Muscat, July 25, 2017: Oman Arab Bank (OAB), with a continued focus on professional development, recently conducted a specialised audit workshop at the OAB Head office in Al-Ghubra. The workshop, which was held in collaboration with Ominvest and Oman LNG, witnessed the participation of 13 staff from the three different organisations.

Commenting on the importance of conducting professional development in the workplace, Salah Abdullah Al Sharji, Head of Internal Audit said, “We place a great emphasis on developing the skills and capabilities of everyone within OAB. Holding workshops such as these is an important part of our professional development process for team members. The themes of this workshop highlighted risk analysis, international audit standards and methodologies, proper utilisation of audit tools, and improving overall efficiency and techniques when finalising audit reports. In a financial environment, professional audit capabilities are critical for organisational transparency.”

Organised by the Internal Audit Team at Oman Arab Bank, the workshop was sponsored by the Bank and conducted in collaboration with Ominvest and Oman LNG. Heading the workshop were trainers from US-based PEF Associates, Inc, who focused on best practice techniques to strategize and draft audit reports based on risk-based auditing techniques.

“The workshop was a great success, providing the participants with much more effective report writing strategies and auditing techniques. Given the overwhelmingly positive response we have received from participants, we will most definitely look into conducting similar collaborative workshops in the future” Salah Al Sharji added.

PEF Associates, lnc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). They have been providing training and consulting services to audit departments for twenty-five years. Their highly interactive workshops focus on report development and root cause analysis. They are also pre-qualified by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and Information Systems Audit & Control Association (ISACA).

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and 148 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

Muscat, July 30, 2017: Oman Arab Bank (OAB), one of the first banks to be established in the Sultanate, recently signed a new partnership with Oman United Exchange Company (OUE) to make it even more convenient for customers to transfer remittances abroad for lower services fees. The signing ceremony for the partnership was held at Oman Arab Bank head office. Representing OAB at the ceremony was Rashad Al Shaikh, DGM Retail Banking, while Mr. Syed Faraz Ahmed, General Manager represented the exchange company.

The partnership will enable OAB customers to make International Transfers to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines, and Egypt, at a discounted rate of just OMR 1.500 at any OUE location by using their debit cards at the POS machines installed at each outlet. Furthermore, all POS charges at the branches will be waived for OAB customers.

Commenting on the new partnership Rashad Al Shaikh said, “Our collaboration with OUE allows us to forge a mutually beneficial strategic partnership between our two institutions. It is also in-line with the strategy of the Bank in aiming to reach out to a broader client base; offering them flexible, innovative, and cost effective financial solutions specially designed to cater to their specific needs.”

“As with OAB, we are always on the lookout for opportunities to make our services readily available to a broader spectrum of our customer base, while at the same time making our services even more affordable. This partnership has enabled us achieve exactly this, allowing us to offer bank transfers to the most commonly used countries at a rate unmatched by the market,” added Mr. Syed Faraz Ahmed  the General Manager of OUE.

“The ability to transfer money directly from POS machines located at OUE sites at special rates exclusive to our customers will offer them great value. It will also provide them with total peace-of-mind by not having them worry about withdrawing or carrying large sums of cash from location to location. As such, I am confident this partnership will be a value addition to the services offered by both OAB and OUE,” concluded Rashad.

Additional information can also be obtained at each of the seven OUE branches; located in Ruwi, Salalah, Ghubra, Sohar, Salalah Industrial Area, Barka, and Duqm.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 56 branches and offices and over 135 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

Muscat, August 22, 2017 – Oman Arab Bank (OAB) recently held its seventh monthly draw of this year’s ‘Hassad’ Savings Scheme live at the Salalah Gardens Mall. The draw event was held under the auspices of Khalid Ahmed Al Rawahi, director general of manpower in Dhofar Governorate, and was attended by Ahmed Al Kharusi, Head of Regional Management and Branches Support department of the Bank together with other senior members of the Bank’s Retail Department. Totaling 100 winners, the draw, which was focused on the Dhofar region for the month of July, saw 23 winners from each of the Bank’s four branches located in Dhofar receive OMR 1,000 each together with a further 30 winners from across the Bank’s branch network receiving OMR 500 each and ten winners of the OMR 250 for the Bank’s child account holders. The draw also saw one customers from the Dhofar region win the Bumper Draw of OMR 25,000, as well as an Elite Draw winner of OMR 25,000. In addition, the Bank also held a special Khareef draw where 35 winners received OMR 300 each.

Fahd Amjed, GM of Retail Banking at OAB said, “With the Khareef season now in full swing in Dhofar, we felt that hosting our Region-focused Hassad Saving Scheme Draws in Dhofar would be a perfect fit. Better still, we also held a special Khareef draw to complement the festivities.”

The draw event, which was held at the Salalah Gardens Mall, saw a number of fun activities being held for children including face painting, games, contests, and even dedicated drawing areas. There were also some special prize draws conducted for attendees of the event.

“With this, our draw for July, we have passed the half way mark of our Hassad Savings Scheme for 2017. There are still hundreds of cash prizes to be won however. So on behalf of OAB, I would like to first congratulate each of the 100 winners of our ‘Hassad’ savings scheme draw for the month of July; and also wish all our customers the best of luck for the remainder of the draws will continue until the end of 2017,” added Fahd.

The Hassad savings scheme for 2017 ensures customers from every region and branch have an equal opportunity to win, with OAB conducting prize draws every month alternating between regions and nationwide draws. Each of the draw will ensure a minimum of two winners of OMR 1,000 per branch in that respective region, together with multiple winners of OMR 500 across all branches and one Bumper draw of OMR 25,000 per month. OAB customers need only open a ‘Hassad’ account with a minimum balance of OMR 100, in order to be eligible for these prize draws. The Bank will also be conducting region and nationwide draws for children’s accounts with 10 winners of OMR 250 per month.

