Abu Dhabi, UAE; 01 June 2021: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a leading financial institution, has announced that it is strengthening its presence in Northern Emirates by opening a branch in Al Rahmania Mall in Sharjah, which is situated close to the Sharjah Airport and gives it more accessibility to the northern emirates. ADIB now has 7 branches across the northern emirates, including 5 in Sharjah, serving over 120,000 customers in the northern emirates.
ADIB’s branches have been upgraded as part of its network digitization strategy, creating a stronger customer proposition. Over the last 12 months, the programme has rolled out Apple Pay to digital branch appointment services, WhatsApp banking and the launch of the UAE’s first virtual banking sales platform. The most recent initiative is Interactive Teller Machines (ITM) built around AI, analytics and biometrics technologies which provide scope for customers to carry out almost every conceivable banking activity.
Commenting on the new branch opening, Ahmed Ateeq Al Dhaheri, ADIB’s Head of Branches –said: “The Al Rahmania Mall is a great location with a high footfall number and strong accessibility to the northern emirate. We hope this increased visibility will allow our customers, current and new ones, to come in and discuss all manner of issues at hand. Furthermore, we have been working hard to upgrade all our branches in-line with the latest technology that forms a part of long-term digitization plan; and this branch will include many of these services including our most recent initiative, the Interactive Teller Machines.”
Moreover, ADIB’s branch in Al Bawadi Mall in Al-Ain has been certified as Gold LEED (ID+C) V4 from the US Green Building Council and marks ADIB’s second ‘green’ branch following Dalma Mall, which received its certificate in March of this year. Having the Gold LEED sets ADIB apart as the only Islamic bank globally to receive the certification for its retail branches.
The Al Bawadi branch has been recognised for applying best-in-class building strategies and practices that have concentrated on minimizing energy and water intake and waste output, maximizing recycling and environmental quality. Energy efficiency measures will result in cost savings of almost 25% per cent and it uses 45% per cent less water than a conventional building.
Al Dhaheri added: “Receiving our second Gold LEED (ID+C) V4 certificate is a real source of pride for us. We have strong green credentials that runs throughout the bank, from branches to products and services, and it’s important to be actioning change rather than just talking about it. We have plans to roll out further green best practices across our 70+ branches in the near-term.”
Earlier this month, Ahmed Ateeq Al Dhaheri was promoted to be ADIB’s Head of Branches – UAE. He brings 20 years of experience and has been entrusted with managing 70 branches across all seven Emirates. He will be tasked with developing a framework to help ADIB manage its cost optimization program, lead the digital transformation of the branch network, and further enhance the banking experience customers can expect when visiting an ADIB branch.
ADIB’s efforts to remain at the forefront of digital banking have been widely recognised. ADIB was recently named the no. 1 UAE bank on the Forbes list of World's Best Banks 2021. The Bank was also recognised as “Middle East’s Best Islamic Digital Bank” by Global Finance and named World’s Best Islamic Bank by FT’s The Banker Magazine.