Muscat, September 6^th 2016 – As part of its commitment to developing the industry’s future leaders, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) recently launched a talent development program entitled ‘Leadership Enhancement  and Development’ (LEAD).  LEAD is unique and specialized leadership training that aims to cultivate the talents of high potential Omanis with guidance from international experts. The six month program has been designed to utilize best practices in order to empower participants with opportunity, managerial expertise, and high-level workplace solutions.

Amin Al Husseini, Chief Executive Officer, Oman Arab Bank, commented, “Developing the skillsets of Omani talent and enriching their lives with the tools they need to achieve their career aspirations is at the heart of everything we do. Since our inception, Oman Arab Bank has demonstrated its dedication towards aiding the professional growth of the Sultanate’s national workforce by creating environments that enable them to thrive and be all they can be. The LEAD program was inspired by OAB’s vision and will provide our young and highly motivated Oman Arab Bank family members with a first-of-its-kind opportunity to develop their well-rounded skills, learn from the best, and position themselves to be agents of change.”

Adil A. Al Rahbi, Head of Employee & Organizational Development, explained, “LEAD is truly a quantum leap in capacity building. The initiative will tremendously accelerate the training and development of the Bank’s next generation of leaders. The six month program has been divided into four, two-day modules with participants undergoing extensive leadership training to hone their expertise and develop the know-how required to spearhead their growth.”

Al Rahbi added, “20 employees have abeen selected from a large number of our finest mid-level staff after an online 360 degree evaluation. Participants that have been selected will now continue into their first modules, where they will work side by side with some of the best motivational instructors specialized in leadership development.”

“The program is a major breakthrough for OAB and our succession planning objectives and those who were not selected to participate in LEAD need not worry as it is the first of many new opportunities to come,” Al Rahbi concluded.

LEAD has been designed in cooperation with Inspirational Development Group (IDG), and will be facilitated by a team from IDG, a global leadership and management performance consultancy. The company has channeled its long history of experience delivering high-quality and intensive work programs to some of the most prestigious organizations in the world. Closely affiliated with the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, IDG has worked with some of the most important public and private sector companies in the region from its Middle East office based in Muscat. Former and current clients include the King Abdullah II Fund for Development in Jordan, Shell Petroleum in Qatar, and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority among others.

Gerry Woods, Regional Director Middle East, IDG, said, “IDG is delighted to be working with Oman Arab Bank to deliver a challenging and thought-provoking LEAD program. LEAD represents a strategic investment in OAB staff capabilities and delegates will be equipped with enhanced leadership behaviors that will ensure effective people development in the coming years. The top delegates will attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as the culmination of the IDG program before embarking upon ongoing personal development plans. LEAD underpins an exciting continuous improvement agenda for people within OAB and the Bank is commended for such an ambitious and rewarding commitment.”

It is worth noting that at the end of the program, participants will be on track to take on leadership positions within the Ban  and advance their career to contribute in furthering the Bank’s success in creating a pool of talented employees. This falls in line with OAB’s objective of preparing and supporting the Sultanate’s national workforce. Today, OAB is proud to have a 94% Omanization rate.

Muscat, October 17^th 2016 – Oman Arab Bank held its annual Omani Women’s Day celebration at its Ghubra Head Office this week in recognition and appreciation of the extraordinary contribution made by its outstanding female employees to all aspects of its activities and operations. Attended by female employees and other staff members management, the celebratory event welcomed OAB CEO Amin Al Husseini and Deputy CEO Rashad Al Musafir as guests of honor.

Expressing his pride in the women of the OAB Team and thanking them for their exceptional efficiency and achievement, CEO Amin Al Husseini said: “At OAB we believe that our motivated and enthusiastic female talent are at the heart of our continued success and growth, helping us build a heritage of trust over three decades.”

“Following the wise guidance of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, OAB plays a proactive role in creating an environment in which our female employees can flourish and achieve their professional goals and ambitions. We foster their talents across all functions, departments, and branches and ensure that they have access to training programs to enhance their skillsets and develop future leaders,” he added.

OAB Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Rashad AlMusafir commented: “It is a great pleasure once again to gather with colleagues and celebrate Omani Women’s Day. In doing so, we acknowledge and honor the important contribution women are making to the legacy of OAB, to the banking sector in general, and to the development and diversification of Oman’s economy, helping create a prosperous future for generations to come.”

An equal opportunities employer with the strategy of becoming Oman’s ‘employer of choice’, the percentage of the females working in Oman Arab Bank is close to 40% of its entire taskforce. The Bank is committed to creating a positive professional environment based on a culture of teamwork, supporting and rewarding employees as they achieve excellence in their positions and progress in their careers in the 65 OAB branches across the Sultanate.

