Wins million dirhams in August, following 10,000 dirhams each in six previous draws 

Kunooz

Dubai, September, 4, 2010: For Rashid Khalifa, an Emarati government employee in his forties, August has proved to be an extremely special month - when he was declared the winner of Dubai Bank’s million dirham draw as a valued Kunooz account holder.

Having won 10,000 dirhams each in six previous draws, Rashid was hoping that he would be lucky one more time, this hope proved well founded when he received a call from Dubai Bank that he had won the million dirham prize.

On this occasion, Rashid, a father of four children who has been a Kunooz Account holder for the last ten months, said, “This is a wonderful moment for me and I am going to use this windfall to invest in my children’s future. I have reinvested the entire million dirhams back into Kunooz as it is a flexible and Shari’a compliant savings account with the promise of winning substantial prizes through daily and monthly draws.”

Tariq Al Farsi, Head of Branches at Dubai Bank, who presented the winning cheque to Mr. Khalifa, said, “Month after month, winners like Mr. Rashid have been the recipients of a million dirhams, transforming their lives forever. The appeal of Kunooz, with its savings potential and the opportunity to generate optimal returns, has grown exponentially among customers across the UAE. The added benefit of channeling their savings in a prudent and Shari’a-compliant manner has also proved to be a big draw for customers.”

Under the Kunooz monthly cash prize promotion, each multiple of AED 1,000 deposited in the Kunooz Account qualifies the customer for multiple entries into the draw for daily cash prizes of AED 30,000. For every multiple of AED 5,000 deposited, account holders become eligible for entry into the monthly grand prize draw of AED 1 million. The programme also offers participants the possibility to win more than once.

Joint account holders of Bahraini origin declared winners of July’s Kunooz cash prize draw

Abdulla Ali (left), Kunooz millionaire for July receives the winner's cheque from Saeed Bin Mejren, Zone Manager - Dubai at Dubai Bank

Dubai, July 21, 2010: Dubai Bank today announced the results of its Kunooz monthly cash prize draw for the month of July, naming Abdulla Ali and Dana Mohamed, joint account holders at the bank’s Jumeirah Beach Residence branch as the lucky winners. The winners received the cheque of AED 1,000,000 from Saeed Bin Mejren, Zone Manager - Dubai at Dubai Bank.

“We are pleased to announce the latest winners of the Kunooz monthly cash prize promotion,” said Bin Mejren. “Since the launch of this programme early last year, we have seen increasing interest from our customers in the Kunooz Value Plus account. As a unique savings product, Kunooz not only offers optimal value for your savings and investments but also delivers a range of benefits. The Shari’a-compliant nature of the account along with the benefits of channeling savings in a simple and prudent manner will continue to be richly rewarding for our customers.”

Under the Kunooz monthly cash prize promotion, each multiple of AED 1,000 deposited in the Kunooz Account qualifies the customer for multiple entries into the draw for daily cash prizes of AED 30,000. For every multiple of AED 5,000 deposited, account holders become eligible for entry into the monthly grand prize draw of AED 1 million. The programme also offers participants the possibility to win more than once.

Bank recognised for excellence of hugely successful Kunooz Value Plus campaign

Dubai, June 22, 2010: Dubai Bank announced today that it has won the “Best Advertising Campaign” award at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2010.  The award came in recognition of the extremely successful marketing of its Kunooz Value Plus account, a flexible, Shari’a-compliant account that lets customers maximise profit opportunities while getting a chance to win cash prizes.

The award was accepted by Waleed Saeed Al Awadi, Deputy Chief Marketing Officer, Dubai Bank, at a high-profile ceremony held recently in Dubai. Other Dubai Bank attendees at the event included Zahir Khurshid, Head of Product Development; Faris Qavi, Advertising Manager; Zubair Ahmed, Head of IT Business Development; and Dr. Saadia Asif, Head of Brand Management.

“Dubai Bank’s Kunooz Value Plus account has proved to be one of the most successful products in the history of the bank,” said Al Awadi. “In 2009 alone, we saw more than 400 per cent growth in our overall Kunooz portfolio – thanks to the innovative nature of the product, host of benefits and, of course, our highly successful advertising campaign.

