Alizz Islamic Bank upgrades mobile app

Source: Alizz Islamic Bank. The app.

Alizz Islamic Bank has launched a newly-redesigned mobile banking app and Internet banking platform in line with its expanding role as a leader of customer experience in Oman.

The bilingual app is available for both Android and iOS devices and features advanced security capabilities as well as a self-registration system. Users can use a QR code to log in to web banking, funds transfers, utility bill payments and other transactions. The app is 3D Touch-enabled* and is the first mobile banking app in Oman to offer in app notifications for new transactions, and payment reminders.

Sadiq Al Lawati, Head of Digital and Card Business, Alizz Islamic Bank said, "At Alizz Islamic Bank our key focus is to provide the very best digital banking experience for our customers, whenever and wherever our customers need. Throughout the bank's history we have been at the forefront of digital banking in Oman and we are delighted to further reinforce this with the multitude of useful features offered to our customers via the Alizz mobile banking app and Internet banking platforms, which are available in both Arabic and English."

Source: Alizz Islamic Bank. Al Jadidi.

Moosa Al Jadidi, COO, Alizz Islamic Bank said the new mobile banking application and Internet banking platform reflect the exceptional customer experience and high standards that the bank strives to deliver every day. 

"These platforms enhance our strong relationship with our customers and take our excellence in customer service to a whole new level. With an increasingly young population in Oman who prefer more technologically advanced banking solutions, our wide range of cutting edge digital banking solutions enable our customers to benefit from more convenient and secure self-service channels, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," he said.

*3D Touch is pressure-sensitive touch technology found in iOS devices.

DIB reports outstanding success for Consumer Card

Source: DIB website. Banner for the Consumer Card page.

The Consumer Card introduced by the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai and Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the largest Islamic bank in the UAE, has exceeded all expectations by end-2016 in a highly competitive market, highlighting the importance customers place on the transparent nature of the offering and the customer-centric focus of the card.

Customers are drawn to the transparency the card offers, as they are rewarded for simply doing every day transactions, as opposed to increase their spending in return for rewards. The Consumer Card was launched in June 2016. Over the past six months, thousands of Consumer Cards have been issued, to the point where the card has already exceeded its target for its first year, while the total cashback payouts are at a record high. The highest combined amount of cashback was in the supermarket category, with the highest number of transactions on fuel spends. Salik and Nol payments were also popular.

Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, CEO Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in DED, said: "We are delighted with the success of the Consumer Card as it was launched as part of our strategic objective to make shopping in Dubai a pleasant experience through strengthening trust and productive partnerships between retailers and consumers. The card not only provides a new interface for substituting cash payments with smart payment options, but also enables consumers to avail of attractive discounts from various retail outlets.”

Lootah added that the success of the Consumer Card also underlined the successful co-operation between DED and DIB in stimulating growth and productivity in Dubai. “We are pleased to continue working with the Dubai Islamic Bank towards transforming Dubai into an innovation-driven and diversified economy,” he said.

Sanjay Malhotra, Chief of Consumer Banking at DIB, commented, “We are delighted to see that this unique Consumer Card launched in collaboration with DED has been a success with our customers who have acknowledged this product is not only easy to use but also convenient for them to earn cash back on. When we launched the Consumer Card, our core objective was to offer a low-cost, high-value payment solution in order to appeal to a larger number of customers who can enjoy the many exclusive benefits this product has to offer on their everyday purchases. I can proudly say that DIB and DED have been able to offer not just a product but a great experience to our customers, which is indeed a remarkable feat."

Ibrahim Selim Ergoz, GM, UAE, Qatar & Pakistan, Visa, said: “The Consumer Card is one of the key initiatives under a strategic partnership we have with DED and DIB, and is a great example of the public and private sectors working in tandem to help consumers in the UAE manage their finances in a safe, secure and responsible way. It has been successful because it meets a real consumer need while being easy to use, convenient and rewarding. As Dubai powers on with its Smart City initiative, Visa looks forward to being part of more initiatives like the Consumer Card that help to bring the Emirate’s vision of a cashless society a step closer to fruition.”

