Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), a leading Islamic bank in the UAE, has announced that it has completed the integration of Noor Bank with the successful migration of all banking relationships into DIB.

The acquisition further enhances DIB’s position as one of the largest Islamic banks in the world with total assets exceeding AED300 billion ($81 billion).

A robust governance framework focused on minimal customer as well as market impact were the key binding principles of the integration project. Cross-functional teams across the bank worked round the clock to guarantee a smooth and speedy transition with the least amount of system and channel downtime.

The entire integration was achieved in record time despite unfavourable circumstances, as majority of the teams involved worked remotely due to Covid-19 restrictions. Whilst the initial timeline for the project of one year to completion was already challenging, and made more so by the adversities of global macroeconomic environment, the quality of planning and alignment of delivery capabilities helped to close it in 283 days, well ahead of the projected deadline.

“We are delighted to announce another significant milestone in the bank’s rich history. A key element of the project was the engagement with the market, customers as well regulators that allowed us to effectively manage any situation that could unfold, and to keep our customers abreast of the same. The transition was smooth and the project concluded successfully and all service restored prior to scheduled resumption with minimal customer impact,” said Dr Adnan Chilwan, Group Chief Executive Officer, DIB.

“The acquisition of Noor Bank would not have been possible without the support and endorsement of the Government, regulatory authorities, Board of Directors and Sharia Boards of both banks. I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all those involved, who have worked diligently on integration planning and execution throughout the operational disruption caused by the pandemic.

“The UAE is recognized as the epicentre of the Islamic economy and the successful completion of this acquisition clearly evidences the alignment of Dubai Islamic Bank to Dubai’s role as a global hub for Islamic finance, encouraging greater investment and growth in key sectors such as infrastructure, innovation and services. We look forward to supporting the next new and exciting phase of the UAE’s and DIB’s growth story,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service