“On behalf of everyone at Dubai Bank, I would like to thank CPI Financial, the panel of judges and all those who voted for us for recognising the success of this campaign,” he said. “Most important, I would like to extend our gratitude to all our customers for placing their trust with us and choosing Dubai Bank as their financial partner to meet all their banking needs.”

Under the hugely popular Kunooz monthly cash prize promotion, each multiple of AED 1,000 deposited in the Kunooz Account qualifies the customer for multiple entries into the draw for daily cash prizes of AED 30,000. For every multiple of AED 5,000 deposited, account holders become eligible for entry into the monthly grand prize draw of AED 1 million. The programme also offers participants the possibility to win more than once.

The annual Banker Middle East Industry Awards are designed to recognise banks and financial institutions that are pioneers in finance and have witnessed growth through these turbulent times. Organised by CPI Financial, publisher of Banker Middle East, the awards strive to showcase those institutions that are truly innovative and pioneering in their respective areas.
 
Award shortlists were created by the judging panel, and winners were voted on by the readers of Banker Middle East, with nearly 150,000 votes counted in the various categories.

• Awarded top performer in “Best Recession-Busting Program” and “Best Retention and Motivation Program” categories
• Reinforces commitment to best practice customer service operations

Dubai, May 29, 2010: In another demonstration of its continuing commitment to best practice banking operations, Dubai Bank today announced that it has been recognised for its excellence in two categories at the 2010 edition of the Middle East Call Centre awards.  The event, held earlier this month in Dubai, awarded Dubai Bank the top performer in the categories of “Best Recession-Busting Program” and “Best Retention and Motivation Program,” respectively.

On behalf of Dubai Bank, Syed Zia Islam, Senior Vice-President – Ebanking Channels, and Hossein Karimi, Contact Centre Manager collected the awards. The recognition comes in line with the bank’s success at creating a superior customer interaction strategy over the past 12 months.

“The recognition at the Middle East Call Centre Awards is a validation of our customer service strategy and carefully designed customer contact operation,” said Syed Zia Islam. “It also demonstrates our ability to set a high benchmark of performance through a dedicated strategy that cuts across our people, processes, technologies and customer relationships.

“These awards are a just reward for the efforts of our staff at the Contact Centre, whose commitment to excellence forms the basis of many successful customer relationships.”

The award for the “Best Recession-Busting Program” category acknowledged Dubai Bank for its innovative operating methodology that helped the bank sustain a consistently high level of service and enhance overall customer satisfaction levels, resulting in higher loyalty from customers in a recessionary environment.

The bank’s second win in the “Best Retention and Motivation Program Category” was mainly on account of the bank’s continued success at creating a vibrant working environment for employees and enabling them to perform at high levels of productivity.

The Middle East Call Centre Awards event was organised and hosted by INSIGHTS, the regional customer interaction thought leader and was attended by senior executives of leading organisations from across the region.

 In line with commitment to integrate people with special needs into mainstream society; MoU with CDA signed in January
 First bank in UAE to focus on sensitising employees to customers with special needs

Dubai, March 29, 2010: As part of its ongoing commitment to community and social development, Dubai Bank organised its first workshop in partnership with the Community Development Authority (CDA), last week. The workshop was aimed at sensitising a cross section of senior employees and frontline mid-level managers to individuals with special needs.

The workshop is the first of a range of initiatives planned by Dubai Bank in this regard, following its memorandum of understanding with CDA signed in January 2010. The MoU marked a significant development in the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, and is in line with its commitment to support the local community through its CSR activities.

The workshop gave participants a unique insight into the needs of this section of the community and included modules on those with hearing impairments, people affected by blindness and individuals with intellectual and learning disabilities such as Dyslexia and Dyscalculia.

“This first workshop conducted by CDA really opened our eyes to the needs of this often overlooked section of our community, “said Mr. Waleed Saeed Al Awadi, Deputy Chief Marketing Officer at Dubai Bank. “Raising people’s awareness about those special needs and about the ways in which individuals faced with physical or intellectual challenges are no different from any one else is a critical step in creating a more inclusive and progressive environment. We, at Dubai Bank, recognise it as an important goal to empower individuals with special needs, and this goal forms an integral part of our overall CSR efforts.”

