Shirish Bhide

Shirish Bhide was appointed Chief Executive Officer of United Arab Bank effective June 1, 2022, bringing over 30 years of banking expertise to the role. He holds a post graduate diploma in accounting and finance from the London School of Economics (UK) and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Poona (India). He commenced his career with Citibank in India where he worked in various roles across the consumer and corporate segments.

Career history

• CEO of Citibank Uganda (2006-2009)
• Head of Risk Management at National Commercial Bank, Saudi Arabia (2009)
• Chief Credit Officer and Acting Head of Wholesale Banking at First Gulf Bank (2013-2016)
• Group Head of Corporate, Commercial and International Banking at First Abu Dhabi Bank (pre-2022)

Under Bhide's leadership, UAB posted a net profit before tax of AED 331 million for 2024, representing a 30% increase from 2023. Total assets grew by 22% year-over-year to AED 21.5 billion in 2024, driven by strong growth in loans, advances and Islamic financing. Most recently, UAB achieved a 45% year-on-year increase in net profit for FY 2025, reaching AED 438 million, with total assets growing by 26% to AED 27.0 billion. The bank's deposit ratings were upgraded to 'Baa3' by Moody's with a continued 'Positive' outlook.

What Shirish Bhide could bring to his role at United Arab Bank: With his deep expertise in credit risk management, corporate banking and wholesale operations honed across major regional and international institutions, Bhide has demonstrated proven ability to execute digital transformation strategies while maintaining disciplined risk management. His track record of successfully navigating complex banking environments across Africa, South Asia and the GCC, combined with his emphasis on customer-centric sustainable growth, positions him to continue driving UAB's expansion and market positioning in the competitive UAE banking sector.