OAB CONCLUDES LEAD 3 SOCIALISATION WORKSHOP FOR HIGH-POTENTIAL STAFF

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Muscat, March 28, 2019 – Oman Arab Bank (OAB) recently held the Socialisation Workshop for the third edition of its ongoing Leadership Enhancement and Development (LEAD) program. Organised at the specially designed Training Centre at the Bank’s headquarters in Al Ghubra, the workshop attended by four member of the executive management of the bank offered LEAD delegates with the opportunity to gain invaluable career insights.

The program will offer LEAD delegates with the opportunity to gain invaluable career insights from members of the Bank’s LEAD Mentoring Group (LMG). LMG represents a number of the Bank’s senior management team and various heads of groups, divisions, and departments. Formed to provide maximum support and guidance, the group also identifies potential talents in the various banking and finance fields and mentors them to reach their true potential in the industry.

Commenting on the workshop, Adil Al Rahbi, Head of the Human Resources Division said, “Our LEAD program has been designed to draw out the true potential from some our most promising staff and providing them with the necessary tools to become future leaders of the Bank. This workshop in particular provides them with an opportunity to learn directly from members of the LMG.”

The socialisation workshop was aimed at providing each of the 20 new LEAD 3 candidates with feedback on their progress so far, while also touching upon key elements for their upcoming modules, the first of which is to be conducted shortly.

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.

“We have always been dedicated towards facilitating the growth and development of our Omani staff, providing them with all the key skills and opportunities they need to grow within the bank and take on positions of greater responsibility. Our LEAD program is by far one of our most popular and successful such programs, one that every member of staff strives to be a part of,” concluded Adil.

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 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides the complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Commemorates Earth Hour with Staff Gathering

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Muscat, April 01, 2019: As part of its continued commitment towards promoting and raising awareness on environment and energy conservation, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) hosted a special candle-lit staff gathering in commemoration of Earth Hour. As is tradition for the annual global celebration, OAB switched off all lights at its head office once again this year for one hour on Saturday, March 30.

Commenting on the Bank’s participation in Earth Hour, Hilal O. Al Siyabi, Head of Corporate Communication said, “As one of the more prominent banks in the country and in line with our Corporate Sustainability objectives, we believe that it is our responsibility to serve as an example for the wider society to adopt a sustainable and responsible attitude towards preserving the environment. Supporting the Earth Hour is one such way we can do so, while at the same time help spread awareness on the impact wasteful energy consumption has on our environment.”

This two-part event comes as part of OAB’s ongoing CSR initiatives and continued commitment towards environment conservation. Starting from 8:30pm on March 30, the Bank switched off all lights at its Head Office for one hour. During this time, a live band food corner, and board games keep people entertained. Children also enjoyed a spot of colouring on a large prominently displayed wall commemorating the Earth Hour.

“The more people that we have supporting such initiatives, the easier it becomes to encourage the wider public to adopt habits that aid conservation of our precious resources in their day-to-day lives. As such, it was pleasing to see such a good turnout from our staff and their families at the event. On behalf of the management, I would like to thank each and every one of them for their attendance and for their support in making this event a success,” added Hilal Al-Siyabi.

Outside of the earth hour, OAB, as part of its day-to-day operations, actively continues to introduce a number of technology driven initiatives that aim to protect the environment. One such example is the Bank’s policy of interacting with its customers using primarily only e-statements and SMS notifications, in order to save on paper. It also follows a similar principal for all internal communications amongst staff, keeping paper usage to an absolute minimum. The Bank’s focus on environment and energy conservation is also evident in the environmentally friendly technology installed at its Head Office. These include auto sensors throughout all offices and corridors, which means that lights are automatically switched off when no one is present and as a result, a considerable amount of power is saved on a regular basis.

