Emirates NBD has claimed the top spot in the first-ever Evident AI Index for Banks in the Middle East and Africa, placing it ahead of 24 of the region's largest financial institutions across nine countries.
The Evident AI Index is an independent, data-driven benchmark that evaluates banks across four pillars: Talent, Innovation, Leadership and Transparency. Emirates NBD's first-place finish reflects strong performance across all four categories, with Evident's CEO Alexandra Mousavizadeh highlighting the bank's highest AI talent volume among Middle Eastern banks, particularly in software implementation and product management.
Group CEO Shayne Nelson described the ranking as a reflection of the bank's long-term commitment to embedding AI as a core business capability rather than a standalone technology initiative.
"Our approach is to embed AI deep within our culture, ensuring our technology directly empowers our workforce and simplifies the banking experience for our customers,"
he said.
The recognition aligns with Emirates NBD's broader digital transformation strategy, which integrates AI across its business operations, customer programmes and workforce development. It also mirrors the UAE's national agenda on AI adoption and digital innovation.
Mousavizadeh noted that the bank's early investments in AI talent are beginning to translate into measurable deployment at scale, with particularly strong outcomes reported in HR optimisation.
The Evident AI Index covers the largest banks across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco, Israel, Egypt and Jordan. Emirates NBD's lead position in this inaugural edition signals a clear competitive advantage as AI reshapes the future of banking across the MENAT region.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
