Number one bank backs number one ladies golf tournament

The second edition of this prestigious Ladies European Tour event is set for the Emirates Golf Club from December 10-16, 2007 when a glamorous group of women golfers will test their prowess on the Majlis course. Emirates NBD and golf in DUBAI will get together that week as well with the common goal of further cementing Dubai's position as a key player in the world's golfing community.

"The Dubai Ladies Masters event has risen to become one of the world's most important golfing events. Emirates NBD is committed to continue its support to golf in DUBAI to further promote Dubai as a main golfing destination,"

said Rick Pudner, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates NBD.

"World class events, such as this, are integral to the international recognition of this thriving city which has grown to international standards in all fields", he added, highlighting the company's key status as great supporters of sport in the UAE.

For giD, the promoters and organisers of the Dubai Ladies Masters and the Dubai Desert Classic, the strong backing of prestigious corporations like Emirates NBD uplifts its key goal of making Dubai 'a golf destination'.

"Emirates NBD has been involved with the Dubai Ladies Masters since day one and we are extremely pleased to see that their support and enthusiasm has never wavered for what is one of the cornerstones of the ladies sporting calendar in this part of the world," said Mohammed Buamaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAI.

Emirates NBD is a Dubai-based banking group resulting from the merger of Emirates Bank and National Bank of Dubai. It is the biggest banking group in the GCC by assets and the biggest banking group in the UAE by market capitalization. The Group has a leading retail banking franchise in the UAE, with over 100 branches and over 430 ATMs.

The bank is a major player in the UAE corporate banking arena, with a combined market share of almost a fifth of corporate loans. It also has strong Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management and brokerage operations.

Emirates NBD is a great supporter of sport in the UAE as the company firmly believes Dubai is at the forefront of Middle East sports, be it golf or any other sports.

"We value the close association we have developed with golf in DUBAI supporting both its world-class tournaments like the Dubai Desert Classic and the Dubai Ladies Masters. This year round too, we look forward to another great event that will draw golf aficionados in hundreds and thousands, locally and internationally", said Pudner.

The banking group currently has operations in the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Kingdom and Jersey (Channel Islands), and representative offices in India, Iran and Singapore.

'golf in DUBAI' is backed by Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the main partner and Emirates NBD, Emaar, Jumeirah Hotels, Emirates airline, BMW, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Gulf News, Omega and CNN as partners in its drive to showcase the emirate's vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.