Issued in partnership with Visa, there are two variants, the Rewards Consumer Card and the Platinum Consumer Card, both offering discounts in over 450 outlets across the country. Card users are also eligible to receive up to AED1,000 cashback per month on daily purchases from supermarkets, automobile servicing, utility bills, fuel spend and movie ticket transactions. The card offers consumers savings and rewards on their daily supermarket purchases, fuel bills, utility bills, movies and more.

Serving 1.7 million customers, DIB continues to grow as it develops products tailored to changing consumer preferences.

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about the launch of the Consumer Card

DED, DIB launch credit card with consumer rights protection

Source: DED.

The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai and Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the largest Islamic bank in the UAE, have launched of the Consumer Card in the UAE. DIB boasts today one of the largest retail bases in the UAE with over 1.5 million customers and 90 branches across the country.

The co-branded credit card is dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers and providing them with savings on their daily purchases. The card is an addition to the partnership initiatives being launched by DED along with the private sector and to the ongoing efforts to enhance the shopping experience in Dubai, and across the UAE.

Developed and designed in line with the spending habits and distinct needs of consumers in the UAE, the shari'ah-compliant card is issued in partnership with Visa and carries no hidden charges. It has two variants, the Rewards Consumer Card and the Platinum Consumer Card.

While enabling customers to make savings on everyday spends, the Consumer Card also carries a host of discounts at over 450 outlets across the country. It offers up to 4% cashback across a number of outlets including supermarket or hypermarket, for all automobile servicing, on Etisalat and Du bills, Salik and Nol recharges, fuel purchases, utility bills and cinema tickets. Card users will be able to receive up to AED1,000 cashback per month on their spends across the UAE.

The card was launched today at the Mall of the Emirates in the presence of His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED, Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Islamic Bank, and in addition to senior managers from the organisations.

Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, Executive Director of the Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in DED, said the card highlights the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in bringing added value to businesses and consumers. "The Consumer Card is part of the initiatives of the Department of Economic Development to promote trust and partnership between retailers and consumers. Dubai is a global shopping and entertainment destination and we focus on making the shopping experience in the emirate as convenient and rewarding as possible," he said.

Sanjay Malhotra, Chief of Consumer Banking, at DIB said: "Domestic spending remains today the backbone of the UAE economy and we are keen to invest our expertise and resources in developing payment solutions that are favourable to spurring further growth. As one of the most innovative banks in the market today, we are pleased to offer our client base attractive payment solutions and savings on their daily purchases. Moving forward, we will continue to leverage our partnerships to present a unique banking experience while adhering to the highest standards of service excellence.
"While the market already offers benefits on credit cards, we have focused on areas where customers spend their money regularly thus maximising their gain. With this in mind, we have developed the Consumer Card as a low-cost, high-value proposition in order to appeal to a larger number of customers and allow them to enjoy unique benefits."

Ihab Ayoub, General Manager MENA at Visa, said: "The Consumer Card – a major step in this direction – will help in spreading further awareness about the benefits of electronic payments and the related cardholder rewards through a wide network of customers. Providing consumers with a safe and convenient way to pay is one of Visa's main priorities, and our participation in this initiative is aligned with our ongoing efforts to promote financial literacy on the ways to save, spend and budget responsibly.

"We are confident that through a partnership of public and private sectors, the Consumer Card initiative will support the UAE's efforts to be a leader in developing innovative payment technologies, and drive its transformation into a cashless society."

Ahmed Al Zaabi, Senior Manager - Consumer Awareness, at DED said: "The Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection sector constantly seeks to strengthen the relationship between the merchant and the consumer, and improve awareness among consumers on their rights and responsibilities. We also focus on regulating the market and launch programmes that protect businesses. The Consumer Card is part of our efforts to raise the quality of services provided to customers and enhance their satisfaction and happiness. Our partnership with Dubai Islamic Bank and the advantages it brings to consumers and traders will strengthen economic activity in the UAE."