Muscat, 31^st October 2016 – Underlining its dedication to the continued progress and prosperity of the Sultanate, Oman Arab Bank was the proud partner of the ceremony held to mark the conclusion of the second phase of the National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification, Tanfeedh

A core element of Oman’s Ninth Five-Year Development Plan, Tanfeedh is of significant national importance. At this point of the plan, the discussion and consultation stage, domestic and international public and private sector experts were brought together in a six-week long series of intensive discussions to contribute to the country’s strategy of economic diversification and growth.

“It is a privilege to partner with Tanfeedh, a propitious and productive initiative, and an important milestone as the Sultanate moves forward with its strategy of broadening and diversifying the economy,” remarked OAB CEO Amin Al Husseini.

He added: “Committed to supporting Oman’s national development, OAB is working steadfastly with partners in the government and private business community to promote Oman as an attractive and viable investment haven. Furthermore, as the Sultanate’s leader in SME finance, we help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country achieve their ambitions and fulfill their role as engines of job creation.”

Over the last three decades, OAB has contributed to the Sultanate’s economic strength through the financing of major infrastructure, construction and development projects in areas including hydrocarbons, transport, logistics, energy, and health. The Bank actively engages with the international community to promote Oman as a trade and investment partner and offers a range of proven trade finance solutions. Addressing the needs of Oman’s all-important SMEs and start-ups, it has created a range of innovative financial products headed by the new TOMOUHY portfolio of services which includes working capital finance, term loans for capital expenditure, contracts and equipment finance, import and export finance.

Today, OAB operates more than 65 branches and offices, and more than 135 ATMs in high footfall locations across the Sultanate that are supported by Arab Bank’s 600 branches spanning five continents. As of December 31st 2015, the Bank’s total assets stood at RO 1.98 Billion (USD 5.15 Billion) and net worth of RO 226 Million (USD 587 Million).

Muscat, 2^nd November 2016 – 20 participants undergoing the second module of Oman Arab Bank’s (OAB) ‘Leadership Enhancement and Development’ (LEAD) program welcomed a visit from Amin Al Husseini, CEO of OAB. The second part of the unique six-month multi-modular training initiative, which was launched to cultivate the skillsets of the bank’s high-potential Omani employees, aims to enhance the situational leadership, decision-making, and motivational skills of its participants to prepare them for future management roles at OAB.

Since its launch, the program has delivered multiple capacity-building trainings, giving young and talented Omanis working with OAB the chance to enrich their leadership and management skills and position themselves as catalysts in the market. The first part of the program focused on building self-awareness and challenged participants to develop different leadership styles, roles, self-management, and practical coaching techniques.

Al Husseini, who spoke with the trainees during his visit said, “LEAD was inspired by our goal to nurture our Omani workforce and provide them with a fantastic opportunity to grow within the Bank. This is a strategic investment that represents the epitome of our talent acquisition and development strategy to accelerate the professional growth of our future leaders. By granting our team members the tools, instructors and training they require to reach their full potential, we are securing our talent pool and ensuring that they can manage whatever opportunities and challenges come their way.”

LEAD was designed and is being facilitated by Inspirational Development Group (IDG), a global leadership and management performance consultancy. The program consists of four modules organized over a six-month period, with each module covering important skills related to leadership ability. Future modules will include a workshop dedicated to socialization, performance management skills training, advice from senior leaders, and personal development strategic mapping among other topics and themes. The highest performing delegates will then be taken to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as the culmination of the IDG program.

Muscat, 19^th November 2016: Joining the nation in celebrating Oman’s 46^th National Day, Oman Arab Bank held a special event at its Ghubrah Head Office to honor His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for his remarkable vision for the country. The event was steered by the Deputy CEO of Oman Arab Bank, Rashad Al Musafir and was attended by members of the senior management and staff members.

Speaking at the event, Rashad Al Musafir said, “We at OAB congratulate His Majesty and the people of Oman on this momentous milestone. The exemplary leadership showcased by His Majesty has always reflected in Oman’s strong economic position, both regionally and globally. A leader well known for his love and commitment towards the well-being of his people, His Majesty has always encouraged growth and development amongst national talent and worked towards strengthening Oman’s core sectors.”

He added, “Oman boasts a strong and expanding banking and finance sector and with a robust legacy of trust built over three decades, OAB is proud to contribute to the national development and progress of the country. Keeping in line with His Majesty’s dedication to the people of Oman, we are always encouraging and fostering national talent by providing our employees with all the tools and skills they need to become leaders in the field of banking and finance.”

Brightly decorated in the national colors of red, green and white, the office festivities included students performing poetry about their love for the Nation and its achievements.

Established in 1984 following the acquisition of Arab Bank’s branches in the Sultanate, OAB today operates more than 65 branches and offices, and over 135 ATMs in high footfall locations across the Sultanate that are supported by Arab Bank’s 600 branches spanning five continents. With its growing portfolio of services and banking solutions, OAB has strongly engaged with the local, regional and international community to promote the Sultanate as an economic trade and investment powerhouse.