Visa to open new office in Abu Dhabi

The decision to increase Visa's footprint in the UAE beyond its base in Dubai is a response to a market place that has developed in both competitiveness and sophistication. By having a permanent presence in the UAE's capital, Visa will be able to interact more closely with its client base as well as the regulatory community.

Visa is inspired by the principle of long term investment and is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen as evidenced by its global programmes to increase financial literacy. The opening of a new office in Abu Dhabi will be a further testament to Visa's desire to be a core part of any market in which it operates.

"The Middle East is one of the fastest growing regions for Visa worldwide, and Abu Dhabi is a fast growing Emirate, where we must continue to invest and build our presence to be as close as possible to our valued partners. This decision is another tangible initiative toward our ongoing commitment to provide our partners and cardholders with best in class products and services designed to make payments faster, more convenient, more reliable and secure, and more appropriate for local needs. We strongly value our relationships with the regulatory authorities, partner banks, and strategic merchant partnerships, so we look forward to being situated alongside them, when we open our office in Abu Dhabi," said Marcello Baricordi, Visa's UAE General Manager.

Aninda Roy, Visa's Business Development Manager for the UAE, will be the office's representative in Abu Dhabi.

Commenting on the upcoming opening Mr. Kamran Siddiqi, General Manager, Visa Middle East and North Africa, said, "In recent years, we have seen considerable growth in our business across the region and particularly with our partners in Abu Dhabi. As a result, it has become vital for us to open an office in Abu Dhabi to help facilitate these relationships moving forward and to accommodate our ever-growing workforce in the region."