Interested?

Ask the DIB Call Centre about the Consumer Card at +971 4609 2222.

ADIB launches Spice credit card for NRIs, NRPs

Source: ADIB. The new Spice Card offers a range of cashbacks if the owner hits a minimum spend.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has launched the Spice Card to complement its tailored product offerings to non resident Indians (NRIs) and non resident Pakistanis (NRPs) in the UAE.

The ADIB Spice Card offers NRI and NRP customers a chance to save more money with a range of competitive offers and discounts. This includes 9% cashback on all dining spends, 7% cashback on all supermarket spends, 4% cashback on fuel and 1% cashback on utility bills. The cashbacks apply on local as well as international spend, and customers also earn up to two reward points for every AED1 spent on other merchant categories.

Venkatesh Srikantan, Head of Retail - Expat Banking at ADIB, said, "While there are banking products in the UAE for Indians and Pakistanis to use in their home countries, there is a lack of products specifically tailored for them in the UAE. Our research shows that the spending habits and financial requirements of NRIs and NRPs centre on some common characteristics. As a customer-centric bank, it is of utmost importance for us to design value added products that suit their financial needs."

The Spice Card adds to ADIB's product offering for NRIs and NRPs. Last year, ADIB launched finance solutions for NRIs to buy properties in India and NRPs to purchase properties in Pakistan.

The Indian community in the UAE totals some 2.6 million people and constitutes 30% of the total population, making it the largest expatriate community in the country. Pakistanis form the second largest ethnic group in the UAE, with a population of over 1.2 million, constituting 12.5% of the country's total population.

A minimum monthly spend of AED3,000 is required on the Spice Card to qualify for the cashback offers with a maximum cashback cap of AED50 on utility payments, AED200 on restaurant bills, AED50 on fuel and AED100 on supermarket spending. ​

QIB signs up for Al-Dhameen SME funding programme

Source: QIB. Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, CEO of Qatar Development Bank (QDB), and Bassel Gamal, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) Group Chief Executive Officer, signed the Al-Dhameen agreement. The ceremony was attended by QDB officials Khalid Abdulla Al Mana, Executive Director of Business Finance and Jawaher Al Noaimi, Al Dhameen Programme Manager. QIB was represented by Tarek Fawzi, General Manager, Wholesale Banking Group, Mazen Al Thalathini, Assistant General Manager-Corporate Banking, and Basem Shahrouri, Head of Business Banking Division. 

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has signed a new Al-Dhameen Programme Portfolio Agreement with Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) for small and medium enterprise (SME) financing in Qatar.

Al-Dhameen, which is sponsored by QDB, helps startups and existing companies with lack of collateral to obtain funds for growing their businesses. All main sector business activities are eligible for support under Al-Dhameen except the agriculture, fishing and livestock; non-oil mining and quarrying; wholesale and retail trade; financial and insurance, and real estate industries.

The programme does not provide direct finance to SMEs, instead offering the business owner access to the required finance from a partner bank in the form of guarantees in favour of the bank. Al-Dhameen guarantees 85% of the finance value not exceeding QR15 million). 

The Al-Dhameen programme was enhanced after feedback from partner banks and related parties, primarily to expand the base of beneficiaries, allow partner banks to determine which SMEs receive financing, and to fund them more flexibly. A record QR846 million in guarantees have been disbursed to over 348 SMEs since the beginning of the programme in 2010. 

The new QR100 million Al Dhameen portfolio aims to speed up approvals to guarantee the value of the funding provided by the partner bank to small and medium enterprises lacking sufficient guarantees. QDB has prepared a special portfolio guide that describes the terms, conditions, and international standards, due diligence, credit monitoring, applications and guidelines development, to help QIB to take the necessary decisions without referring to QDB.

Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, CEO of QDB said: "The Al Dhameen programme primarily facilitates financing to some of the most important sectors of industry, such as education, healthcare, and value-added services. The programme targets mainly companies and startups. We are delighted with this partnership with QIB, which (reinforces the priority) that all banks operating in Qatar have to support and develop the SME sector, diversifying the private sector and building a knowledge-based economy.” 

Bassel Gamal, QIB Group Chief Executive Officer said: “This agreement underscores QIB’s commitment towards supporting the country’s economy, by enhancing the role of the private sector and contributing to a suitable economic diversification as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030. It enables our existing and potential customers to get what they need swiftly and seamlessly, thus supporting the establishment of new SMEs and helping operating companies with their business expansion plans.

“We are proud of our strong ties with QDB, and we are committed to further enhance the mutual cooperation to achieve the agreement’s objectives which will contribute significantly in speeding up the process to provide financing solutions for SMEs. Supporting the SME sector is one of our top priorities, and for that reason, we have a dedicated programme, Aamaly, designed to cater for all the financial needs of SMEs in Qatar.”

Commercial Bank and Doha Bank are also partner banks for Al-Dhameen, having signed agreements with QDB in July 2015.

Interested?

SMEs can enquire about applications at the nearest QIB branch.

Emirates Islamic opens forex counter at Al Maktoum International Airport

Source: Emirates Islamic. Emirates Islamic’s Foreign Exchange Counter at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central.

Emirates Islamic today announced the opening of a foreign exchange (FX) counter at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central. The new FX counter, located at the airport’s departure lounge, will enable travellers and tourists to exchange up to 19 currencies at highly competitive rates.

In addition to Al Maktoum International Airport, the bank operates a FX counter at Port Rashid Cruise Terminal. Foreign exchange and remittance services are an important aspect of Emirates Islamic’s retail product suite, with the bank offering regular seasonal promotions and competitive rates on the currencies available.

Faisal Aqil, Deputy CEO - Consumer Wealth Management, Emirates Islamic, said: “Al Maktoum International Airport is becoming an increasingly busy destination and is expected to handle over 26 million passengers by 2017. We are extremely pleased to open an Emirates Islamic counter to serve the needs of travellers using the airport. As part of our strategy to expand our foreign exchange offerings, we plan to open more counters at high-traffic locations such as malls and airports, as well as continue offering the best offers and rates to our customers.”

Dubai Islamic Bank listed in LinkedIn's Most In-Demand Employers 2015 list for MENA

Source: DIB.

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the largest Islamic bank in the UAE, has been recognised as one of the most preferred employers for potential candidates on LinkedIn within the MENA region. DIB was ranked 16th amongst the MENA’s top 20 Most In-Demand Employers 2015, making it one of the top 10 local brands on the list. DIB is also the sole bank in the list.

LinkedIn releases an annual list of the top employers based on billions of interactions from LinkedIn members across the world. The ranking is based on employer brand awareness and the methodology includes reach, engagement and job activity. As such, businesses are ranked according to the number of users who view profiles of their employees, connect with their employees, visit or follow their company pages, and view or apply to job postings by the company.

Cornel Fourie, Head of Human Resources, Dubai Islamic Bank, said: “As the first Islamic bank in the UAE, we are proud of this accomplishment and delighted to be named as one of the premium talent brands in the MENA region for the first time. This recognition underscores our relentless efforts to position the Islamic banking sector as an attractive employer of aspiring talents as well as our commitment to nurture the new generation of UAE banking professionals. As we grow and continue to expand, we are eager to see more talented individuals including UAE nationals leading the future of the banking sector locally and driving the global appeal of Islamic finance.”

