Under the slogan “Participate and Make a Difference,” Oman Arab Bank (OAB) employees organized the “Souk Al Hemam” event in collaboration with Omani Special Olympics athletes. This initiative reaffirms the bank’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, promoting the values of social solidarity and inclusivity across all segments of society.

The event was held at the bank’s headquarters in Al-Ghubra, providing a platform to showcase the products of Omani Special Olympics athletes, highlight their unique skills and abilities, and empower them to integrate into society and achieve greater accomplishments.

Sulaiman Al Harthi, CEO of OAB, stated: “The ‘Souk Al Hemam’ initiative, organized by OAB employees, represents an important step in supporting Omani Special Olympics champions and assisting them in marketing their products. It also contributes to strengthening their activities, which play a significant role in integrating individuals with disabilities and bringing them joy through diverse programs.

These initiatives aim to foster positive interaction between the bank’s employees and participants, nurture promising talents, and empower them across various fields—particularly in sports, which enhance overall health and positively impact individuals with disabilities, their families, and society as a whole.

Through this innovative initiative, OAB employees highlight the positive impact of community engagement in empowering individuals with disabilities as part of Oman’s national and developmental goals.”

He added: “OAB is always keen to encourage its employees to actively participate in proposing and implementing initiatives that align societal goals with the bank’s holistic transformation strategy. This commitment is evident in our recent projects, such as the opening of a new branch in Sohar, designed to be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

This branch was built according to the highest customer service standards and equipped with the latest technologies and advanced infrastructure, making it fully capable of serving people with disabilities. This project reflects the bank’s vision of extending this experience across all its branches, ensuring universal accessibility and delivering the best banking experience for all customers.”

With the participation of over 450 business leaders, experts, and change-makers, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) organized the third edition of its annual “CEO Summit” at the St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat resort.
The “CEO Summit” serves as a platform that brings together decision-makers to exchange knowledge and is an eagerly anticipated event in the business community. The creative insights of participants, along with inspiring discussions and panel sessions included in the summit’s agenda, contribute to accelerating transformation across various sectors and supporting the social and economic goals of the Sultanate of Oman.

In his opening speech at the summit, Sulaiman Al Harthi, Chief Executive Officer of OAB, said: “We are pleased to host this distinguished group of change-makers and outstanding speakers, from whom we draw inspiration to chart our path to success. Their visionary insights lead us toward sustaining growth. At OAB, we aspire to enhance our leadership in supporting change and keeping pace with the rapidly evolving financial and banking sector in our contemporary world. Banking services have seen significant transformation, with a growing shift of individuals and institutions toward digital services, which have become highly reliable, fast, and easy to use for completing transactions.”

Al Harthi added: “With its ambitious vision, which clearly anticipates the radical changes taking place in the financial sector, OAB strengthens its participation in sustaining the growth of this sector in the Sultanate of Oman. The bank holds a distinguished position in the development of modern banking services, a comprehensive shift toward digitalization, and enriching the customer experience. It also enhances its role in shaping talent and nurturing future leaders who are capable of keeping up with developments and successfully achieving the social, economic, and environmental goals of Oman’s future vision 2040.” The CEO of OAB also shared his leadership experience and valuable insights on achieving success.

In her speech, Ms Randa Al Sadek, Chief Executive Officer of Arab Bank Plc and Deputy Chairman of OAB Board of Directors, highlighted “the power of adaptability and the importance of embracing change in today’s rapidly evolving world.”
Ms Randa Al Sadek is a seasoned banking expert known for her leadership and strategic abilities. She was recently honored as one of the most influential women in business in the region by Forbes Middle East and has held key positions in several prestigious banks.

The summit included a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Lamya Al Haj, associate professor at Sultan Qaboos University and an expert in leadership and organizational development, where His Excellency Tahir Salim Al Amri, CEO of the Central Bank of Oman, discussed the latest trends and changes in monetary policies, the economic outlook for Oman, and the role of the banking sector in supporting economic growth. He also highlighted the initiatives of the Central Bank to enhance the technological transformation in the banking and financial sectors.

