Citibank U.A.E. began in 1964 by opening its first branch at Dubai. Being one of the first international banks to tread the region, it soon became a forerunner in the financial services space. The second branch was opened at Abu Dhabi in 1971, which signalled the bank’s expansion in the Emirates. Today, Citibank U.A.E. offers its large banking solutions at full service-branches in three of the seven Emirates—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.

Citibank U.A.E. has a diversified portfolio of financial products and services suitable for individual as well as institutional clients. These include consumer banking solutions in the form of credit cards, personal loans, and savings accounts and corporate and investment banking services. To add to this, Citibank U.A.E. offers institutional equity research and sales, foreign exchange services, and commercial banking. In addition to this, it has been focused on digital transformation through the E-Brokerage platform of the bank. The facility, based in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), serves the do-it-yourself (DIY) investor so that he can trade and monitor his accounts online. There exists the sort of digital brokerage that charges 1% of the amount traded per transaction and custody of 0.2% on an annual basis, offering investors a flexible and convenient way to manage their portfolios.

Citibank U.A.E. as part of its commitment towards offering cutting edge banking solutions has embraced digital wallet technology. Though the bank had earlier operated its own mobile wallet, Citi Pay, which is no longer in operation post 2019. Yet, it has gone on to collaborate with popular apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay. From 2023 onwards, Citi Mastercard credit card users can make secure payments through these digital wallets, which would be another success for the bank to continue its operations in addressing the demands of consumers. Citibank U.A.E. has stated specific account conditions. Citibank U.A.E. has maintained a minimum balance requirement to open a low-value current or checking account for the past five years. For 2015 onward, the basic current or checking account has a minimum balance condition of holding at least AED 35,000 in another currency for new clients. The individualized financial solutions remain the main focus; excellent high-end service is provided to high-value clients.

Citibank U.A.E. has remained as one of the key regional hubs for capital markets and investment banking operations. Operated out of Dubai’s DIFC and Abu Dhabi’s Global Market, ADGM, Citigroup Global Markets Ltd. and Citibank, N.A. license the bank. This strategic positioning allows Citibank to provide a range of services-from corporate advisory to capital markets financing and investment banking solutions-to every kind of business. Citibank U.A.E. subsequently serves as an offshore booking center, facilitating clients in their ability to maximize their tax strategies and to better manage their cross-border financial needs through loans and other financial products.

Positioning itself appropriately to carry on the legacy of innovation and customer-centric solutions, the bank is one of the leading international banks in the region. Indeed, its deep roots in the UAE and its global outreach would place it in an important position making defining contributions to the future of banking in the Emirates.

Whether you are a private client seeking tailored financial solutions or a corporation desirous of access to international markets, Citibank U.A.E. offers you the expertise, technology, and solutions to achieve your goals. Citibank U.A.E. is committed to empower clients and support them in succeeding in this dynamic financial environment.

The Chalhoub Group has been the backbone for luxury retail in the Middle East for many years although it has its origins more innocuous. It started in 1955 when brother and sister team Michel and Widad Chalhoub opened the first store in Damascus, Syria. This boutique sold the finest French silverware brand, Christofle. Economic instability and the very small market of Syria forced the family to look further afield for other opportunities. It expanded its operations to Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965, further stretching across the region into the Gulf.

With tensions in political affairs moving upwards with the start of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, Chalhoub relocated again to Kuwait as the subsidiary there was already doing well. Nevertheless, the final relocation was made in 1990 when headquarters were established in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The move was strategic, as the group now stood in one of the most vibrant and growing luxury markets of the world. Over the tenure of Michel and Widad’s sons-ANthony and Patrick Chalhoub, co-CEOs since 2001-the group has experienced the growth unprecedented in its history. The Chalhoub Group today stretches across the Middle East, establishing retail, distribution, and marketing services for some of the world’s top brands. Unfortunately, Anthony Chalhoub passed away in 2018, and so Patrick is the sole CEO of the group now.

Today, Chalhoub Group operates more than 750 stores in the region and also has a luxury portfolio that includes joint ventures with iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, and Sephora. This rather unique co-management model gives the company the opportunity to closely partner with those brands and also launch new labels in the market. Retail franchises it covers include Saks Fifth Avenue, Loewe, Carolina Herrera, Swarovski, and Michael Kors, among others.

The strategy of Chalhoub Group focuses much on forming partnerships. In 2018, the firm entered into a joint venture with Farfetch, the UK luxury fashion e-commerce platform. Through this partnership, Chalhoub started to expand into the digital space as it allowed its curated luxury brands on the platform of Farfetch. This move showed how Chalhoub was keen to stay abreast of consumer behavior, especially since there was a rise in online shopping. Chalhoub entered into an agreement with Korloff, a French luxury jewelry and watch house, in 2022, and opened various locations in the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar. More recently, Chalhoub also invested in a majority stake in the London-based e-retailer of personal shopping, Threads Styling, at once further solidifying its position as one of the leaders in digital luxury .

