Emirates NBD, the Gulf's largest lender, said it was interested in buying Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) stake in Saudi Hollandi Bank to tap retail business in the world's largest oil exporter. "We are interested in the stake," Dubai-based Emirates NBD Chief Executive Officer Rick Pudner told Reuters on Sunday. "It's obviously an interesting possibility to expand in the kingdom."
RBS owns 40 percent of Saudi Hollandi, a stake worth about $1.72 billion. Pudner said there were no talks taking place. "In terms of retail franchise, it's an exciting market because of the wealth and the number of people," Pudner said.