In line with its commitment to the professional development of UAE Nationals, Al Hilal Bank, one of the UAE’s leading Islamic banks, has signed a fellowship Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Deloitte, the second largest private professional services organisation in the world. The details of the MoU were revealed to the public during a special press conference held today (Sunday, October 16, 2011) at the Mall Branch in Abu Dhabi.

Al Hilal Bank initiated the program to give its present and future Emirati employees the exclusive opportunity to become Chartered Accountants through the Deloitte Fellowship Programme. The bank will select 10 candidates per year who will be trained by Deloitte for up to three years in preparation for the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) or US CPA (Certified Public Accountant) qualifying examinations.

Candidates enrolled in the programme will be considered Al Hilal employees and will be seconded to Deloitte for a period of three years, during which they will qualify for certification and log three years of practical training.
Students will spend one month of each year at Al Hilal to learn about the bank, its culture and its policies and procedures. After successfully completing their training the Emirati graduates will return to take up suitable positions at Al Hilal Bank.

The initiative forms part of Al Hilal Bank’s efforts to play an active role in securing a brighter future for the UAE. The bank is tapping its extensive regional and global partnerships to secure unique professional development opportunities for customers as well as the general public.

“Our MoU with Deloitte is yet another realisation of our vision to contribute to the development of Emirati talents to enable them to successfully play a role in achieving sustainable economic growth in the UAE, as well as give them the opportunity to hold leading positions within Al Hilal Bank,” said Mohamed Jamil Berro, CEO of Al Hilal Bank.

“During its 85-year presence in the Middle East, Deloitte has played a vital role in the growth of the region. We already have in place the Deloitte Emirati Fellowship Program that is designed to specifically target Emirati youth. Al Hilal Bank’s candidates will simultaneously benefit from Deloitte’s graduate training program and on-the-job training, which provide exposure to expertise and experience with governments, regulators, and businesses,” said Wissam Moukahal, Audit Partner at Deloitte Middle East.

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, Al Hilal Bank serves customers through 19 branches and over 100 ATMs spread across the UAE and three branches in Kazakhstan. It manages the Al Hilal GCC Equity Fund and owns the ‘Mall Branch,’ the UAE’s largest banking branch.

Deloitte established the first Arab professional services firm in the Middle East and has enjoyed an uninterrupted regional presence for over 85 years. Deloitte is among the region’s leading professional services firms, providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through 26 offices in 15 countries with over 2,500 partners, directors and staff. It is a Tier 1 Tax advisor in the GCC region (International Tax Review World Tax 2010 and 2011 Rankings) and was recognized as the 2010 Best Consulting Firm of the Year in the GCC Compliance Awards.
 

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