 

Oman Arab Bank (OAB) participated in the ceremony announcing and honoring the winners of the “Hospitality Heroes” competition, organized by the National Hospitality Institute (NHI). The competition aims to showcase promising Omani talents in the hotel and hospitality sector.

The bank’s participation aligns with its fruitful collaboration with the National Hospitality Institute, which seeks to provide training, qualifications, and employment opportunities in the tourism sector.

During the ceremony, Sulaiman Al Harthi, Chief Executive Officer of OAB, honored the winners of the “Hospitality Heroes” competition, a prominent annual event now in its fifth consecutive year.

Al Harthi stated: “We are pleased to have participated in the award ceremony for ‘Hospitality Heroes’, which celebrates the outstanding performance of a select group of young professionals in the hospitality sector. They represent successful examples of national talents driving the growth of the tourism sector and contributing to the development of the broader economy.”

He added: “Our participation in this important annual event is a continuation of the collaboration between OAB and the NHI to empower Omani talents in the labor market. The bank provides financial support for programs that qualify and train students and job seekers, enabling them to seize employment opportunities created by the continuous growth of Oman’s hospitality and tourism sectors. This initiative reflects OAB’s commitment to investing in human resources, enhancing prospects for sustainable growth in the Sultanate. It is part of the bank’s broader innovative initiatives, including the ‘OAB Leaders’ and ‘OAB Leadership Development’ programs.”

Robert MacLean, Principal of the NHI, said: “This year, we are celebrating a group of outstanding Omani talents, highlighting their successful experiences and their role in raising the standards of work in the hospitality sector, which relies heavily on the skills and passion of its workers to enhance the customer experience. We are honored to have OAB, one of the leading institutions in launching and implementing national capacity-building programs and developing tomorrow’s leaders in Oman, join us in celebrating our national talents who support the growth of the hospitality sector. We look forward to the fruitful partnership between NHI and OAB, which will have a positive and tangible impact on enhancing the skills of students and job seekers and increasing job localization in the tourism sector.”

This year, OAB signed a partnership agreement with NHI to fund the training and qualification programs provided by the institute. These programs aim to develop the skills of Omanis and prepare young people for the labor market. This partnership is part of OAB’s initiatives to support national objectives, increase job opportunities, and prepare effective leaders who will contribute to the realization of Oman’s future vision.

 

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sayyida Meyyan bint Shihab Al Said, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) organized a joyful celebration for Omani Women’s Day at the St. Regis Hotel, under the theme “Empowering Omani Women: Leadership, Faith, and Innovation.” The event was attended by a large gathering of successful women, including the bank’s executive leaders, employees, clients, and female entrepreneurs.

The event included various activities, such as visual presentations highlighting the royal attention given to empowering Omani women and shedding light on their honorable roles and contributions in all fields. Moreover, the “Women’s Leadership Development Program” was launched as a new initiative by OAB to nurture national female leaders and enhance women’s participation in the sustainable growth of the Sultanate of Oman, in line with the aspirations of Oman Vision 2040.

The program is being implemented in collaboration with Springboard and Aspire Institute, two prestigious international organizations in the field of training and development, adhering to the highest global standards. The program aims to empower women in senior leadership positions and strengthen their skills in strategic planning, decision-making, and achieving both personal and professional success.

A panel discussion was held on the topic of women’s empowerment and the inspiring success stories they have achieved in various fields. The discussion featured the participation of Lamya Al-Haj, Associate Professor at Sultan Qaboos University; Samra Al-Harthy, Director of Economic and Investment Research at the Oman Investment Authority; and Abeer Sultan, Executive Director, the Office of the Managing Director.