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 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

Oman Arab Bank Celebrates Graduation of New LEAD Batch

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Muscat, March 17, 2019: In its latest step towards the development of its Omani staff, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) recently organised a special ceremony to celebrate the graduation of the second batch of employees who have now successfully completed the Leadership Enhancement and Development program (LEAD). The ceremony was held under the patronage of H E Hamad bin Khamis al Amri, Undersecretary for Labour Affairs in the Ministry of Manpower, and was overseen by Rashad Al Musafir, the CEO of the Bank, together with several members of the executive management and senior staff of the Bank. The ceremony, organised at Bait Al Zubair, witnessed the handing over of graduation certificates to each of the 20 ‘LEAD 2’ candidates.

Commenting on the graduation of the second batch of LEAD, Rashad Al Musafir noted, “We are proud to see our second batch of employees completing LEAD, a program which has been designed specifically to develop young talent and reinforce the executive management of the Bank with highly competent staff at all levels. This will ensure our ability to keep up with rapid changes in the banking world and grow to become the leading bank in the sector.”

Adil Al Rahbi, Head of Human Resources Division at OAB further added, “The six-month training program, designed in cooperation with the globally renowned leadership and management consultant firm, Inspirational Development Group, combines the best international practices in order to empower the participants with the required managerial skills and knowledge to assume leadership positions within the Bank in the future. The graduation of the second batch of LEAD candidates today is a reflection of our commitment towards empowering our future leaders. The majority of LEAD graduates will take upnew managerial and leadership roles within their respective divisions across various branches of the Bank. This focus on developing our Omani staff is further reflected in our position as a sector leader with regards to Omanisation.”

The ceremony included a short presentation showcasing the participants’ journey during LEAD 2 over the past few months. Gerry Woods from Inspirational Development Group then delivered a speech in which he said, “The excellent relationship between OAB and IDG continues to exemplify our joint effort and dedication towards delivering leadership excellence through the LEAD programme. A great degree of credit for the success of LEAD has to go to the CEO’s personal leadership and vision for the programme and as well as the close involvement and stewardship demonstrated consistently by Mr Adil Al Rahbi as the Head of the Bank’s HR division.”

Ayman Al Shihi, a LEAD graduate from the Human Resources Division gave the graduates speech, in which he said, “The LEAD programme has challenged us in terms of financial and organisational management. This has notably improved our ability to analyse obstacles, understand them, and then come up with the appropriate decisions and steps required to overcome them. In doing so, we have gained greater insight into the key elements and qualities required to ensure success within the banking sector. On behalf of all my colleagues, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Board of Directors, the Executive Management, and the Human Resources Division of the Bank for providing us with such a valuable opportunity.”

The chief guest handed over the certificates to the graduates together with the CEO, who congratulating the participants said, “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management of OAB, I would like to congratulate each one of the LEAD 2 graduates, and hope their achievement will serve as inspiration for their colleagues to work hard and put in greater efforts in order to get an opportunity of their own to apply for the upcoming batches of the program.”

The LEAD 2 graduation ceremony also witnessed the introduction of its new LEAD 3 candidates. The 20 candidates included staff from across various departments of the Bank and had already begun training on the first workshops of the program in February.  In the coming months, they will be provided with opportunities to interact with some of the best and most experienced leadership development experts in the industry, ensuring career development and growth for years to come.

The Human Resources Division conducts an annual online 360-degree evaluation of the leadership capabilities of its employees across all departments of the Bank in order to select potential candidates for the program. This program aims to build a team of highly qualified staff as part of the Bank’s management and at the same time contribute towards the development of human capital within the Sultanate as a whole.

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 proud to have achieved the highest Omanisation percentage within the banking sector, nearing 96%. It is also 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 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB also provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate, and investment clients.

OAB Organises Clean-up of Al Ghubrah Beach in Collaboration with ESO

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Muscat, March 21, 2019: As part of its continued commitment to the community, Oman Arab Bank (OAB), in collaboration with the Environment Society of Oman (ESO), recently organised a clean-up initiative at the Al Ghubrah Beach. The event saw the participation of over 40 participants consisting of ESO and OAB employees, together with their families.