Oman Arab Bank’s banking proposition ‘Elite’ for High Net worth customers will also benefit from the revised Hassad scheme. Elite customers will now be participating in a dedicated monthly draws with a prize pot of OMR 25,000 monthly, and the upcoming year-end prize draw in December of OMR 50,000.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

Muscat, 09 October, 2017 | Oman Arab Bank (OAB) have announced the appointment of Mr. Adil bin Ali Al Rahbi as the new Head of the Human Resources (HR) Division. In his new role, Adil will oversee all strategic HR functions at the Bank in accordance with international best practice. These functions will include talent acquisition and retention, human capital planning, ongoing training programmes, digital learning, organisational culture, and professional development.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Amin Al Husseini, CEO of OAB said, “We believe in the skills and capabilities of our national workforce; skills that qualify them to hold senior positions in the Bank. It is through their efforts, and the efforts of everyone within the Bank that we continue to move OAB closer to its ultimate goal of becoming the number one bank of choice for employees and Omani professionals. We value and invest in our staff, in turn ensuring that we provide a consistently high level of service that meets the expectations of our valued customers.”

“On behalf of the management and staff at OAB, I wish Adil Al Rahbi the best of luck for his new position. I am confident that his experience of over 27 years in the fields of staff management and training, will enable us to further enhance the HR capabilities at the Bank; ensuring that our staff benefit from world-class professional development and organisational excellence,” added Amin Al Husseini.

Adil Al Rahbi has over 27 years of experience in his field and began working with OAB in February 2015 as the Head of Employee and Organisational Development. He cooperated with the team in order to create a paradigm shift in the role human resources plays; establishing it as a strategic partner in achieving bank targets and managing the change in order to ensure continuous development of the staff. He joined the bank with a long track record of experience, having worked with numerous organizations spanning several sectors. He began his career as the Head of Training at a governmental body. Following which, he moved to Qatar taking up a position as the Administrative Services Manager in one of the biggest international companies in the country. He then returned to Oman joining the private sector for eight years.

Al Rahbi holds MSc in Human Resource Management and Training from the University of Leicester, UK. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Maritime Management from Australia and a Diploma in Police Sciences from the Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Sciences.

This assignment comes as part of the Bank’s strategy in the field of developing human resources and providing the best possible opportunities towards career progression. This was clearly reflected in the number of young staff that recently qualified and were assigned to senior positions in various departments and fields within the Bank, following their enrolment in the ‘Qiyada’ program. This strategy will be promoted to include all job categories by designing training programs and workshops that satisfy their functional needs. To this end, several new projects and initiatives were launched; including the likes of the ‘Masar’ electronic performance management system and the Competency Matrix project for all jobs. A further reflection of the Bank’s commitment towards providing opportunities for career growth amongst all job categories, it launched the ‘Ta’heel’ program for developing the skills of employees, among other programs.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 57 branches and 8 representative offices across and 148 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

New flagship branch prominently located at Burj Al Amal and open from 8 am to 4pm

Muscat, October 18, 2017: Oman Arab bank (OAB) has officially opened their new flagship branch located in Qurum. The new branch has been relocated from its previous location at Al Araimi complex to a more prominent and easily accessible location at Burj Al Amal in Qurum. With the opening of the customer centric branch, OAB aims to deliver enhanced banking facilities in the greater Qurum area, offering efficient and readily accessible services from the new flagship premises.

The official opening took place on October 16, under the auspices of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sa’eedi, the Minister of Legal Affairs, and was attended by Amin Al Husseini, CEO of Oman Arab Bank, and Rashad Al Musafir, DCEO of Oman Arab Bank; together with other members of the Bank’s staff.

Commenting on the launch of the branch, Amin Al Husseini noted, “The new Qurum branch is accorded flagship status due to its generous size and spacious layout and is one of the first ‘next generation’ branches to be rolled out in Oman. The branch features the very best in technology, products, and most importantly – personal service – that we as a bank are proud to offer. As a result, this new branch will elevate the banking experience for our customers which is a key priority in our nationwide transformation strategy.

The new Qurum branch features an enhanced brand identity with a refreshed look and feel. The sleek, modern, and streamlined look is augmented by a number of features and systems introduced as part of these new transformed branches. For starters, the branch has seen the introduction of a meet and greet facility with a streamlined queuing system, video walls for bank news, private advisory spaces with moving monitor screens for a more personal interaction, together with digital signature pads and ID Card readers within the advisory station design.

Aesthetically, as with the other ‘new’ branches, the new Qurum branch takes its design inspiration from the ‘Omani Skyline’, wherein the white symbolises Omani architecture, browns denote the sand deserts, grey referencing the mountains, and the blue glass overhangs representing the sky.

The new branch also has a separate ‘Elite’ reception, lounge, and offices, in order to provide premium customers with an elegant and private experience that remains memorable. The branch transformation combines elements of design, form, and function and aims to elevate the customer experience as a whole resulting in better service.

“As one of our flagship branches, the new Qurum branch will be amongst our largest in the country, and helps serve our growing customer base in the capital. It also further reaffirms our commitment to our customers to deliver a range of fast and efficient banking solutions that will set new standards for consumer banking in the Sultanate,” added Rashad Al Shaikh, DGM of Retail Banking at Oman Arab Bank.

Oman Arab Bank is one of the first banks to be established in Oman, with a rich and proud history. Today, the bank operates a nationwide network of 65 branches and 8 representative offices across and 148 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.