Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank was established on 20th May 1997 as a Public Joint Stock Company through the Amiri Decree No. 9 of 1997. The Bank commenced commercial operations on 11th November 1998, and was formally inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Information and Culture on 18th April 1999.

Founded in 1957, Al Rajhi Bank is one of the largest Islamic banks in the world. With over 50 years of experience in banking and trading activities, the various individual establishments under the Al Rajhi name were merged into the umbrella 'Al Rajhi trading and exchange corporation' in 1978 and it was in this year that the bank was also established as a Saudi share holding company.