Commenting on the beach clean-up, Hilal Omar al Siyabi, Head of the Corporate Social Responsibility Department at OAB noted, “There is much more to Corporate Social Responsibility than just providing financial support to NGOs and related social activities. For us here at OAB, we strongly believe that it should include opportunities for direct engagement of our employees with the community, which in turn will reflect positively on both parties. This is why we have always put increased focus on promoting a culture of volunteer work among our staff.”

The Bank also believes that serving the community is a national obligation and one that all members of society should be a part of. This event comes as part of OAB’s CSR initiatives, with OAB employees and their families showing great enthusiasm in joining hands with staff from the ESO to clean the Beach and reveal its true beauty and its prominence as one of the key tourism destinations in Muscat.

“We are also proud to have collaborated with ESO on this initiative. It is a wonderful organisation filled with like-minded people seeking to preserve the beauty of Oman for future generations. It was a genuine pleasure to see this initiative achieve success with such a good turnout from both parties and we look forward to working with them again in the future for other similar initiatives,” added Hilal al Siyabi.

ESO was founded in March 2004 by Omanis representing different regions and many different professional backgrounds. Membership is open to anyone above the age of 18 who has an interest in conserving the environment and ensuring that Oman’s natural heritage remains intact for future generations to enjoy.

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 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

Oman Arab Bank Reveals Hasaad Savings Scheme for 2019

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Muscat, January 13, 2019: In line with its objective of encouraging the habit of saving amongst its customers, Oman Arab Bank (OAB), has announced the launch of its new ‘Hasaad’ Savings Scheme for 2019. The new scheme has been designed to offer customers increased chances of winning across all the Bank’s branches, as part of the monthly branch draws. Others include monthly draws for Elite and new monthly draws for Youth and Children’s account holders, to encourage savings amongst the younger generation. In addition, the new savings scheme will also include to major quarterly prize draws.

Commenting on the new program and the children and youth-focused draws, Fahd Amjad, the General Manager of Retail Banking at OAB said, “With the Hasaad Savings Scheme we aim to encourage the habit of saving among our clients for a more secure and prosperous future. We have placed special emphasis on our Children’s and Youth account holders this year; with special draws conducted specifically for these accounts on a monthly basis. In addition, we have brought back our popular monthly Branch draws and Elite draws, as well as introduced a bonus special quarterly prize draw; providing everyone with an opportunity to win great cash prizes and be rewarded for their savings.”

Hasaad Savings Scheme in its current edition offers the Bank’s clients across all regions and branches a chance to win one of several valuable prizes on a monthly basis. These prizes come as part of the Bank’s monthly draws which will see 87 lucky winners, a minimum of one winner in each branch, of OMR 500 monthly and OMR 1,000 each every quarter; ten winners of OMR 100 each for Children’s account holders aged 18 and below; 20 winners of OMR 100 each for Youth account holders aged between 18 and 25; and two winners of OMR 10,000 each as part of the monthly Elite Draw. The latter Elite draw, however, will see its monthly draw replaced by a Grand Prize draw of OMR 100,000 for one lucky Elite customer in December. In addition to these monthly draws, the Bank will also be conducting a special ‘Big Prize’ draw of OMR 25,000 for one winner across its branch network at the end of every quarter.

Fahd Amjad added, “With well over 100 winners per month, 2019 will see amongst the largest number of winners ever for our Hasaad Savings Scheme; totalling 1,431 winners before the Scheme comes to an end with the December draw. With so many prizes lined up, 2019 is no doubt going to be a very exciting year for our customers. On behalf of the Bank, I would like to wish all of them the very best of luck in the upcoming draws.”

OAB customers can easily open a ‘Hasaad’ account with a minimum balance of OMR 100, in order to be eligible for most of the prize draws.

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 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB to Launch Host of Innovative Digital Solutions Today

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Muscat, January 06, 2018: Oman Arab Bank (OAB) will kick off 2019 with the launch of a host of new customer centric innovations as part of its ongoing digital transformation journey. It will do so at a press conference, which will be held later today, where it will also showcase its Next Gen ATMs and series of innovative digital solutions.

