Country & Regional Focus
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Promoting Best Practices in UAE

by Colin Fraser, Executive Vice President, Head of Wholesale Banking, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

Welcome to this inaugural Guide authored by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) in association with Treasury Management International. In the articles that follow, we would like to introduce you to some of our senior management team, and provide a deeper understanding of the ways in which we support the evolving needs of our clients. UAE is a dynamic group of markets that have already experienced rapid change and expansion. ADCB plays a pivotal role in enabling this expansion, promoting best practices and competitiveness amongst our clients, and cementing UAE’s role as a financial hub for the region.

The birth of a new wholesale bank

Over the 22 years I have spent in banking so far, many of the proudest moments of my career have taken place since I joined ADCB. In 2008, while I was running Barclays’ corporate banking division for GCC, I was approached by ADCB to set up a new wholesale banking business. Since we first launched the business, throughout the crisis and beyond, we have been clear in articulating and delivering on our corporate strategy: ADCB is a universal bank for UAE, and we aim to continue developing market share across all customer segments.

For wholesale banking, this involves fulfilling the critical need amongst our institutional clients for high quality investment and transaction banking solutions, from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through to large multinational corporations, government entities and financial institutions. Innovation and customer service excellence are at the heart of what we do, enabling us to develop, deliver and support solutions that specifically meet client requirements.

Promoting client success, at home and overseas

This strategy has proved very successful, with strong, sustainable growth across all areas of our business. Cash management, part of our transaction banking business, is attracting a large number of SMEs in addition to our larger institutional clients, with consistently strong customer satisfaction metrics. We are also investing heavily in trade finance, facilitating our customers’ international trade ambitions.