Huda Sabil Abdulla is the CFO of Emirates Islamic, the Islamic subsidiary of Emirates NBD Group. She has led the bank’s finance and strategy functions since 2019. With over 30 years of experience in banking and finance, she has held roles across conventional and Islamic banking, including HR, financial accounting, business finance, performance and asset liability management and investor relations.
Sabil Abdulla has played a key role in developing financial tools and systems to enhance operational efficiency. She led the implementation of the fund transfer pricing (FTP) framework, improving pricing and liquidity management and establishing an economic profit framework aligned with Basel standards. Her leadership in strategic planning, cost management and P&L oversight has contributed to Emirates Islamic’s continuous profitability and balance sheet growth. In 2019, she became the first Emirati woman appointed CFO in the UAE banking sector.
Sabil Abdulla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ajman University of Science and Technology. She has earned several professional qualifications, including a Certified Islamic Professional Accountant (CIPA) from AAOIFI, a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) from the Institute of Management Accountants, USA and a Certificate in Management (CIM) from the University of Wollongong Dubai. Sabil Abdulla completed the Essential Leadership Program at London Business School and the Blue Ocean Strategy Program at INSEAD. She is also a graduate of the Dubai Economic Leadership Program from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development.
Her contributions to the banking sector have been recognised with the 17th Middle East Future Excellence Award and the Distinguished Woman Award in Banking and Finance from the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies. Sabil Abdulla continues to lead Emirates Islamic’s financial strategy, ensuring sustainable growth while enhancing operational and financial efficiency.
