Muscat, November 12, 2017: Highlighting its commitment to nurture and develop future leaders within the banking and finance sector, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has announced the launch of the second edition of its talent development program entitled ‘Leadership Enhancement And Development’ (LEAD). As part of the announcement, the Bank also mentioned that 20 talented Omani staff members will undertake the intensive six-month training program, preparing them for future leadership positions within Oman Arab Bank.

Commenting on OAB’s LEAD program, Amin Al Husseini, Chief Executive Officer of OAB said, “LEAD is a unique and specialised leadership training program that aims to cultivate the talents of high potential Omanis with guidance from internationally renowned experts. The six month program has been designed to utilise best practices in order to empower participants with opportunity, managerial expertise, and high-level workplace solutions. The 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.”

Adil Al Rahbi, Head of the Human Resources Division added, “LEAD (1) was an incredible success for the Bank with every candidate completing the course with flying colours, and I expect the same with our 20 new candidates. One of the unique factors underpinning the success of the program is the fact that the selection process is carried out regardless of employee grade. The only requirement is for them to show true potential as leaders within their departments and to demonstrate a willingness to contribute beyond their normal role.”

The 20 new ‘LEAD’ candidates have been selected from  across all employee rankings within the bank, and pinpointing our most talented staff members. Their acceptance into the leadership programme is preceded by a robust and constructive development centre.  Participants will commence on their first training modules, where they will work side by side with some of the best motivational experts who are specialised in leadership development. As the course progresses, each of the candidates will be equipped with enhanced leadership skills and behaviours that will ensure effective people development in the coming years. LEAD (2) features an additional module on business innovation from Cass Business School and other activities related to team building in addition to group projects.

LEAD has been developed in line with the management’s strategy to ensure continuous development of OAB talent. Earlier this year, the HR Division kicked-off high-potential identification process which aims to identify the high potentials (HiPos) in various departments and disciplines across the Bank. These selections are made based on their qualifications, potential to grow and handle future key positions, and have the attributes required for progression to more senior levels. At the end of this process, various development options are considered for those spotted as high potentials; LEAD was the program that was at the top of the list.

“The program falls in line with our objective of building a pool of talented employees, and in turn preparing and supporting the Sultanate’s national workforce,” concluded Adil.

The ‘LEAD’ programme has been designed in cooperation with Inspirational Development Group (IDG), and is facilitated by a team from IDG, a globally renowned leadership and management performance consultancy. The company has channelled 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.

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 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, November 28, 2017: Following the recent launch of the second edition of the ‘Leadership Enhancement And Development’ (LEAD) talent programme, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has announced that 20 qualified LEAD candidates have now completed the first module of the leadership development initiative.

Commenting on the completion of the first module Adil Al Rahbi, Head of the Human Resources Division said, “Prior to being selected, all LEAD candidates were required to complete an online 360 degree evaluation and the 20 that were shortlisted were then also required to complete the online Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) survey. Our first module of LEAD ‘2’ has focused on studying the individual results of these assessments in the context of self-awareness.”

The first LEAD module has been conducted over the course of two days from November 20 to 21 and examined the personal reports generated by the 360 degree and SDI survey which was then presented to each of the 20 delegates as important components in self-awareness and managing themselves as leaders. Additionally, Module 1 of this six-month multi-modular leadership development initiative also focused on several other key topics namely Personal Brand, Self-Discipline, Leadership Styles, Balancing Leadership Roles, Practical Coaching, and Presentation Skills.

“As with LEAD ‘1’, the entire programme will be delivered in 4 x 2-day and 1 x 3-day modules spread across six months between November 2017 and May 2018. Each module will involve experiential learning as its principle methodology. There will also be two Socialisation Workshops; the first of which will be conducted before Module 1, while the second will take place after Module 2. In between modules 3 and 4, the delegates will be split into four groups of five delegates each and will be challenged with business project topics of keen interest to OAB,” added Adil. “As the programme progresses, each of the delegates will get the opportunity to work side by side with some of the best motivational experts specialised in leadership development. Furthermore, they will be equipped with enhanced leadership skills and behaviours that will ensure effective career development for years to come.”

LEAD is a unique and specialised leadership development program that aims to cultivate the talents of high potential Omanis with guidance from internationally renowned experts. The six-month programme has been designed to utilise best practices in order to empower participants with opportunity, managerial expertise, and high-level workplace solutions.

