National Bonds registers record sales of Dhs1.4bn in first half of 2008

The company's sale of bonds touched approximately Dhs1.4bn at the end of June 2008, an increase of over 200% compared to Dhs460m for the same period in 2007.

The company also witnessed an exponential increase in bond sales among UAE youth and women from January to June 2008, 124% and 130%, respectively.

Mohammed Qasim Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of National Bonds Corporation, said that the surge in sales was driven by the company's strategy to increase awareness of the value of savings among UAE residents, with specific campaigns targeted at youth and housewives.

"We are very pleased with our half-yearly sales achievement as it reaffirms the high-level of public confidence in National Bonds as a simple, safe and profitable way to save. It is very encouraging to see women and youth, in particular, saving with National Bonds as a secure investment channel for their future. This goes to prove that National Bonds has definitely emerged as 'everyone's favourite place to save'," he said.

As part of the awareness campaign undertaken earlier this year, National Bonds set up informational kiosks at various malls throughout the UAE.

Visitors to the malls were given the opportunity to learn about the benefits of investing with National Bonds and purchase bonds from the kiosks.

National Bonds can be purchased from over 300 outlets nationwide, including exchange houses and banks.

These include Emirates Islamic Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank and exchange houses: Al Ansari, Al Fardan, Al Ghurair, Redha Al Ansari, Al Rostamani International, UAE Exchange, Wall Street, Habib and Lari Exchange.