The year 2001 is a testimony to a quarter century of pioneering banking and financial operation by this Institution. ARBFIT was established in the UAE by Union Decree No. 50 of 1976, as one of the Arab Joint Investment Groups in the Arabian Gulf Region,

important geographic location and economic reserves, with the intention of promoting the collective ownership of Arab Capital Funds in international financial markets. It was also aimed at promoting government and private sector financial institutions of the shareholder countries in European markets, and in particular, the Far East.

The establishment of ARB FIT coincided with the commencement of the infrastructure projects in the UAE which contributed towards the development of commercial activities in major economic sectors The Bank, since its founding, through its economic strength and prompt services, is actively participating in the national development of construction and commercial sectors in the country.

In the last 25 years the Bank's continuing operations, reacted in its annual Balance Sheet footings, have increased from AED 475 million in 1976 to AED 5,545 million at the end of year 2000. The capital base has similarly increased from AED 60 million to AED 570 million during this period. The accumulated profits stood at AED 1,207 million for the period from 1976 to 2000, and the continuous increase in the return on the paid up capital which reached an average ratio for the last five years (1996-2000) 24.5 % have enabled the Bank to build up significant reserves increasing Shareholders equity from AED 62 million in 1976 to AED}i.3!6 million in 2000. The capital adequacy ratio was 42.9% during the year 2000. These remarkable results grant the bank to achieve a distinguished rank locally and world wide.