Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC : ADIB and Etisalat Partner to Launch Co-Branded Card

ADIB and Etisalat Partner to Launch Co-Branded Card

• ADIB-Etisalat Co-branded Card is UAE's First Islamic Telecom Card

Abu Dhabi, 25 January 2012 - Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, a top-tier Islamic financial services institution, announced today that it had partnered with Etisalat, the largest telecommunications company in the UAE, to bring the first Islamic telecom reward payment card to the UAE.

The new ADIB-Etisalat cards, available in Classic, Gold and Platinum, will be packed with attractive features and Etisalat related benefits. They will offer cardholders best-in-market sign up and Etisalat 'MORE' Reward points.

Commenting on ADIB's long standing partnership with Etisalat, Sarvesh Sarup, Head of Retail Banking at ADIB, said: "We are delighted to extend our partnership with Etisalat and launch the UAE's first Islamic telecom co-branded card. At ADIB, we aim to build partnerships with strong and respected brands to provide exceptional value to our customers and to enrich their banking experience. ADIB and Etisalat's innovative partnership is driven by a high degree of collaboration and technical integration between two powerful brands. With this new card, we offer our customers a rewarding experience that helps them connect with their loved ones as loyalty points gained through the card's usage can be converted to talk time, amongst other redemption benefits."

Matthew Willsher, Chief Marketing Officer at Etisalat said: "Developing new partnerships is key to our strategy of innovating exciting ways to reward our customers. We are excited about the new ADIB-Etisalat card, designed to add value by combining Etisalat's unique MORE points programme with the benefits of ADIB's covered cards."

"Etisalat and ADIB share a strong corporate relationship. We jointly launched the ADIB *161# USSD service last year. ADIB is keen to utilize the latest technology to enhance customer experience and that makes the bank a natural choice for this co-branded card," added Willsher.

Customers can redeem MORE Reward Points earned on the ADIB-Etisalat card to get free talk time and for bill payments with Etisalat, partner vouchers that can be redeemed at a host of partner outlets and conversion of points into Etihad Guest miles. Members can also redeem points through purchases from an option of more than 3,000 products and services at 'MORE' reward online shop hosted at . They can redeem 'MORE' points or a combination of points plus cash.

Cardholders will benefit from the existing features of ADIB covered cards which include, free SMS transaction alert service and a 55-day grace period on repayments. Monthly card repayments by non-account holders can be made conveniently via the ADIB network of 69 branches, 400+ ATMs as well as through UAE Exchange, Al-Ansari and Al Fardan Exchange offices throughout the UAE.

Commenting on the success of ADIB's co-branded card strategy, Sarvesh added, "ADIB is keen to launch more co-branded cards as we understand that customers want added benefits. In 2010, we successfully launched the UAE Football Covered Card and Etihad Guest Covered Card that offered special deals and industry leading benefits. We expect ADIB-Etisalat Covered Cards to perform well."

About ADIB:
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) was established on 20th May 1997 as a Public Joint Stock Company following the Emiri Decree No. 9 of 1997. The Bank commenced commercial operations on 11th November 1998, and was formally inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 18th April 1999.

ADIB's vision is to be a top-tier, global Islamic financial services group and its mission is to provide Islamic financial solutions to the global community.

The Bank carries out all contracts, operations and transactions in accordance with Islamic Shari'a principles.

ADIB's core values, reflected in all its activities are: Simple and Sensible; Transparent; Mutual Benefit; Hospitality and Tolerance; and Shari'a inspired. It brings to its customers banking as it should be.

ADIB - Awards:
ADIB was named the "Best Overall Bank in the UAE in customer service" for 2011 by Ethos Consultancy
ADIB won the" Best Branch Award in the UAE" for 2011 by Ethos Consultancy
ADIB was named the "Best Islamic Bank in the UAE" for 2011  by Global Finance Magazine
ADIB was named Best Islamic Bank by Business Banking and Finance Magazine
ADIB won Best Corporate Bank by Business Banking and Finance Magazine
ADIB was named "The Best Islamic Bank" in the Middle East region for the second year running at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2011.
ADIB was nominated as "Fastest Growing Bank in the UAE" by the awards jury at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2011.
ADIB was named "The Best Islamic Bank in the region" in the Middle East at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2010
ADIB won the "Best Islamic Bank in the region" at the 2010 Islamic Banking and Finance Awards organized by CPI Financial.
ADIB was named "Best Islamic Bank in the UAE" at the Islamic Finance News Awards 2010.
ADIB won the best Islamic bank in the UAE by EMEA Finance.
ADIB won the "Best UAE Deal" award at the Islamic Finance News Awards 2010.
ADIB also won the "HRD Award" from the Emirates Institute of Banking & Financial Studies.
ADIB's GHINA saving program won the "Best Savings Account Award" at the Banker Middle East Product Awards 2010.
ADIB won the "Best Private Sector Customer Service Team" award at the 2010 UAE Customer Service Week forum, held by The International Customer Service Institute UK.
ADIB won the "Most Improved Bank" in service excellence and got the top rank in "Call Centre Performance" in the 6th Annual Bank Benchmarking Index for service excellence by Ethos Consultancy.
ADIB also won the award for "Best Branding Category" at the 2010 Islamic Banking and Finance Awards organized by CPI Financial.
ADIB won the "Best SME Card" at the 4th Annual Banker Middle East Product Awards 2011.
ADIB won the "Best Ladies Banking Service" at the 4th Annual Banker Middle East Product Awards 2011.

Lamia Hariz     
Corporate Communications & Public Relations
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank    
Mobile: [phone]   
Email: [e-mail]

Wasim Ben Khadr
Corporate Communications & Public Relations
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
Mobile: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Mohammad Z. Al-Qassem
Associate Account Manager
Corporate & Finance Practice
Weber Shandwick | MENA
Mobile: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]