The ‘LEAD’ programme has been designed in cooperation with Inspirational Development Group (IDG) and is facilitated by a team from IDG, a globally renowned leadership and management performance consultancy. The company has channelled its long history of experience delivering high-quality and intensive work programmes to some of the most prestigious organisations 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.

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 representative offices 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, December 25, 2017: Oman Arab Bank (OAB), in order to further improve its corporate and institutional customers’ overall banking experience, has announced the launch of a new E-Payment Gateway facility. The new service is part of the Bank’s innovation roadmap to contribute in the digital economy by improving the electronic payment ecosystem. The Bank’s public and private sector corporate clients will be able to receive payments online through website and mobile applications for products offered and services rendered. OAB is a pioneer of electronic payments in Oman and with this financial service, will now strengthen its range of merchant payment acceptance solutions.

Commenting on the latest development, Fahd Bin Amjad, General Manager Retail Banking at OAB said, “In line with the vision of the Sultanate’s vision, the financial services industry is innovating rapidly to move towards a cashless society. This will bring transparency and convenience for all customers at large. At OAB, we believe that simplifying and digitizing payments is a cornerstone for economic development. OAB iPAY is a highly secure and intelligent online payment acceptance solution that will help our corporate customers expand their businesses in the digital world. ”

In order to subscribe to the service, corporate customers will require a simple Application Programming Interface (API) based integration with OAB iPAY. The bank will assist and supervise the process, which can be completed in as little as 2 weeks. All transactions processed through the customer website or mobile application receive an instant response of approval or decline. The approved transactions are credited real time into the corporate customer’s account, which is a feature unique to only OAB iPAY in Oman. There is also a team dedicated to providing support to the customers as well as a 24/7 fraud monitoring system.

“We seek to provide our customers a swift and reliable service, one that is fully compliant with CBO regulations. Customer experience is at the heart of our strategy. With this solution, we are bringing together the latest in technology and the best in customer relationship management.” Fahd Amjad added.

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 representative offices 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, December 27, 2017: Oman Arab Bank (OAB) guarantees to provide only the best in financial solutions and customer experience and has launched a refurbished branch in Muscat City Centre. The new customer-focused branch is located within the mall to facilitate better accessibility for the Bank’s customers alongside delivering enhanced banking services over extended banking hours.

The official ceremony took place on December 27, and the branch was inaugurated by Amin Al Husseini, CEO of Oman Arab Bank. Also in attendance were executive members of the Bank and staff from the branch.

Commenting on the launch of the new branch, Fahd Amjad, General Manager of Retail Banking Group at Oman Arab Bank stated, “The opening of the renovated branch in Muscat City Centre highlights our fifth launch for the year. Like the other branches, it also features only the best in technology and products, together with personalised levels of service. With this newly transformed branch, which was carried out as part of our ongoing nationwide transformation strategy, we seek to further improve the banking experience for our customers in and around the Wilayat of Seeb.”

As with the recently opened flagship branches in Qurum and Barka, the new Seeb branch also 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 the new transformed branches. This also includes the meet and greet facility, similar to the ones introduced with the flagship branches, which include a streamlined queuing system, private advisory spaces with moving monitor screens for a more personal interaction, digital signature pads, and ID card readers within the advisory station design.

Aesthetically, as with the other ‘new-look’ branches, the Muscat City Centre 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 provides ‘Elite’ services to grant 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.

“We believe our branches must reflect the commitment we have to providing the absolute best in customer experience for our customers. The opening of this new branch will help us meet and exceed the expectations and banking needs of our customers, both retail and corporate, in the area and take us one more step closer to our strategic goal of being the bank of choice for customers across the country. Furthermore, this branch is designed to be a full service branch that operates from 9 A.M to 4 P.M, Sunday through Thursday,” Fahd added.

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 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, January 17, 2018: Reinforcing its commitment to nurture and develop future leaders within the banking and finance sector, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) recently hosted a graduation ceremony for the members of its staff that successfully participated in and completed the first edition of its talent development program titled ‘Leadership Enhancement And Development’ (LEAD). As part of the ceremony, each of the 20 talented Omani staff members were presented with a certificate and a token of appreciation from the Bank. The graduation ceremony was held at Bait Al Zubair, under the auspices of H.E. Tahir bin Salim bin Abdullah Al Amri, the Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman. The event was attended by Khalid Al Zubair, Chairman of Ominvest (Oman International Development and Investment Company SAOG), and overseen by Amin Al Husseini, Chief Executive Officer of OAB.

