(21 June 2012)
Al Hilal Bank, a progressive Islamic bank, has announced that it will be supporting the UAE Olympic Football Team at the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympic Games by sending over football fans to cheer during one of the team’s live matches. Applicants for Al Hilal’s UAE Football Credit Card from June 19 to July 5, 2012 will be eligible to win an all-expense-paid travel package for a 3-night stay in London complete with tickets to watch the UAE Olympic Team compete at the summer games. The co-branded Al Hilal - UAEFA card was launched last April 2012 in time for the UAEFA President’s Cup held recently in Abu Dhabi. The card features several privileges and incentives specially prepared for the country’s loyal football fans. The latest promotion reflects Al Hilal’s strong commitment to local sports, particularly football. The bank has been actively supporting the President’s Cup over the past three years and intends to launch more programs in support of football and other athletic activities. “The entire nation is excited to cheer on its team at the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games in London. We wanted to reward our customers who are also avid football fans with a once-in-a-lifetime experience that affirms our staunch support for the UAE’s favorite sport and lends morale to our hard-working players, hence the launching of this raffle. We look forward to seeing our customers root for our boys as they go for the gold this summer,” said Mohamed Zaqout, Head of Personal Banking Group at Al Hilal Bank. Yousuf Yaqoub Al Serkal, President of UAE Football Association (UAEFA), praised Al Hilal Bank’s initiative which he says provides its customers and UAE football fans with the rare opportunity to go to London and support the UAE Olympic football team. Al Serkal emphasized that Al Hilal Bank’s partnership is a key factor to success, as it continues to support the development of the local football scene through its sponsorship of football and many other sporting events. The UAEFA President expressed his hope of further promoting the strategic partnership between Al Hilal Bank and the Association for the betterment of the game in the UAE and the achievement of greater things in the future. Al Hilal Bank is fully owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, the investment body of the Abu Dhabi Government. Currently one of the fastest-growing Islamic banks in the Emirates, it operates 21 branches across the UAE plus three overseas branches in Kazakhstan. The bank recently unveiled its ‘Egrab’ project featuring the world’s first emission-free mobile bank.