Arab News: RIYADH: Saudi Aramco has retained its position as the Middle East’s most valuable brand for a seventh consecutive year, as the state oil giant strengthened its market presence despite volatile crude prices and geopolitical conflicts. 

According to Brand Finance, Saudi Aramco’s brand value rose 14 percent year on year to $47.3 billion, supported by higher oil production following the easing of OPEC+ output cuts and the company’s continued expansion. 

This comes as the energy firm maintains strong investment-grade credit ratings from major agencies, reflecting its significant operational scale and vast hydrocarbon reserves, with the company holding an A+ rating from Fitch Ratings and an Aa3 rating from Moody’s Ratings.

“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,” said Brand Finance. 

Aramco was followed by UAE energy giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. in second place with a brand value of $21.13 billion.

Saudi telecom giant stc, with its brand valued at $17.6 billion, came third, as the company successfully extended the brand beyond traditional telecommunications into high-growth adjacencies, including fintech, cybersecurity, cloud, and IT services in 2025. 

The report added that Aramco continued its broader growth strategy last year by achieving progress toward its gas production growth target, global retail expansion, the advancement of its petrochemicals strategy, and further innovation in carbon capture.

In March 2025, Saudi Aramco unveiled the Kingdom’s first direct air capture test unit, capable of removing 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, marking a step forward in its carbon capture and emissions reduction efforts. 

UAE’s e& and Emirates grabbed fourth and fifth spots on the list, with their brands valued at $16.35 billion and $10.63 billion, respectively.

Qatar National Bank came sixth, with its brand valued at $10.35 billion.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi Bank grabbed the seventh spot, with its brand value climbing by 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,” said Brand Finance.

Al Rajhi Bank reported a net profit of SR6.75 billion ($1.80 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 14.32 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.

Saudi National Bank grabbed the eighth spot in the ranking with its brand valued at $6.2 billion, up 17 percent year on year. 

By climbing three places, Emirates NBD, with a value of $6.1 billion, took the ninth place among the regional brands, driven by expanded lending, deposit growth, and higher transaction volumes. 

FAB, UAE’s largest bank by market capitalization and assets, with a brand value of $5.5 billion, grabbed the tenth spot on the list. 

The consultancy 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.