UAE Bank CEO Hana Al Rostamani Shapes Arab Finance
Come 2026, Hana Al Rostamani runs First Abu Dhabi Bank – biggest in the UAE – with a quiet but firm grip, shifting how banks operate across the region. She tops Forbes Middle East’s power ranking again, marking three years at number one thanks to steady moves behind the scenes. Instead of just traditional banking, she leans into tech-first paths, folding apps and smart systems into everyday services. Branches now work differently, many turning screen-based so customers skip lines. New tools built with artificial intelligence help clients plan money matters without face-to-face meetings. Green energy plays big too – one project after another gets funding under her watch, matching national climate goals. While others talk change, hers is already happening quietly inside accounts, servers, and solar farms.
Starting out in banking during the 1990s, Al Rostamani moved up step by step through jobs tied to risk, then corporate finance, later expanding into global operations until reaching the top role. Since taking charge, she’s held tight control over risks while pushing support for small and midsize businesses, along with building targeted alliances across Asia and Europe. Within FAB, promoting women in finance stands clear – she backs training paths meant to grow leaders, guiding younger Arab women toward higher positions. One thing remains: her influence shows most in quiet consistency.
Beyond the UAE, she speaks at international gatherings about Islamic banking, climate-linked funding, and opening financial access – showing how Arab lenders might earn returns while serving communities. People shaping rules across the region now turn to her when crafting systems for digital money and new financial tech. With nations shifting beyond oil, her leadership proves institutions guided by women can anchor wide economic change.
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