NBAD inaugurates First Academy in Northern Emirates

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the Number One Bank in the UAE, has expanded its training facility with the inauguration of a state-of- the-art academy in the Northern Emirates, the Bank’s second in the UAE.

Abdulla M.S. AbdulRaheem, the Group Chief Operating officer; Ehab Anis Hassan, the Group Chief Human Resources Officer; Abdullah Al Hosani, the Head of Branches and Consumer Banking Transformation, and senior executives of the Bank attended the official launch of NBAD's Academy in Northern Emirates.

Strategically located between Dubai-Sharjah in Al Mamzar area, the new academy aims to reach all NBAD employees in Dubai and the Northern Emirates to raise the level of their skills to the higher international standards. This facility brings them the best training programmes in banking and finance.

“We are proud to launch the second NBAD academy, which plays a key role in enabling our people supporting the Bank to achieve its business goals,” said Mr. Hassan, the Group Chief Human Resources Officer of NBAD. “The new academy reflects NBAD’s commitment towards its learning culture strategy by providing a platform to develop and maximise talents.”

The new facility delivers world-class development programmes aligned to business requirements including consumer banking products, fraud awareness, service excellence and quality, and regulatory and compliance. It also provides banking and financial services training programmes, personal effectiveness, and executive and leadership development as well as professional and technical development. NBAD will bring the most qualified instructors to transfer their knowledge and expertise to the recruits.

“Human capital is the new driving engine of banking growth and development and the most valuable asset that needs to be constantly invested in. At NBAD learning culture is a core corporate value and the academy enables staff to contribute effectively to developing innovative, efficient and secure products and services and provide our customers exceptional banking experience,” Mr. Hassan explained.

“Launching the second NBAD Academy would greatly boost the Bank’s learning culture strategy and enable us to further develop the UAE into a global banking hub. This academy would also create greater opportunities for UAE nationals in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.”

NBAD launched its first academy in Abu Dhabi two years ago and forged partnerships with internationally-recognised learning institutions such as Zayed University, Institute of Leadership & Management and ifs School of Finance in the UK.

The Academy runs several Emiratisation programmes that aim to attract, retain, and develop best qualified UAE nationals who wish to pursue a career in financial services industry. For instance, under the AFAQ Management trainee Programme NBAD 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 which is equivalent to half of the Master’s requirement 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 Bank also offers high school graduates the chance to pursue a career path at branches or departments while availing to them excellent training at NBAD Academy through enrolling them to Al Bedaya programme. Successfully completing 12 months, Al- Bedaya programme trainees will gain associate degree in banking and finance from Higher Colleges of Technology. Moreover, NBAD sponsors enrolled university students by paying a monthly allowance, offers them internship and guaranteed recruitment upon graduation.

In addition, the Bank offers UAE national staff Al Sadara programme where they can earn a professional Diploma in Banking and Finance and gain work experience simultaneously. As well, NBAD enrolls consumer banking staff (both UAE Nationals and Expatriates) into Al Manara, a branch management and operations training programme that focuses on key roles within the Consumer Banking Group.

“We aim to equip all NBAD emoplyees with the right learning tools and technical knowledge in banking and finance and offer them long term training thus producing promising citizens for the development of the Country,” said Paula McManus, Head of Learning & Development at NBAD.