Dubai, UAE – Al Ansari Financial Services PJSC (DFM: ALANSARI) (“the Group”), the largest non-banking financial institution and services provider in the GCC, has delivered a resilient and record breaking performance in the first half of 2025 (“H1’25”), reporting a 13% year-on-year (YoY) increase in operating income to AED 638 million, attributable to the consolidation of BFC Group results from Q2 2025 and the strong performance across the majority of business lines.
This growth, achieved despite persistent geopolitical headwinds, reinforces the Group’s resilience, market leadership and the success of its long-term strategy to drive sustainable growth by capitalising on the UAE’s and wider GCC’s robust economic momentum.
Financial Highlights
In AED thousands(unless otherwise stated) | H1’25* | H1’24 | % change(YoY) | Q2’25 | Q2’24 | % change(YoY) |
Operating Income | 638,364 | 567,055 | +13% | 344,160 | 292,329 | +18% |
EBITDA | 287,051 | 257,917 | +11% | 149,386 | 135,502 | +10% |
EBITDA Margin (%) | 45.0% | 45.5% | 43.4% | 46.4% | ||
Net Profit after Tax | 212,244 | 205,476 | +3% | 103,390 | 106,732 | (3%) |
Earnings per Share | 0.0283 | 0.0274 | +3% | 0.0138 | 0.0142 | (3%) |
Free Cash Flow (FCF) | 269,790 | 242,019 | +12% | 137,213 | 127,181 | +8% |
Operational Highlights
H1’25* | H1’24 | Change (unit)(YoY) | |
No. of physical branches | 439 | 259 | 180 netbranchessince H1’24 |
Total No. of transactions | 27.6 mn | 25.0 mn | +10% |
* H1’25 figures include BFC Group results
h1’25 Financial Performance Commentary
- Operating Income demonstrated an increase of 13% YoY driven by the consolidation of BFC figures and robust performance across most of the business lines.
- EBITDA witnessed a sizeable 11% growth YoY, with EBITDA margin remaining consistent at 45%, despite a complex operating environment characterised by increased costs and geopolitical tensions in the region.
- Net profit after tax increased by 3% YoY, as a result of the increased finance costs for the acquisition loan, despite the sizeable uptick in operating income arising from the consolidation of BFC results.
h1’25 Operational Performance Commentary
- The total number of transactions grew by 10% compared to the same period last year, reaching 28 million transactions.
- The market continues to witness pressures from key remittance corridors as well as certain fintech practices and ongoing geopolitical tensions, which have weighed on remittance income. Despite these headwinds, Remittance Operating Income rose by 2% YoY, reflecting the Group’s robust fundamentals and market adaptability.
- Although geopolitical tensions in certain markets have exerted pressure on the banknotes business, the Group demonstrated resilience in this segment, reporting a substantial 26% YoY increase in Banknotes Operating income. Strategic partnerships, strong overall performance and increased demand on our prepaid cards, the consolidation of BFC figures and the GCC’s surge in tourism enabled us to navigate disruptions and to continue to meet and exceed customer expectations.
- The Group’s WPS and Other Products & Services business delivered impressive growth, with operating income increasing by a robust 36% YoY. This growth was driven by the GCC’s expanding labour market and ongoing infrastructure and development projects. As more employers prioritise compliance and timely salary disbursements, demand for secure, efficient payroll solutions remains strong.
- The Group’s continued investment in digital innovation is yielding strong results, with a notable 30% YoY increase in the number of transactions conducted through its digital channels, constituting 23% of the total outward remittance transactions. This growth reflects the accelerating adoption of our digital platforms, as more customers choose the convenience, speed, and reliability of our online and mobile services. The uptick in usage is a direct outcome of our commitment to deliver a seamless and intuitive customer experience — one that builds trust and encourages long-term digital engagement. As we advance our digital transformation strategy, these early adoption trends position us well for scalable growth and deeper customer connectivity in the quarters ahead.
Commenting on the results, Rashed A. Al Ansari, Group CEO of Al Ansari Financial Services, said:
“We continue our strong momentum in the first half of 2025, building upon our positive first-quarter results coupled with the consolidation of BFC results into the Group during the second quarter. Despite the ongoing geopolitical challenges and fierce competition, we achieved solid growth across our business segments through our focus and discipline on execution and customer experience. Our results are a testament to the strength of our business model, the trust of our customers, and our commitment to delivering accessible, technology-driven financial solutions.
We continue to successfully grow our customer base and market share, underscoring the resilience of our brand.
The continued growth in digital transactions reflects our increased efforts to drive innovation and expand access to essential financial services. Our performance across business units reinforces our central role in advancing financial inclusion and supporting the diverse needs of individuals and businesses in the UAE, the GCC and beyond.
Through the acquisition of BFC Group, we have delivered on our promise, of expanding our footprint beyond UAE, where we are already the undisputed market leader. Our strategic growth initiatives and recent acquisition are designed to future-proof the company, positioning us for success in an evolving financial landscape. In addition, we have begun integrating AI into our systems, and the early results have been promising and have exceeded initial expectations.
As we look ahead, we remain deeply aligned with the UAE’s and the GCC’s overall vision for a digitally empowered and inclusive economy. We will continue investing in technology, focusing on customer experience, and pursuing sustainable growth that delivers long-term value to our shareholders, customers, and the communities we serve.”
Mohammad Bitar Deputy Group CEO of Al Ansari Financial Services, added:
“H1 2025 was defined by robust operational execution across the Group, as we focused on strengthening service delivery, driving efficiency and preparing for future growth initiatives. We achieved notable improvements in customer engagement as well as process optimisation across both our physical and digital avenues.
A key milestone was the consolidation of the BFC acquisition into the results of the Group, which marks a crucial step forward in our growth strategy. This acquisition is crucial for the Group as it expands our geographic reach and enhances our ability to serve a wider and larger customer base with greater scale and capability.
We are also on the verge of launching our much-anticipated digital wallet—a market-changing innovation that promises to revolutionise the way our customers manage their finances. Designed with accessibility and ease-of-use in mind, the wallet will empower customers to store, send, and spend money more conveniently and securely than ever before.
We remain focused on seamless integration, operational excellence, and value add opportunities that will reinforce our market leadership in the sector.