Middle East's best bank for financing 2020: First Abu Dhabi Bank

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the number one bank for loans in the Mena region, with a 15.5% market share, arranging some 160 transactions including $5 billion of syndicated loans from April 2019 to March 2020. But it has also won numerous debt capital markets mandates across the region. 

“We can go toe to toe with anyone on Mena loans and bonds,” says Andy Cairns, head of global corporate finance. “We have been deliberate in investing across our structuring, syndicate, sales and trading functions to offer a joined-up regional proposition complementary to the international bulge bracket.

“Our DCM business remains a key strength,” he continues. “The first question an international investor will ask of a Mena new issue is how big is demand from the region? Delivering this regional demand is what FAB specializes in.”

A recent reorganization of the investment banking platform has seen the consolidation of bonds and loans into a single flow business unit. Recent deals of note include a $428 million term loan for Telecom Egypt and a $1.3