Citibank launches World Privileges in the region

CWP provides access to exclusive offers, exceptional services and superior benefits at the world's leading hotels, retail shops, car rentals, restaurants, tourist attractions, spas, golf courses and more.

With CWP, CitiGold, Ultima and Ultimate cardholders will now be instantly rewarded for their discerning lifestyle wherever they may be. Whether at home, traveling for business or pleasure, CWP offers cardholders valuable promotions and discounts in the UAE, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond.

The privilege program draws on Citibank's intimate local, regional and global expertise as well as a slate of carefully selected strategic partners. By simply using and paying with their Citibank cards, customers can now make every dirham spent on the card retrieve value across the world.

According to travel statistics for the UAE alone:

- Travel market spend in the UAE is expected to reach $7.1bn by end of 2007

- Travel spend is growing by 20% per annum

- There are 1,110 weekly flights departing from the UAE, of which half originate in Dubai

- 47% of total flights are non-business (various leisure purposes including home leave and holidays)

"Citibank is using its global presence to extract the best deals to its cardholders and maximize value of their spending on the card," said Sanjoy Sen, Citibank's Country Business Manager for the UAE. "CWP is a value pack which rewards customers at thousands of touch points across 30 countries, and reiterates our resolve to avail to customers the global Citibank experience."

"CWP matches affluent customers' demands for an exclusive value program that truly delivers more in lifestyle spending," said William Keliehor, Credit Card Head for the Pakistan, Greece, Middle East and Africa Region who is based in the UAE. "Over 20% of our Regional customer spend is international, so we leverage the strength of Citi Card global relationships to bring preferential treatment to all our card customers across the world."

Citi has been in the Middle East for nearly 50 years and currently offers consumer-banking services in the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. In the UAE alone, Citi has had a presence for the past 43 years, and is expanding its major operations within the country. The bank is currently a major player in the UAE's credit card market and a leading provider of banking, Wealth Management and Consumer credit services.