The press launch was presided over by the Bank’s CEO, Rashad Al Musafir, and accompanied by a number of executive members of the Bank’s Management and will include a live demonstration of the capabilities of the Next Gen ATMs.

OAB launched its transformation strategy a few years back with the ultimate aim of becoming the Bank of choice for customers in Oman. It has since continued to stay at the forefront of the Banking sector paving the way for the future with the launch of several new innovative digital banking solutions.

OAB Sponsors Fans’ Trip to Support Oman’s National Football Team in AFC Asian Cup

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Muscat, January 10, 2019: Oman Arab Bank (OAB), in line with its objective to support the community and national sports initiatives and teams, has arranged for three buses to take over 150 fans to support the Omani National Team in the upcoming group stage matches in the UAE as part of the AFC Asian Cup. This initiative was launched in collaboration with the Oman Football Associations (OFA), through whom fans were required to book their spaces.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Hilal Al Siyabi, the Head of Corporate Communication at OAB said, “Football is a sport that is very near and dear to the hearts of the people of Oman. As a prominent bank in the country, we are honoured to be in a position to sponsor the transportation to take fans to support the National Football Team in their upcoming matches. Furthermore, doing so not only helps further promote the sport but also helps us engage with fans and the community on a more personal level.”

As part of its sponsorship, OAB has made arrangements for three buses to take over 150 fans for each of the three upcoming group stage matches that the National Team will be participating in as part of the AFC Asian Cup. All bookings were taken on a first come, first served basis through OFA. The first of three matches took place yesterday against Uzbekistan in the Al-Sharjah Stadium. The next trip will be In support of the National Team’s match against Japan on January 13 in the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The last of the three group stage matches will be against Turkmenistan on January 17, taking place at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

“Each of these teams is extremely talented but I am confident the Oman National Team has what it takes to come out on top. On behalf of OAB, I would like to wish each of the players the very best of luck in their upcoming matches,” added Hilal Al Siyabi.

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 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Participates in MSME Forum

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Muscat, 10 February 2019: In recognition of the importance of SMEs to the growth of the economy, Jamal Al-Wahaibi, the Head of the SME Department at Oman Arab Bank, recently participated in a panel at an MSME forum titled ‘Governance for Sustainable Growth: Enhancing MSME Outcomes’.  The event was organised by The Pearl Initiative and Zubair SEC on Wednesday, 06 February 2019 at the Zafran Cafe, Bait al Zubair Museum.

The event, which was attended by over 100 budding entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners from across the country, was focused on finding out why corporate governance matters to small businesses seeking funding, and what MSMEs can do to incorporate best practices in corporate governance for sustainable growth.

Commenting on his participation in the event, Jamal Al-Wahaibi said, “The key to achieving efficient economic diversification in any economy is to grow and develop the Small and Medium Enterprise landscape. They play a vital role in private sector development, breeding healthy competition within the local market while also providing vital employment opportunities and encouraging self-employment. This is why OAB places great importance in offering them as much support as possible; be it by offering them innovative tailor-made financial products tailored specifically for their businesses or by offering them consultancy and guidance either in person or by participating in events such as these.”

The event included a comprehensive introduction to Corporate Governance and a panel discussion with the participation of Jamal Al-Wahaibi representing OAB as a speaker. The panel was focused on how corporate governance capabilities will benefit the MSME community, and what steps MSMEs can take to incorporate tailored governance structures to ensure their business potential and longevity is achieved. It covered three primary topics – How to raise funding successfully, How to manage time and effort to be efficient, nimble, and innovative, and How to attract and retain talent.

“In addition to helping us offer them advice and assistance, forums such as these offer the perfect opportunity to interact in person with budding entrepreneurs and get a better understanding of the products and services they are looking for. This in turn helps us tailor our products to better cater to their financial needs,” concluded Jamal.

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 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate and investment clients.