According to Dr. Eman Gaad, Director of Disability Services at Community Development Authority, said: “The first workshop with Dubai Bank was highly successful and I am encouraged by the enthusiasm and support of Dubai Bank and its employees. The participants at the workshop were interactive and to a great extent, already sensitised to the needs of such individuals. They also shared their experiences with people having special needs, and it was an enriching experience for me, personally to engage with such a knowledgeable and sensitive audience. We, at CDA, look forward to working more closely with Dubai Bank to strengthen the culture of integrating all cross-sections of the society and especially people with special needs.”

Shafiqa Fikree, Head of Dubai Bank’s Amirah banking services, who participated in the workshop had this to say: “The workshop was truly a learning experience for me and made me aware of the unique needs of people with disabilities. I am proud to be working in an organisation which places such an emphasis on education and raising awareness on this disadvantaged section of our community.”

Established in 2008 CDA is a governmental Authority based in Dubai that is responsible for developing frameworks for social development, set to play a significant role in achieving the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015. The authority also cooperates with the Ministry of Social Affairs and other government bodies in supporting sustainable social development and economic growth.

• Bank authorised to receive payments on behalf of DED at all Dubai Bank branches
• Customers can make DED payments through bank’s e-payment channel

Dubai, March 14, 2010: Further demonstrating its continued excellence in developing bespoke platforms for both institutional and retail customers, Dubai Bank today announced its partnership with Department of Economic Development (DED) to offer exclusive payment support to clients of DED and customers of Dubai Bank.

As part of the partnership, Dubai Bank has been authorised to receive payments on behalf of DED, including all government-related fees for licensing and renewal. The partnership agreement mandates the establishment of a single-counter fee collection service for DED through all Dubai Bank branches and additional online payment services through Dubai Bank’s sophisticated e-banking channels.

“The agreement with DED is in line with Dubai Bank’s commitment to leading innovation in customer service and banking technology platforms within the UAE,” said Mohamed Amiri, Head of Retail Banking of Dubai Bank. “We have already activated the new service, whereby all payables in favour of the Department are being received through in-house teller services provided by Dubai Bank at all its branches.  This agreement further broadens the scope of our partnership with DED, resulting in added convenience for DED’s clients and an efficient payment mechanism for the Department itself.

“Additionally, this agreement enables our customers to make all their DED-related payments through Dubai Bank’s electronic channels. Further, this will be accomplished through a secure integration of the Bank’s electronic systems with that of DED, ensuring a safe electronic gateway for our customers. We look forward to rolling out this initiative with DED, as we continue to explore new avenues to offer even greater value and service to our customers,” Amiri said.

• Bank recognised for continuing operational excellence across all card-related products and services
• Quality management initiatives range from development and issuance of products to data maintenance for customers

Dubai, February 28, 2010: Underlining its ongoing commitment to global best practice in quality control, Dubai Bank today announced that it has been awarded the coveted ISO 9001:2008 status for its card operations across the UAE.  In being awarded this accreditation, the bank was evaluated on a range of international parameters, including development and issuance of products and services and maintenance of card-related transactional and non-transactional data for the benefit of its customers.

The bank’s card operations team embarked on the process for ISO certification at the start of 2009 with the implementation of a variety of initiatives to further enhance the bank’s operational excellence across its cards division.

In achieving the ISO 9001:2008 quality certification, the entire card operations of the bank was documented and then aligned to ISO standards, while continuing to be embedded into the bank’s overall procedures.  Formal training sessions were organised to acquaint staff with the new procedures and guidelines. The bank’s data management system was also upgraded to offer more sophisticated maintenance of data and facilitate better understanding of card-related services among customers.

“At Dubai Bank, quality is the most important component of our overall offering, and it guides each aspect of our product development and service,” said Hisham Hammoud, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Bank. “The achievement of this globally-accepted quality benchmark is a validation of our ongoing efforts to enhance quality management across our entire suite of card products, in line with international best practice.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dubai Bank’s staff, and especially the bank’s covered card operations department for their efforts and contributions in achieving the ISO 9001:2008 certification,” said Fares Naouri, General Manager, TUV Rheinland Middle East FZE, an accredited third party and one of the largest inspection, verification, testing and certification organizations in the world.

“Dubai Bank has incorporated high standards in quality, which have transformed the bank into a leader in banking services. These quality factors will remain the Bank’s strong competitive advantage in the years ahead, as it continues to grow and deliver excellence in services.”

