Noor Islamic Bank Wins ’Best New Bank’ At Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2009

Noor Islamic Bank PJSC today announced it has been awarded the ‘Best New Bank’ award at the annual Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2009.

Dr. Ahmed Al Janahi of Noor Islamic Bank received the award at a gala ceremony held in Bahrain recently.

Hussain Al Qemzi, Group CEO of Noor Islamic Bank, said: “We are honoured with the recognition accorded to us by our peers and the industry at large. This award reflects the exceptional work of the Bank’s team, which has worked collaboratively to establish an institution that aims to reshape Islamic finance for future generations.”

Organised annually by Banker Middle East magazine, local, regional and foreign financial institutions operating in the Middle East region are eligible for nomination. The winners are selected by an expert panel of judges from rating agencies, consultancies, card schemes, solution providers and banks.

Launched in January 2008, Noor Islamic Bank has earned a solid reputation for performance, premium service and customer care. As one of its core priorities, it has augmented its electronic banking network to cover more than 84 ATMs and 16 locations across the UAE.

In addition, the bank also provides round-the-clock accessibility and convenience to its clients through a 24×7 branch, self service facilities of Internet banking, phone banking, SMS, as well as electronic cash and cheque deposit services.

Emirates NBD Announces A Strategic Agreement With Flydubai

Emirates NBD, the region’s leading retail banking institution in terms of assets, proudly announces a strategic agreement with flydubai, which will facilitate ticket payments through its vast electronic banking channels.

flydubai is Dubai’s first low cost airline and began commercial operations with flights to Beirut on June 1, 2009. The airline has since begun flights to Amman, on June 2, Damascus on June 8 and Alexandria on June 9.

This agreement, which came into effect in June 2009, is the most recent from a series of initiatives developed by Emirates NBD that has lent support to the UAE government and its various programmes, and adds a new dimension of convenience to the lives of frequent travelers.

With this new partnership, customers booking flights online at www.flydubai.com can pay for their flights through Internet Banking, ATMs, Cash Deposit Machines, via SMS and phone banking services, as well as at the 110 bank branches throughout the UAE.

On this occasion, Jamal Bin Ghalaita, Deputy CEO at Emirates NBD said, “We are proud of our agreement with flydubai, as it facilitates tickets purchase and payment through our electronic banking network, which is the largest in the region; it also gives us yet another opportunity to provide the citizens and residents of the UAE with a service that offers them absolute convenience.”

“Like all UAE government programmes, flydubai is a visionary airline that will provide travelers with an affordable option to travel around the GCC region, and we will continue to contribute in adding more benefiots and options to flydubai services through our extensive electronic network consisting of eBanking, SMS Banking, ATMs, CDMs and others,” he added.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said: “At flydubai we are committed to making travel a little less complex, a little less stressful and a little less expensive. It is important to us to make it as easy as possible for our customers to book and pay for their tickets. Partnering with Emirates NBD ensures we are able to offer our customers a stress free and easily accessible means of paying for their flights.”

flydubai, will cover a region of some two billion inhabitants located within a 4.5hrs flight time from Dubai. It will support Dubai’s commercial and tourism sectors by serving a particular demographic of travelers and will give them an affordable air link to popular, high-demand destinations.

The flydubai model is simple, with customers paying for the services they want. The ticket price includes all taxes and a generous hand baggage allowance of 10kg. From there, customers are able to select other services at an additional charge. flydubai will operate from an enhanced and modernised Terminal 2 on the north side of Dubai International Airport.

Dubai Trade adds Mashreq to its centralised e-payment gateway Rosoom

Dubai Trade, the innovative online platform of Dubai World, has signed an agreement with Mashreq, a premier bank in the UAE, to offer the bank’s Direct Debit Services to clients using Dubai Trade’s e-payment services.The partnership, the first of its kind to offer dual sign-in facility, enables customers of Dubai Trade’s centralized e-payment gateway ROSOOM to use Mashreqbusinessonline, Mashreq bank’s online Direct Debit Services platform, to settle their monetary transactions with global marine terminal operator DP World and Jebel Ali Free Zone, Jafza.The agreement was signed on June 3 by Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, in his capacity as Member of Board of Dubai Trade, and Yasmeen Javaid, Divisional Manager – Transaction Banking Services, Corporate & Investment Banking Group, Mashreq in the presence of Mahmood Al Bastaki, Director of Dubai Trade.The online payment service enables real-time transfer of funds from the customer’s Mashreq account to the accounts of DP World and Jafza.It is the first model of its kind that facilitates dual sign-in, enabling customers to access both services at the same time and make payments by simply using internet banking credentials.ROSOOM offers customers multiple transaction methods to settle their bills. This secure, single-window electronic facility helps them save on time and cost.Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, and Member of Board of Dubai Trade, said:"The partnership with Mashreq bank brings added value to all stakeholders. Our strategy has always been customer centric and we believe our association with Mashreq will further enhance this approach."Mahmood Al Bastaki, Director of Dubai Trade, said: "Dubai Trade is pleased to be associated with Mashreq on its Direct Debit Services. Our central e-payment gateway has by now become one of the most preferred online platforms for customers in their dealings with Jebel Ali Port and the Free Zone, and Dubai Customs. The agreement with Mashreq on the new dual sign-in model is another major step that brings these companies and their customers closer. At Dubai Trade, our primary aim is to serve our customers better by utilising technology, and ultimately benefiring trade in the emirate."Omar Bouhadiba, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking, Mashreq said: "We are proud to partner with Dubai World group, which includes some of the biggest companies in the country, to serve our customers better. Mashreq’s online payment platform ensures efficiency at the highest level. This agreement enables our customers to use Dubai Trade’s excellent e-payment services that have won wide acclaim for their user-friendliness and high technical standards."