OAB Supports Omanisation – Hosts Job Interviews in Association with Ministry of Manpower Hires several nationals to fill vacancies in Sharqiya Branches

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Muscat, February 11, 2019: As part of its efforts to enable young Omanis to start their careers in the banking sector, Oman Arab Bank (OAB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower, organised a series of job interviews for citizens at the OAB Head Office. The shortlisted interviewees will soon be joining the Bank’s team to fill vacancies within its branches in the Sharqiya Governorate.

Commenting on this, Adil Al Rahbi, Head of Human Resources Division at OAB said, “We organised these interviews in line with our commitment to provide young Omanis with local job opportunities, especially for those looking for such opportunities in Sharqiya. This in turn, also provides them with an invaluable opportunity to kick start their careers in the Banking sector in one of the finest financial institutions in the Sultanate.”

It is worth noting that several job interviews were conducted by members from the Human Resources and Retail Banking Divisions. Shortly thereafter a number of candidates were shortlisted to fill retail banking vacancies within the Bank’s branches in the Sharqiya Governorate. The new joiners are expected to begin working in the new positions with the next couple of days.

Al Rahbi added, “We were impressed with the level of skill, knowledge, and capabilities showcased by each of the candidates who applied for the positions. We are confident that those selected will be a quality addition to the OAB team in Sharqiya. We are honoured to welcome them into the OAB family. We would like also to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the employees in the Ministry of Manpower, who provided our team with support in the communication process as well as in scheduling interviews with the candidates. Their assistance has been invaluable in facilitating our mission and achieving the Bank’s objectives.”

Oman Arab Bank is proud to have achieved the highest Omanisation percentage within the banking sector, nearing 96%. It is also 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 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB also provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate, and investment clients.

OAB Staff Begin Journey towards Leadership with ‘LEAD 3’ Development Programme

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Muscat, February 27, 2019: Following the successful conclusion of the second edition of the ‘Leadership Enhancement And Development’ (LEAD) programme, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has announced the names of the 20 Omani staff who will make the third cohort of this future LEAD 3 programme.

As part of the assessment centre process, all LEAD candidates were required to complete an online 360 degree evaluation and the shortlisted candidates were then invited to attend an internal interview. The interview was attended by several members of the senior management team and selected LEAD graduates. The 20 that were shortlisted were then also required to complete the online Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) survey. The first module of LEAD 3, which was conducted over the course of two days, from February 12 – 13, focused on studying the individual results of these assessments in the context of self-awareness.

Commenting on the completion of the selection process, Adil Al Rahbi, Head of the Human Resources Division said, “Right from the beginning, we have realised the importance of building a pool of high potentials with well-structured career development plans and LEAD is the centre of our human capital development strategy. LEAD is more than just a modular or curricular programme. It is a personalised training intervention designed to address the mind-sets of the new generation, where more experimental and real-life learning situations are structured throughout the LEAD journey. LEAD is a programme that focuses on key elements, namely developing interpersonal skills, as well as developing the candidates’ ability to co-ordinate, motivate and shape a team. This in turn involves taking already talented individuals and moulding them into future leaders of the sector.”

LEAD 3 highlights the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it is applied in the banking sector. Apart from the scheduled modular sessions, LEAD delegates will be exposed to practical trainings as part of post LEAD activities, including managing projects of their choice.

“We believe that having a skilled, talented, and motivated workforce is the key to success in such a competitive market. And it is just as important to have a team of highly qualified leaders to guide them. This is why we developed and introduced our LEAD programme. Over the course of the next six months, each of the delegates will see their leadership skills and behaviours enhanced to an entirely new level. They will also have the opportunity to learn from some of the best experts in leadership development, ensuring career development and growth for years to come,” Adil added.

As with the previous LEAD programmes, LEAD 3 will be delivered in 4 x 2-day and 1 x 3-day modules spread across five months between February 2019 and June 2019. 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 20 delegates will be split into four groups of five each and will be challenged with business project topics of keen interest to OAB.

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 proud to have achieved the highest Omanisation percentage within the banking sector, nearing 96%. It is also 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 152 ATMs spread across the Sultanate. OAB also provides a complete range of financial products and services for personal banking, corporate, and investment clients.