Amman and Abu Dhabi – September 24, 2026 -- Bank al Etihad, one of Jordan's largest banks, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Abu Dhabi-based Ethmar International Holding (EIH) and other UAE investors to establish a new bank in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), marking the Jordanian lender's first entry into the United Arab Emirates.
New ADGM entity to operate under a Category 1 banking license
The proposed bank will hold a Category 1 banking license within ADGM and fall under the supervision of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), while also complying with regulatory requirements in both the UAE and Jordan. The launch remains subject to obtaining all necessary official approvals.
Platform targets cross-border corporate and institutional clients
The ADGM-based bank is designed to give Bank al Etihad an integrated platform for facilitating cross-border business and supporting transactions across markets outside the UAE mainland. The bank intends to use the venture to build relationships with new corporate, institutional and high-net-worth clients across the region.
Move extends Bank al Etihad's footprint beyond Jordan and Iraq
The UAE entry follows a string of expansion moves by Bank al Etihad, including its 2017 acquisition of a controlling stake in Safwa Islamic Bank, a 2024 expansion into Iraq, a 2025 merger with INVESTBANK, and the acquisition of Egyptian Arab Land Bank's Jordan operations. The bank now holds close to JOD 11 billion in total assets and approximately JOD 1 billion in total equity.
Partnership pairs five decades of Jordanian banking with Abu Dhabi capital
Bank al Etihad, which has operated since 1987, is positioning the ADGM platform as a vehicle to diversify its product lines and revenue streams while deepening ties to regional and international markets. Ethmar International Holding, an Abu Dhabi investment holding group focused on cross-sector partnerships, joins the venture alongside other UAE-based investors.