What it does: A government-owned banking institution that offers services in retail, corporate, investment, Islamic, and private banking, as well as asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage options all throughout the UAE.
Best known for: Emirates NBD is one of the Middle East's largest banking groups in terms of assets. It is also one of UAE's largest employers with around 9,000 people representing 70 nationalities. Emirates NBD is included in the top 20 of Forbes' 'World's Best Regarded Companies' list along with a number of leading global brands.
Staff stats: 9,000+
The good bits: Market competitive salary and fringe benefits, flexible working hours, leading technology, and a diverse and highly-talented workforce.
The not-so-good bits: Work-life balance is an issue for some roles as they require long hours. Insiders complain about little to no job advancement or promotions and rampant workplace politics.
Formed in June 1963, Emirates NBD was first established as the National Bank of Dubai by Sheik Rashin bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Dubai's ruler at the time. In March 2007, the National Bank of Dubai, the third-largest bank in the UAE, merged with Emirates Bank International (EBI), the fourth-largest bank, thereby creating Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the Emirates in terms of assets. Its shares were officially listed in the Dubai Financial Market on 16 October 2007. Emirates NBD offers services across corporate, Islamic, private, and retail banking, asset management, global markets & treasury, and brokerage options.
As of 2019, Emirates NBD's total assets reached AED 675.6 billion and with the acquisition of DenizBank, expanded its presence to 13 countries while servicing over 14 million customers. Around 94% of the bank's financial requests and transactions are done outside of its branches, making it a key participant in the global digital banking industry.
Emirates NBD has operations in the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Singapore, Austria, Russia, India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Bahrain with representative offices in Indonesia and China. A total of 980 branches and 3964 ATMs/SDMs are located around the world.
The recruitment process varies from role to role. Graduates may expect a series of ability and psychometric tests that identify job fit followed by one or more biographical, competency, or technical interviews and assessments with HR representatives and unit managers.
Selection decisions are based on the results of interviews and assessments. Applicants who succeed will be given offer details, while those who do not will be notified by the HR department with their applications kept for future consideration.
Emirates NBD offers a market-competitive basic salary. Project managers may receive a base pay of AED 26,000 per month while account managers may receive AED 15,000.
Fringe benefits may include cash allowances for airfares, housing, education, and conveyance, performance incentives, training and development, health and life insurance, pension/gratuity, salary or rent advance, discounts, and special interest rates for home, education, vehicle and personal loans.
Emirates NBD fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace where different cultures and nationalities thrive, while also celebrating collaboration, openness, and continuous learning. This is why most insiders often praise the company's 'dynamic' and ‘friendly’ work environment where supportive managers offer ample guidance.
Emirates NBD is one of UAE's largest employers of Emiratis. The bank's Emirati program identifies talented UAE national graduates and equips them with development modules to eventually take on leadership roles.
Emirates NBD's corporate social responsibility focuses on high-impact areas which include supporting people with disabilities or raising the financial literacy level of the communities in which it serves. The bank has reached over 2 million people through its CSR programs since 2015.
Though it occasionally funds an organisation or program directly, Emirates NBD chooses to assist the community through a Social Investment Framework, more often working with partners such as community institutions in order to strategically target an impact area.
The bank's Exchanger Volunteer Programme creates opportunities for employees, friends, and family to exchange their time for community service. It also runs online donation campaigns where customers may donate to a cause using the Emirates NBD Mobile App or Online Banking.
As one of the Middle East's largest banking groups, Emirates NBD offers instant prestige. This, along with its competitive salary and diverse, cream-of-the-crop workforce, makes it an attractive option for graduates looking for an entry-point into the banking industry. Graduates looking to stay for long, however, may be discouraged by its lack of work-life balance and few opportunities for growth.