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The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the Number One Bank in the UAE, hosted its fourth graduation ceremony for AFAQ Management Trainees in Abu Dhabi.
The Bank graduated 33 UAE nationals who have successfully completed and received Master’s of Science in Finance as well as 19 trainees who completed the first year of the programme and received their Postgraduate Certificate in Finance– equivalent to 50% of a Master’s qualification.
Alex Thursby, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NBAD, congratulated the graduates for their achievements and accomplishment. He told the graduates: “Today is also the start of the next phase of your career – and is an opportunity for all of you to contribute to our strategy as we focus on being core to our chosen customers.This means all of you becoming what I call ‘a professional Banker’, a trusted advisor who provides end to end financial solutions that exceeds our customer’s requirements. This means understanding your client’s business as well as your own company, NBAD. That’s how we as a team will succeed and that’s how NBAD will be the World’s Best Arab Bank. With this in mind, let me outline our expectations of you, our AFAQ graduates, our future bankers, as our expectations are very high.”
NBAD’s AFAQ, a two-year programme, is delivered in collaboration with Zayed University at the state-of-the-art NBAD Academy. Under this programme, the Bank sponsors a Master of Science in Finance by recruiting recent university graduates who exhibited great motivation and the potential to grow into future leaders. The recruits complete post graduate certificate in the first year by studying fulltime at the academy. During this period they receive full employment salary. After the first year, AFAQ recruits are assigned to their permanent position. While they work fulltime, they continue studying part-time toward the completion of the Master’s Degree.
The ceremony was attended by Khalaf Al Dhaheri Group Chief Operating Officer, Qamber Al Mulla Senior Managing Director & CEO of Gulf & International, Saif Al Shehhi Senior General Manager - Government of Abu Dhabi, Ehab Hassan, the Group Chief Human Resources Officer at NBAD, other members of the senior management of the Bank and representatives from Zayed University as well as family members of the AFAQ graduates.
“More than just creating NBAD’s bankers, the AFAQ programme is producing the next generation of UAE bankers. By investing in your future and our bank’s future, we are investing in the country and helping to make Abu Dhabi a financial center,” said Ehab Anis Hassan, the Group Chief Human Resources Officer at NBAD. “AFAQ is NBAD’sflagship Emiratisation programmethat strategically ensures NBAD’s culture of learning and that we remained an industry leader.”
AFAQ is an exemplaryprogramme that NBAD offers to the UAE nationals because it assures trainees get the best and most up-to-date information and practices in the financial services industry.”
NBAD also offers other Emiratisation programmes that aim to attract, retain, and develop best qualified UAE nationals who wish to pursue a career in financial services industry. The programmes are international scholarship, Tomouh, under which NBAD sponsors young UAE nationals interested in studying abroad also offers internship and employment upon graduation; Al Sadara, which enables recruited nationals earn a professional Diploma in Banking and Finance and gain work experience simultaneously; and Al Bedayah, geared to allow UAE nationals earn an associate degree in Banking and Finance. Moreover, Mustaqbaliprogramme in which NBAD sponsors enrolled university students by paying a monthly allowance and offers them internship. The nationals in this programme are guaranteed recruitment upon graduation.
“NBAD’s Emiratisation strategy goes beyond attracting UAE nationals, we have developed programmes to allow nationals to best utilise their skills and advance their career in the financial industry within NBAD,” said Mr. Hassan.
“Our Emiratisation programmesconfirm NBAD’s commitment to empower UAE nationals and this has made NBAD the employer of choice for UAE nationals,” he added.
In recognition of its achievements, NBAD has won a number of awards and recognitions for its Emiratisation programmes and record. Mr. Tomalin, NBAD’s Chief Executive, won the Best Emiratisation CEO award in Banking Sector from Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial studies in 2009. NBAD won the Human Resources Development Award in Banking Sector for 2008 for its successful Emiratisation programmes.
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