The Impact of Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Islamic Banks’ Performance in Selected MENA Countries

Abstract

A strong capital adequacy ratio is crucial to a financial institution's success and helps it to survive any potential financial crisis. From Q1 2017 to Q4 2019, the influence of the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on the performance of Commercial Islamic Banks in MENA nations (Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan) is examined. The performance measures utilized in this study are Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE). The study's sample frame comprises all Islamic commercial banks in the designated MENA nations, with a sample size of 18 Islamic commercial banks. Panel data, fixed and random models, are applied in this study since there are multiple entities and time series. The findings of the study showed that the selected Islamic banks are committed to Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) which is defined under Basel III. This is considered the largest percentage regulated by the Basel Committee. The study also found that there is a statistically negative significant influence of CAR on both performance indicators ROE and ROA in the commercial Islamic banks in the selected MENA countries. The results of the study can be useful to a policymaker or decision-makers in the Islamic Banks industry. First, the research could be a reference to financial regulators such as central banks which may use the findings to provide regulation on optimal capital levels for local banks in terms of regulations, deregulations, and financial disruption. Next, the practice implications in the Islamic banking sector will provide them with insight as to how a bank’s capital influences its earnings. Hence, management can work towards attaining an optimal structure that maximizes their performance as well as identifying “best” and “worst” practices associated with capitalization levels.