The ISO accreditation further highlights the bank’s commitment to delivering innovative and reliable card solutions to its customers. The Dubai Bank Covered Card was awarded the “Best Islamic Credit Card” at the Banker Middle East Awards 2009.

 • Sharjah resident to use winning to purchase family home in UAE
• Kunooz provides Sharia-compliant secure and flexible savings option for account holders

Dubai, February 23, 2010: Sharjah-based Mohammed Al Hammadi had been saving for many years to realise his long-standing dream of owning a family home in the UAE. However, when Al Hammadi pooled his savings into Dubai Bank’s Kunooz account in June 2009, he had little hope of realising his dream in less than a year. Earlier this month, however, Al Hammadi was declared the latest winner of Dubai Bank’s million dirham cash prize draw.

“I felt truly humbled when I first got to know of my win from the bank officials. I never thought I would be in a position to buy my own family home in 2010. Winning the Kunooz draw has been a gift from God,” says Al Hammadi.

A conscientious Muslim, Al Hammadi says he was attracted by the bank’s strong Shari’a principles and innovative savings solutions. “Having first learned about the Kunooz Account from a friend of mine, the unique features of the solution instantly piqued my interest. However, the bank’s Shari’a-compliant investing methodology made it a truly compelling product,” says Al Hammadi, who serves in the UAE National Army.

“Serving in the armed forces often leaves me with little quality time to spend with my family. So, I have always wanted to buy a home where my entire family can live together and one which gives my children a great environment to study and play. Now, thanks to Kunooz, I am confident of making this happen,” said Al Hammadi, who is married with two children. “I also intend to donate a portion of my winning to charity. However, I still need to decide the best platform to do this.”

“Dubai Bank is pleased to be able to support its customers in realising their personal goals through our Kunooz monthly cash prize promotion,” said Tariq Al Farsi, Head of Branches at Dubai Bank. “Kunooz was started at a time when the global economy was going through a period of intense strain, and it has stood out as a product that our customers look to for safeguarding their savings and channeling their investments in a Sharia-compliant manner. Indeed over the past three quarters, Kunooz Value Plus account has been one of our most popular products, offering the possibility to optimise profit earnings in a secure manner along with a host of exciting benefits.”

Under the Kunooz monthly cash prize promotion, each multiple of AED 1,000 deposited in the Kunooz Account qualifies the customer for multiple entries into the draw for daily cash prizes of AED 30,000. For every multiple of AED 5,000 deposited, account holders become eligible for entry into the monthly grand prize draw of AED 1 million. The programme also offers participants the possibility to win more than once.

 • Payroll account features include Takaful cover for account holders
• Bank develops special package on asset-based and personal financing products to DLD employees

Dubai, February 9, 2010: In another demonstration of its high-value offering to both retail and corporate customers, Dubai Bank today announced its tie-up with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) to offer custom-made payroll packages for employees of the department. As part of the agreement with DLD, Dubai Bank will provide DLD employees with special benefits on asset-based financing products, including personal and motor financing. The bank will also offer special packages for property Ijarah and covered cards to employees of the department.

Additionally, Dubai Bank will offer DLD employees a range of value-added features, including Takaful cover. The tie-up marks another addition to Dubai Bank’s growing list of leading public and private institutional clients.

“Our agreement with Dubai Land Department reflects the ongoing high level of confidence among key organisations in the bank’s financial strength and its high-quality product and service offering,” said Mohamed Amiri, Head of Retail Banking, Dubai Bank. “Currently, companies in the UAE with 25 employees or more can avail of Dubai Bank’s Payroll Account, which offers special benefits and services to employees of the company. However, in line with the bank’s innovative product strategy, we have offered DLD employees a unique bouquet of services and privileges to serve their needs. We believe employees of DLD will find our payroll package extremely useful in planning their personal finances.”

“We are delighted to offer this unique set of privileges to our employees in partnership with Dubai Bank,” said Sultan Butti Bin Mejren, Director General of the Dubai Land Department. “For our payroll requirements, we wanted to sign up with a bank that fully understands the needs of our employees and with a proven track record of quality service and a high level of stability. As a bank with strong fundamentals and a keen eye for innovation and customer service, we are confident that Dubai Bank will meet all expectations of our employees.”

First campaign to focus on integrating individuals with disabilities into mainstream society

Dubai Bank announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Community Development Authority (CDA). Read the full story