Ali Matar, Head of Talent Solutions, LinkedIn MENA, added; “We were very pleased to recognise our top Talent Solutions clients in MENA for 2015 in the inaugural ceremony, held in Dubai, UAE. Local brands have been celebrated based on their outstanding recruitment strategy, engagement and results on our LinkedIn platform. We believe that Dubai Islamic Bank's curated and strategic approach to talent acquisition through social recruiting contributes significantly to their brand strength which in its turn impacts positively their employee retention and engagement.”

Recognising the importance of this platform, DIB has been strengthening its presence on LinkedIn to connect with job seekers who are looking to engage with its talent brand. These receive continuous updates on job openings and ongoing initiatives such as participation in career exhibitions. Currently, DIB has more than 116,000 followers including employee members, an increase of 97% from the same period in 2014.

DIB has created a range of training programmes across different levels of the bank while it actively participates at various career fairs across the country to engage job seekers. It also runs awareness programmes of its services. 

DIB Mobile app upgraded

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the largest Islamic bank in the UAE, has upgraded its mobile banking app for the iOS and Android platforms. The enhanced offering provides access to over 60 services and has features that help users manage their personal finances.

Smartphone penetration rates have been rising rapidly, with Nielsen indicating that 78% of the UAE population owns at least one of these devices. Customers using the DIB Mobile app can enjoy a consolidated view of all accounts; pay utility bills; and withdraw cash without a card. Other features include status reminders to help them keep track of saving goals, as well as ensuring that spending remains within a planned budget. 

Musabbah Al Qaizi, Head of Electronic Banking Services & IT at Dubai Islamic Bank, said: “Over the past few years, mobile banking has evolved at a rapid pace to the point that it is now a regular feature in the lives of a majority of people. As we recognised that our customers are increasingly looking for access to a host of comprehensive facilities so that they can carry out their banking on-the-go, we carefully analysed these needs and invested in building a multifaceted platform that delivers a convenient and secure experience.

He added: “In addition to embedding financial planning tools that will help our customers manage their savings more effectively, our new mobile app offers many other useful and unique features like instant chat, currency converters, customised offers and interactive navigation to easily locate our branches/ ATMs. Moving ahead, we will continue to innovate and introduce new services and features to enhance our digital banking platforms and customer experience in line with the overall innovation and smart banking strategy of the bank.”

Interested?

Download the app 

ADIB and Rotana join hands to offer the ADIB Rotana Rewards Exclusive Card

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) and Rotana, a hotel management company, have partnered to launch the ADIB Rotana Rewards Exclusive Card. Card members will receive Rotana Rewards points and privileges every time they spend using the card.

Source: ADIB. From left: Sarvesh Sarup, Global Head of Retail Banking, ADIB, and Omer Z. Kaddouri, President and CEO Rotana.

The ADIB Rotana Rewards Exclusive Card is the first co-branded hospitality card in the wider Central Eastern Europe & Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) region developed by a local issuer, and the first globally by an Islamic bank. It works in conjunction with the existing Rotana Rewards Exclusive programme and can be used for Rotana benefits including free hotel stays and dining offers in any of the 50 Rotana hotels and resorts, and at over 250 restaurants across the region. 

The cardholder receives Rotana Rewards points every time they spend using their ADIB-Rotana co-branded card. This includes two Rotana points for every AED1 spent at any of its properties, one point for every AED1 spent in the UAE, and three points for every AED1 spent internationally. Clients also receive welcome points upon activation of their ADIB Rotana Rewards Exclusive covered card.

Commenting on the partnership, Sarvesh Sarup said: “The partnership between Rotana and ADIB brings together two market-leading UAE brands with a shared set of customer-centric values and a rapidly expanding international footprint. The card will bring customers unparalleled value in terms of lifestyle and financial benefits from both the partners. In keeping with best international practices, the card will offer customers the benefit of global contactless payments and special recognition at ADIB’s rapidly expanding merchant network. We look forward to working with Rotana to keep the new card at the forefront of innovation and value.” 

