| Saudi American Bank: it has returned to profitability with returns among the region's highest |
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The largest 20 banks dominate the top 100 Arab banks, with a high 57% of the combined capital base, 53% of assets and 63% of consolidated net profit. The aggregated return on equity (ROE) for the top 20 banks, at 15.3%, is higher than the overall sector average, as is their average return on assets (ROA) of 1.6%. Their rise in ROE was particularly significant - from 13.7% the previous year. These figures indicate the increasing advantage of size and resources in respect of margin control, a diversified earnings base, and economies of scale. Saudi Arabian banks dominate the top 20 banks, with seven institutions coming from the Kingdom. The Saudi banking sector continues to be the largest and strongest banking sector in the region, aided by the tightly regulated nature of the system.