Branch managers of all banks to be locals by next year

The Human Resour-ces Development Committee in the Banking Sector has asked banks to strictly adhere to the stipulation of 100 per cent emiratisation of branch managers by the end of this year.

The panel has directed banks to appoint only UAE nationals to the position of branch manager.

The directive follows a survey that showed only seven banks out of 47 in the UAE have fulfilled the requirement of 100 per cent emiratisation of branch managers' positions.

"Though a circular has been in force from April 2002, most banks have failed to replace foreigners with nationals as branch managers," said Humaid Al Qutami, coordinator of the committee and general manager of Emirates Institute of Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS).

Dubai Islamic Bank, National Bank of Dubai, Middle East Bank, Emirates Bank International, National Bank of Sharjah, ABN Amro and Arbift are the banks that have achieved the target of 100 per cent emiratisation of branch managers.

Among 423 branch managers, only 214 were nationals as of June 2003. This number has come down to 197, a drop of 8.6 per cent against the stipulated increase of four per cent per year. The number of female managers also dropped to 14 from 22 in 2003.

"As per a circular issued on April 9, 2002, all banks had been given a deadline of end-2002 to emiratise this position. A majority of banks have yet to fulfill this requirement," he said.

The human resources heads of banks will meet in Sharjah on September 22 to decide on an action plan for the banks that lagged in emiratisation.

The meeting, at the EIBFS premises in Sharjah, will be presided over by Ahmad Humaid Al Tayer, UAE Minister of Communications.

* According to a survey, only seven banks out of 47 in the UAE have fulfilled the requirement of 100 per cent emiratisation of branch manager positions.

* They are Dubai Islamic Bank, National Bank of Dubai, Middle East Bank, Emirates Bank International, National Bank of Sharjah, ABN Amro and Arbift.