- ABC Islamic Bank's total assets stood at US$3.274 billion as of December 31, 2025, compared to US$2.865 billion at 2024 year-end.
- Investments were at US$1.5 billion, compared to US$1.3 billion at 2024 year-end.
- Murabaha receivables, Ijarah and Musharaka investment were at US$1,700 million, compared to US$1,550 million at 2024 year-end.
- Shareholders' equity on December 31, 2025, stood at US$383 million, compared to US$364 million at 2024 year-end.
- The bank's capital base remains strong with a capital adequacy ratio of 40.15%, predominantly Tier 1, which totalled 39.65%.
Hammad Hassan
Managing Director of Bank ABC Islamic