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Emirates NBD’s 2024 Net Profit Rises 7% To $6.3 Billion

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 29, 2025

Emirates NBD has reported a 7% year-on-year increase in its net profit for 2024, reaching $6.3 billion (AED 23 billion). The rise was driven by strong income growth, robust loan performance, and a strategic focus on digital banking and revenue diversification.

Key Highlights

Total Income: Emirates NBD’s total income for 2024 rose by 3% year-on-year, reaching $12 billion (AED 44.1 billion), underpinned by a 10% growth in loans and a stable, low-cost funding mix.
Loan Growth: The bank issued $43.6 billion (AED 160 billion) in new loans, leading to a 16% year-on-year increase in its assets.
Corporate Loans: The lender provided $23.9 billion (AED 88 billion) in new corporate loans, leveraging its optimized regional network. Retail lending also surged by 30%, driven by growth in its Priority and Private banking segments.
Operating Expenses: Operating expenses rose 18% year-on-year, totaling $3.8 billion (AED 13.8 billion).
Earnings Per Share (EPS): EPS grew by 7%, reaching 356 fils in 2024.

Strong Performance Across Business Units

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Emirates Islamic, the bank’s Sharia-compliant arm, achieved a record profit of $762.3 million (AED 2.8 billion). Deposit growth was also notable, with an increase of $22.3 billion (AED 82 billion) in 2024, including a $13.1 billion (AED 48 billion) rise in current and savings accounts. The bank’s international expansion, particularly in Saudi Arabia, contributed to a 57% increase in its loan book, with 21 branches and 62 ATMs.

Digital Transformation

98% of new current accounts were opened via digital channels, with 40% through the mobile app and 58% via assisted tablets.
The bank also saw a ninefold increase in digital wealth transaction volumes in 2024.

Other Noteworthy Achievements

Emirates NBD maintained a one-third market share of UAE credit card spend, with card spending up 18% in 2024.

The bank ranked number one in UAE IPOs and successfully priced over 100 sukuk and bond issues through Emirates NBD Capital.

Ranked sixth on Forbes Middle East’s lists of the 30 Most Valuable Banks 2024 and the Top 100 Listed Companies 2024, Emirates NBD continues to solidify its position as a leading financial institution in the region. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, emphasized the bank’s strategy for growth: “Our international expansion story is one of growth, diversification, and resilience, leveraging our unique proposition to expand our footprint across the MENA region and beyond.”

With a total of $44 billion (AED 160 billion) in assets under management as of January 29, 2025, Emirates NBD is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in both the domestic and international markets.

The Decline Of Smartwatches: A Turning Point In The Wearable Tech Industry

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 13, 2025

For the first time in history, the smartwatch market is facing a significant downturn. Shipments are expected to drop by 7% in 2024, marking a major shift in a segment that has been growing steadily for over a decade. A report by Counterpoint reveals that while Apple still holds the top spot, its dominance is being challenged by a surge from Chinese brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BBK. Even as the overall market struggles, some companies are thriving.

The Big Picture: Why Smartwatches Are Slowing Down

Apple’s flagship products have long been the driving force in the smartwatch market, but even the tech giant is feeling the pressure. The company’s shipments are projected to fall by 19% this year, though it will remain the market leader. Meanwhile, brands from China are capitalizing on the shift, with Huawei showing an impressive 35% growth in sales, driven by the booming domestic market and a broad range of offerings, including smartwatches for kids.

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Xiaomi, too, is experiencing remarkable success, with a staggering 135% increase in sales. In contrast, Samsung is seeing more modest growth, up 3%, thanks to its latest Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra series.

While some companies are succeeding, the broader market is facing headwinds. The biggest factor behind the overall decline is the slowdown in India, where consumer demand for smartwatches has stagnated. The segment is suffering from a lack of innovation and fresh updates, leaving many consumers with little incentive to upgrade their devices. Add to that market saturation, and it’s clear why many users are content with their current models. The Chinese market, however, is bucking the trend, showing 6% growth in 2024.

A Glimpse Into The Future

Looking ahead, the smartwatch market may begin to recover in 2025, driven by the increasing integration of AI and advanced health monitoring tools. As these technologies evolve, the industry could see a resurgence in demand.

Huawei’s Remarkable Comeback

Huawei’s impressive performance in the smartwatch space signals a broader recovery for the company, which has been hit hard by US sanctions. Once the world’s largest smartphone maker, Huawei’s business was decimated when it lost access to advanced chips and Google’s Android operating system in 2019. But in China, Huawei has maintained its dominance, with its market share growing to 17% in 2024.

This resurgence was partly driven by the launch of the Mate 60 Pro, a smartphone featuring a 7-nanometer chip developed in China. Despite US sanctions, the device surprised many with its capabilities, a testament to China’s rising investment in domestic semiconductor production.

In February, Huawei also unveiled its Mate XT foldable smartphone, the world’s first device to fold in three directions. Running on HarmonyOS 4.2, Huawei’s proprietary operating system, the phone further demonstrates the company’s resilience and ability to innovate despite international challenges.

Huawei’s smartwatch offerings are also catching attention, particularly the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro, which launched in September of last year. With a premium titanium alloy design, a high-resolution AMOLED display, and impressive health tracking features, the GT 5 Pro has become a standout in the market, available to both Android and iOS users.

A Brief History Of The Smartwatch Revolution

The smartwatch market has had its fair share of milestones, but the real breakthrough came in 2012 with the Pebble, a Kickstarter-funded project that raised over $10 million. Pebble introduced the world to smartphone integration, app downloads, and long battery life, becoming the first truly mass-market smartwatch.

In 2013, Samsung entered the game with the Galaxy Gear, marking its first attempt at wearable tech. But it was Apple’s entry in 2014 that truly set the industry on fire. The Apple Watch’s sleek design, integration with iOS, and emphasis on health and fitness catapulted it to the top of the market, establishing a standard that many other brands would try to follow.

By 2021, the smartwatch industry had grown to over $30 billion in revenue, with annual growth reaching 20%. Yet now, it finds itself at a crossroads, with innovation stagnating and market saturation taking a toll.