Emirates NBD supports Dubai Police community initiative

Press release

Published October 23rd, 2011 - 06:08 GMT

Abdulelah AlKindy, General Manager of Retail Banking, Emirates NBD

Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, announced today their sponsorship of the fourth edition of the Dubai Police annual book fair. The week-long event includes several activities for students from different schools attending the fair, including a “Donate-a-Book” initiative, a speed-reading competition, a “Culture Café” as well as Hakawati, the ancient Arab art of storytelling.

The bank’s support of cultural and community initiatives at Dubai Police, is part of an ongoing long-term relationship between the two organisations, which spans almost two decades.

“Emirates NBD is pleased once again to serve as sponsor for the Dubai Police annual community book fair,” said Abdulelah AlKindy, General Manager of Retail Banking, Emirates NBD. “As a UAE community bank, Emirates NBD is fully supportive of all initiatives that facilitate the development of culture and sport in society.”

As well as the annual book fair, Emirates NBD has also supported the Dubai Police Ramadan Tournaments for 19 consecutive years. The annual tournaments bring together officers from across the force in friendly competitive sports such as target shooting for high-ranking officials, snooker, squash, tennis, cross-country racing and tests of physical strength.

“The UAE is home to a host of well-known luminaries in both poetry and literature,” continued Al Kindy. “We thank Dubai Police for this initiative which helps familiarise today’s youth with those historical masterpieces as well as introduce them to modern literature from around the world.”

Major General Abdul Rahman Mohammad Rafi, Director General, Department of Community Services, Dubai Police said: “Emirates NBD has always been an active supporter of Dubai Police, and we welcome them once again to this event in our cultural calendar. The book fair is designed to highlight the importance of reading and creative writing as a pastime both among children and our officers in the force. It also helps strengthen our ties with the local community, bringing about greater synergy and a spirit of cultural understanding.”

The book fair will run until October 26, 2011 and is open to officers of the force and school children.

Background Information

Emirates NBD

Emirates NBD, the leading banking group in the region, was formed on 19 June 1963, when H.H. Late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum signed the Charter of Incorporation of the National Bank of Dubai (NBD) which became the first National Bank established in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With the blessings of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, NBD merged with Emirates Bank International (EBI) on 06 March 2007, to form Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the region by assets. On 16 October 2007, the shares of Emirates NBD were officially listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). The merger between EBI and NBD to create Emirates NBD, became a regional consolidation blueprint for the banking and finance sector as it combined the second and fourth largest banks in the UAE to form a banking champion capable of delivering enhanced value across corporate, retail, private, Islamic and investment banking throughout the region.