Sulaiman Al-Harthy, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Sultanate of Oman’s celebration of Omani Women’s Day is a recognition of their contributions and inspiring creativity in all fields. We are all proud of the positive role Omani women play in raising generations with genuine Omani values and their significant contribution to the comprehensive development of this beloved nation. They have left clear marks in all areas and have demonstrated excellence in the roles and positions they have been entrusted with in both the public and private sectors since the early days of the Blessed Renaissance and up to the present day.”

He added: “OAB has remained committed to supporting the pioneering role of women in the banking and financial sectors by investing in training and developing the skills of its promising talents. The bank’s creative work environment has provided a favorable climate for success, paving the way for women to take on leadership positions at various levels, including the Board of Directors, senior and middle management, and across different departments. The bank prioritizes enhancing women’s economic and social participation in all fields, in line with the aspirations of Oman Vision 2040. It places special emphasis on encouraging women’s involvement in initiatives and programs aimed at preparing future leaders and supporting entrepreneurs.”

During the event, Zahra Abdulamir, Acting Chief Risk Officer at OAB, delivered a speech in which she said: “As we celebrate Omani Women’s Day, we take pride in the programs launched by OAB to enhance women’s position in the labor market. These programs have led to successful projects that contribute to economic growth, and many talented women are now playing a tangible role in the development of various Omani institutions and companies. One of our most notable initiatives is the ‘Arab Pioneers Leadership Development Program.’ Continuing with these efforts, the bank has launched the ‘Women’s Leadership Development Program,’ aimed at empowering women in leadership roles and enhancing their skills to achieve personal and professional success.”

She also expressed joy over the wide participation of women within the bank’s continuously expanding customer base and their benefit from the advanced banking services provided by the bank to enrich the customer experience, as well as the unique advantages and offers designed specifically for OAB credit cardholders.

She further highlighted the large number of female entrepreneurs who are joining and benefiting from OAB’s innovative programs, initiatives, and services tailored to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), such as the “Tumouhi” program for comprehensive financial services for entrepreneurs and the SMEs development training program. She also cited the SMEs Competition held by the bank, which aims to spotlight the experiences of female entrepreneurs and support their projects to achieve further growth and expansion.

The event included the distribution of OAB awards to the female entrepreneurs who participated in the women’s SMEs competition organized by the bank. A commemorative gift was also presented by OAB to Her Highness Sayyida Meyyan bint Shihab Al Said, the patron of the celebration. The attendees enjoyed the exciting entertainment segments presented during the event, accompanied by music.

OAB continues to strengthen its leading position in the Omani banking market through a comprehensive transformation towards digital and modern services that meet the aspirations of all customer segments and enrich their banking experience. The bank also places great importance on nurturing the promising talents of women, developing their capabilities, and enhancing their participation in leading our beloved nation toward a promising future.

Oman Arab Bank (OAB) proudly announces its receipt of the ‘Straight Through Processing’ (STP) Excellence Award from the Citibank. This recognition, consistently earned since 2018, highlights OAB’s leading position in the financial industry, emphasizing its excellence in secure transaction processing and automotive processes.

 

Sulaiman Al Harthi, Chief Executive Officer of OAB, expressed his gratitude, stating, “We are honored to be recognized by Citibank for our excellence in STP. This award underscores our commitment to customer service and achieving 100% accuracy and efficiency on Treasury Payments and 99.8% for Customer Payments. ”

 

Asma Al Zadjali, Chief Operations Officer added, “The accelerated pace of processing times is a notable advantage arising from

OAB’s embrace of automation. This enables transactions to be executed much faster than traditional manual processes.”

 

OAB’s innovations in automation lead to smoother experiences for its customers, including modification-free rates, instant transactions, and highly accurate outcomes. The STP Excellence Award from Citibank serves as a testament to how OAB leverages operational and technological excellence to deliver high-quality customer experience.

 

This award signifies OAB’s strategic foresight in adopting and investing in STP technology, aligning with its goal to stay ahead in the competitive financial market. The bank’s focus on process reengineering and automating processes not only addresses the current needs of the banking sector but also positions OAB for future advancements in financial services, reinforcing its dedication to delivering top-tier customer experiences.