“The launch of this co-branded hospitality card continues Rotana’s history of innovation and industry leadership,” said Omer Z. Kaddouri, President & CEO of Rotana. “The ADIB Rotana Rewards Exclusive Card offers an unmatched value proposition to customers who can now look forward to benefiting from a broad range of perks and special services. It’s the first product of its kind in the region and will allow Rotana to provide more engaging guest experiences and further build loyalty among our customer base. 

"As home-grown, Abu Dhabi-based enterprises that went on to establishing a global presence and reputation, Rotana and ADIB share the same core values and commitment to customers, and we hope the introduction of the ADIB Rotana Rewards Exclusive Card is only the beginning of a long and mutually rewarding partnership.”

Additional lifestyle and travel benefits of the card include unlimited airport lounge access, concierge services, rental car discounts, and premium offers for shopping, dining, and travel. The new ADIB Rotana rewards co-branded card will include all benefits of the Rotana Rewards Exclusive programme in its annual fee, such as extended checkout times, hotel discounts and dining discounts.

The Rotana Rewards Exclusive programme features late check-out, VIP treatment, upgrades, complimentary dining, points when spending at any Rotana food and beverage outlets, discounts on room rates and miles from partner airlines among other privileges.

QIB launches Premium VISA Signature credit card with Qatar Airways co-branding

Source: QIB.

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has launched a Premium QIB-Qatar Airways VISA Signature credit card that enhances the QIB and Qatar Airways range of co-branded cards with a new range of benefits.

Designed with premium customers in mind, the QIB-Qatar Airways Signature credit card offers global concierge services, global airport lounge access, discounts and offers on luxury hotels, and full multi-trip travel insurance.

The VISA Signature co-branded card will enable customers to earn one Qmile for every QR6 spent on purchases made at a point of sale by either the customer or their supplementary card member. These Qmiles can be then used for redemptions including complimentary flights, upgrades and excess baggage on Qatar Airways’ flights, together with purchases made at Qatar Duty Free located at Hamad International Airport in Doha or the Oryx Galleria boutique in Doha, Qatar. Qmiles can also be redeemed for complimentary flights with oneworld airline partners.

The card will also provide multilingual concierge services with a 24-hour personal assistant who can arrange dinner reservations, chauffeur and taxi services, tickets, gifts or anything required in order to enhance the travel experience. The ‘LoungeKey’ Service, on both primary and supplementary cards, offers unlimited complimentary access to over 500 airport lounges worldwide.

The QIB-Qatar Airways Visa Signature Credit Card also enjoys automatic purchase protection covering all purchases made with the card. The protection includes loss, theft or damage of purchased items. The card also comes with peace of mind on purchased items by almost doubling the manufacturer’s or retailer’s warranty on all items bought using the VISA Signature card. In addition, customers can withdraw cash of up to 100% of their credit limit as well as having the benefit of higher transaction limits.

As with all of QIB's credit and debit cards, online security is a major concern of the Bank. To counteract the risk of fraud, QIB has, over the past year, introduced a number of measures such as the use of one time passwords (OTP) that are valid for only one log-in or transaction; a move away from using the magnetic strip on the reverse side of the cards, in favour of chip-based processing; and the use of '3D Secure Technology', which has a password-protected authentication system designed to confirm the identity of the cardholder when a Visa Card is used online.

D. Anand, General Manager of the Personal Banking Group, pointed out that the launch of the VISA Signature Card specifically targets premium frequent travellers who can enjoy all travel benefits the Card has to offer, and will get to be part of Qatar Airways Loyalty Programme – Privilege Club. 

“Aimed at our affluent customers, we are proud to introduce the Visa Signature Co-branded credit card category, providing our clients with unique products and services, aiming as always to surpass their expectations,” he said.

“Further, the introduction of a new tier of QIB–Qatar Airways co-branded cards is a great testament to our successful partnership with one of the world’s five-star airlines.”