The Alternative Bank (alt bank) has been named Nigeria’s Islamic Bank of the Year 2026 at the 14th Global Brand Awards held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The awards ceremony, organised by Global Brands Magazine, recognised companies across banking, energy, aviation, technology, real estate and other sectors.
According to an event announcement published by the organiser on 30 September, winners were selected by its research team and reviewed by independent evaluators. The assessment considered market performance, innovation, customer experience and consistency in delivering on brand promises.
The ceremony took place at Address Sky View in Dubai, with Yaqoob Al Ali, executive director and private adviser at the Office of Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, among those scheduled to present the awards.
Other organisations represented at the ceremony included Emirates NBD, ADNOC Distribution, HP Computing and Printing Middle East, Saudi Global Ports and Sobha Realty, according to the organiser’s post-event report published on 5 October.
The awards cover several industries, including financial services, education, hospitality, technology and lifestyle. Global Brands Magazine describes the programme as an annual initiative recognising organisations across international markets.
Alt bank operates as a non-interest bank in Nigeria. It began as a non-interest banking window within Sterling Bank in January 2014 before receiving a banking licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria in July 2023 to operate as a standalone institution.