Sharjah Islamic Bank wins 2007 Dubai Human Development Award

Sharjah Islamic Bank currently has the highest level of Emiratization-local Emirates employed at the Bank-amongst the private sector institutions across the GCC.

The Award was presented to the Bank by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Chairman of the Dubai Media Foundation, during the awards ceremony of the Dubai Quality and Dubai Human Development which was held in the Grand Hayat Hotel in Dubai.

"The Dubai Human Development Award reflects the efforts that the bank have made, executed by our managers and other staff, in interpretation and implementation of the directions His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Board of Directors Sharjah Islamic Bank, has given towards encouraging a prosperous and professional future for Emiratis. Additionally, we are spreading awareness about career opportunities in banking sector and how everyone can achieve a high level of professionalism and efficiency in this industry,"

said Mohammad Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Islamic Bank.

According to Mr. Mohammed Abdullah, 2004 marked the beginning of SIB's systematic approach to incorporate the ambitious process of Emiratization in the bank.

Under the slogan "Our Nationalism Leads Us", SIB's approach to Emiratization involves integrated programs which take into consideration all aspects of recruitment and training, with definite time frames for the achievement of the goald of Emiratization.

Today, the bank is reaping the fruits of this strategy through the impressive results achieved in the area of Emiratization.

In 2004 the level of Emiratization was at 38%, in 2005 that was raised to 44%, and as of the beginning of 2008, SIB announced that over 51% of its employees were Emirati in origin.

His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Abdullah, the executive president of Sharjah Islamic Bank, spoke on the importance of investment in national human resources, and working on developing in a systematic manner, the visions and directives of the senior leadership of the country, with the aim of the contributing to support the economic development process in the country.

"Along with the slogan of 'Our Nationalism Leads Us', Sharjah Islamic Bank is operating according to a systematic strategy for the implementation of a range of human resource programs that have been designed by national committees, to reach the desired goal of Emiratization, which is strengthening national competencies in the banking sector. Sharjah Islamic Bank will continue the work on the development of individual skills of staff and the development of their management expertise to create capable local leadership to achieve the excellence and innovation in various areas of banking work," added Mr. Abdullah.

Receiving the Human Development Award for the second year in a row, it is the culmination and follow-up to a series of accomplishments achieved by the bank during the last period of evaluation for the Economic Excellence Award in the financial sector for the years 2003 and 2005.

SIB has also won the Emiratization Award from the Accountants Society and Auditors for the fourth session 2005-2006, the annual Award for Human Resource Development of Citizenship in the banking sector for years 2003, 2005, and 2006, Wachovia Award for the best financial institution for four consecutive years 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, which makes SIB the highest awarded bank for customer service awards.