RIYADH: Saudi Aramco has retained its position as the Middle East’s most valuable brand for a seventh consecutive year. The state oil giant strengthened its market presence despite volatile crude prices and geopolitical conflicts, solidifying its leadership.
According to Brand Finance, Saudi Aramco’s brand value soared by 14 percent year on year, reaching an impressive $47.3 billion. This growth was significantly supported by increased oil production, following the easing of OPEC+ output cuts, alongside the company’s continuous strategic expansion.
The energy firm continues to maintain strong investment-grade credit ratings from major agencies, reflecting its substantial operational scale and vast hydrocarbon reserves. Notably, the company holds an A+ rating from Fitch Ratings and an Aa3 rating from Moody’s Ratings, underscoring its financial robustness.
“Saudi Aramco’s growth was supported by increased production, with output rising to around 10 million barrels per day between April and the third quarter of 2025,” Brand Finance stated, highlighting the company’s operational achievements.
Following Aramco, UAE energy giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) secured second place with a brand value of $21.13 billion. Saudi telecom giant stc ranked third, with its brand valued at $17.6 billion, after successfully expanding its brand beyond traditional telecommunications into high-growth adjacencies, including fintech, cybersecurity, cloud, and IT services in 2025.
The report further detailed Aramco’s broader growth strategy last year, which included significant progress toward its gas production growth target, global retail expansion, the advancement of its petrochemicals strategy, and further innovation in carbon capture technologies.
In a pioneering move in March 2025, Saudi Aramco unveiled the Kingdom’s first direct air capture test unit. This innovative unit is capable of removing 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, marking a crucial step forward in its carbon capture and emissions reduction efforts.
The UAE’s e& and Emirates secured fourth and fifth spots on the list, with their brands valued at $16.35 billion and $10.63 billion, respectively. Qatar National Bank came in sixth, with its brand valued at $10.35 billion.
Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi Bank climbed to the seventh spot, with its brand value increasing by an impressive 30 percent year on year to $9.8 billion.
“This strong performance of Al Rajhi Bank reflects sustained long-term momentum, with its brand value rising 183 percent since 2021, supported by improvements in brand strength and consistent double-digit revenue expansion,” Brand Finance noted, emphasizing the bank’s remarkable trajectory.
Al Rajhi Bank reported a net profit of SR6.75 billion ($1.80 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, representing a significant increase of 14.32 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.
Saudi National Bank secured the eighth spot in the ranking, with its brand valued at $6.2 billion, up 17 percent year on year.
Emirates NBD climbed three places to ninth, with a value of $6.1 billion among regional brands. This growth was driven by expanded lending, robust deposit growth, and higher transaction volumes.
FAB, the UAE’s largest bank by market capitalization and assets, secured the tenth spot on the list with a brand value of $5.5 billion.
Brand Finance calculates brand values using the “Royalty Relief” method, which estimates the value a company would pay to license its brand if it did not own it, providing a comprehensive assessment of brand strength.
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