More nationals in banking sector

Of a total 135 more employees employed by the banking sector in the first half this year, an overwhelming 126 were UAE nationals.

Data released yesterday by Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of Communications, and head of the Human Resources Development Committee of the Banking Sector, showed the number of nationals employed in the commercial banking sector had jumped 4.22 per cent to 3,114.

"It stands even higher, at 3,404, when one includes statistics from the UAE Central Bank, Emirates Industrial Bank and the Real Estate Bank - three entities which had not earlier been taken into account," he said, after a committee meeting at the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies.

The overall level of emiratisation in commercial banks stood at 20.25 per cent, and at 21.45 per cent after taking into account the three added entities.

The minister expressed happiness that the data, culled from a detailed study undertaken by the institute, for the first time adequately reflects the true rate of emiratisation, while highlighting the high number of nationals in the higher echelons of banking, and the strides taken by national women in the sector.

The number of nationals employed in the commercial banking sector rose to 296 by end-June 2002 from 265 as at end-December 2001. Overall, the number of nationals rose to 398, after taking into account the three added entities.

National women in commercial banks, meanwhile, number 1,776, while national men total 1,338. The commercial sector as a whole employs 15,380.

He, however, indicated there is still considerable room for improvement, particularly with regard to individual banks.

"At the higher end, there are seven banks with over 25 per cent of their staff being nationals," he said. "Topping the list is Rakbank with 31.44 per cent, followed by Middle East Bank with 31.17 per cent."

The other five include Dubai Islamic, HSBC, National Bank of Umm Al Quwain, Emirates International, and National Bank of Dubai. Eleven other banks have a 20-25 per cent nationalised staff component, he added.

Among seven banks in the 15-20 per cent range are National Bank of Fujairah and Emirates Industrial.

However, as many as 22 banks reported less than 15 per cent emiratisation, with National Bank of Bahrain and Janata Bank bringing up the rear with zero per cent each, followed by Bank Melli Iran with 6.3 per cent and Bank Saderat Iran with 6.9.

Others in this group included Bank of Sharjah with 10 per cent, Mashreq with 10.45, Arbift with 11.5 and Union National with 13.4.