Commenting on OAB’s LEAD program, Amin Al Husseini, Chief Executive Officer of OAB noted, “LEAD is a unique and specialised leadership training program that has been developed in line with the management’s strategy to ensure the continuous development of OAB talent. As such, the program begins each year with the identification process for high potentials (HiPos) in various departments and disciplines across the Bank; conducted by the Bank’s HR Division. These selections are not dependent on their grade or department; they are based purely on their qualifications, potential to grow and handle future key positions, together with the necessary attributes to progress to more senior levels. Following such a carefully moderated system helps us in building a pool of talented employees, while at the same time also contribute towards supporting and building up the Sultanate’s national workforce.”

The event commenced with a speech by Adil Al Rahbi, Head of the Human Resources Division, who said, “The six month program, which has been developed with guidance from the globally renowned leadership and management performance consultancy firm Inspirational Development Group (IDG), utilises best practices in order to empower participants with opportunity, managerial expertise, and high-level workplace solutions. LEAD (1) has been an incredible success for the Bank with each of its 20 candidates acing the course. In fact, a majority of them have already taken up positions of greater responsibility within the Bank.”

Shortly after Adil’s speech, a short video was played that provided the attendees with a quick insight into the LEAD program and the participants’ journey over the course of the year. This video was then followed by a speech by Gerry Woods, the Middle East Regional Director at Inspirational Development Group (IDG), the company who helped develop the program and conducted the training.

Commenting on the successful outcome of OAB’s LEAD programme, Gerry Woods noted, “It has been my privilege to work closely with the bank to deliver leadership excellence, and I commend the CEO Amin Husseini for his foresight in instigating such a challenging developmental programme. Leadership is a privilege, and I believe that if this philosophy is embraced, leaders at all levels can set the conditions for the success of their colleagues.”

“The LEAD journey begins by being able to manage oneself and the impact individual behaviours can have on others. This can be a real eye-opener for many people as behaviours and their effects are made explicit even for very experienced delegates; even after just the first module, we can see changes occurring.” Gerry Woods added.

Sara AlKalbani a LEAD (1) graduate, then addressed the audience saying, “This program has been an incredible learning experience for each one of us; having been taught a number of new skills that have already had a significant positive impact in our day-to-day jobs. On behalf of every candidate I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Members of the Board and the Executive Management at OAB for providing us with this valuable opportunity. It has benefitted each one of us greatly and will no doubt reflect positively in our performance going forward.”

Following the conclusion of the speeches, each of the graduates were handed a certificate and a token of appreciation from H.E. Tahir bin Salim bin Abdullah Al Amri for their successful completion of the course.

Congratulating each of the graduates, Amin Al Husseini said, “On behalf of board and executive management at OAB, I would like to congratulate each of our 20 graduates of LEAD (1). I hope their success in the LEAD course and subsequent promotions to positions of higher responsibility will inspire other staff within the Bank to work harder and put in extra effort for an opportunity to be selected in future LEAD programs.”

The graduation ceremony follows in the footsteps of the launch of the LEAD (2) program launched in November 2017. As with LEAD (1) the 20 new LEAD (2) candidates were also selected from across all employee rankings within the bank, pinpointing the Bank’s most talented staff members. Their acceptance into the leadership programme was preceded by a robust and constructive development centre. The participants have already commence on their first training modules, where they work side by side with some of the best motivational experts, specialised in leadership development. As the course progresses, each of the candidates will be equipped with enhanced leadership skills and behaviours that will ensure effective people development in the coming years. LEAD (2) also features an additional module on business innovation from Cass Business School and other activities related to team building in addition to group projects.

The ‘LEAD’ programme has been designed in cooperation with Inspirational Development Group (IDG), and is facilitated by a team from IDG, a globally renowned leadership and management performance consultancy. The company has channelled 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.

The LEAD graduation ceremony saw the attendance of Excellencies, members of the board and senior management of Oman Arab Bank, together with representatives from the banking sector in Oman and senior figures from the private sector.

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 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.