The Chalhoub Group is more than a distributor; it’s an innovator in the luxury market. The company launched a string of own-concept stores and brands to attract regional tastes. These comprise Tanagra, a luxury lifestyle and gift store chain, Level Shoes, an expansive 96,000-square-foot footwear emporium in Dubai Mall, and Ghawali, an upscale oriental fragrance brand. In 2017, Chalhoub acquired Christofle, the very brand with which it began its journey, setting up a full-circle moment in the world of luxury.

Chalhoub Group pays attention to luxury goods, but also to developing its people. In 2007, the company established the Chalhoub Retail Academy in Dubai, then a second branch in Saudi Arabia in 2009. These academies are committed to training the front-line staff within customer service, brand knowledge, and salesmanship so that the Chalhoub Group never fails to uphold its standards in all retail outlets.

The company seems to hold onto a solid blend of old and new. Since its inception over six decades ago, the company was not only instrumental in changing the very face of the retail landscape in the Middle East but also began looking toward international markets. Going forward, its immediate plans are further digital expansion and furthering growth in the portfolio of luxury brands and possibly into Saudi Arabia and Europe.

Innovation and strategic partnership, together with a strong focus on luxury, make the Chalhoub Group a leading player in the global luxury goods market-a true testament to the vision of Michel and Widad Chalhoub, who started it all in 1955.

Casinetto initiated in Dubai, sourcing quality ingredients coming in from Italy and the rest of Europe. Fresh seafood, fine meats, and artisanal products were all curated for a high-end food list designed to bring the best culinary experience possible for their clients. Working with the finest suppliers: from Spanish fishermen to French artisans, Casinetto ensured that only the best would find its way into the kitchens of the UAE’s finest establishments.

The success of Casinetto year after year urged rapid expansion. This saw the opening of its e-commerce store in the year 2017, thus opening the doors to an even larger market for consumable services. This, in effect, allowed Casinetto to enter into the B2C market, thus making it possible to let home cooks and food enthusiasts enjoy what the high-end restaurants would have otherwise enjoyed. In 2023, Casinetto took bold steps forward by expansion of its operation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into a regional presence and advancing further in the promise of being one of the key players in the Middle East’s food service sector.

What differentiates Casinetto from other distributors is the company’s stubborn commitment to quality and sustainability. The company prefers to work with suppliers who adopt sustainable agriculture and old farmer practice systems, which is actually in the same line of interest as that of small businesses sharing the same values. Thus, apart from quality and the best fresh products, Casinetto is already encouraging a culture of sustainability and responsible sourcing. Over 2,500 items comprise Casinetto’s product portfolio; it ranges from fresh seafood to organic fruits and vegetables, and gourmet food products. The removal of the middleman allows Casinetto to cut through the intermediaries for its customers and provide fresher, more authentic, and real sources of ingredients.

It is a testament to Casinetto’s standing for excellence that its clientele boasts the names of the most distinguished hospitality players: Marriott Hotels, Atlantis the Palm Dubai, Jumeirah, to name a few, and even Nusr-Et. But it does not stop there; besides being a staple in the kitchens of high-end hotels and restaurants, it has even reached the mass retailers across the GCC, which comprise Carrefour, Spinneys, Waitrose, and also the online channels – Amazon and Noon.

Casinetto makes premium products available to the market for both individual consumers and large-scale commercial kitchens through smooth integration of B2B and B2C services.

Being different from most companies that rely on bootstrapping their business operations, Casinetto has been bootstrapped throughout its history. It reinvested profits and tapped into operational success to fund the expansion, thus allowing the business to keep control over its growth and operations. This approach has served Casinetto well in terms of professional and purposeful growth and avoiding pitfalls such as rapid, uncoordinated growth. Such commitment to perfection has not gone unnoticed. The company has attracted much attention from prominent publications, among them ITP Media, Entrepreneur, The Pro Chef, and Arabian Business have all featured its success story. These features and others underline growing power and esteemed position within the region’s food and hospitality circles.

Conclusion: With over a decade of experience and a solid base in the UAE, Casinetto is well positioned to thrive further. Focusing on genuine European ingredients, sustainability, as well as highest quality standards, the company has managed to place itself in a superlative position among the region’s food service industry companies. The move, as the company looks to expand further across the Middle East, and indeed much farther, shows that Casinetto is certainly here to play in the bigger scheme of things within the HORECA and food distribution industries.