Entrepreneurs
RAKBANK’s Journey: Retail, Islamic Finance, and Award-Winning Banking Services
RAKBANK, the leading retail and business bank in the country, continues to prove its flexibility and innovation within this fast-paced financial world. On one hand, the bank’s total assets amounted to AED 52.8 billion; AED 36.9 billion of this deposits have been recorded at year-end 2020 and have cemented its position as a reliable financial partner. From introducing its Islamic banking division, RAKBANK AMAL to acquiring a majority stake in Ras Al Khaimah National Insurance Company (RAKNIC), this bank has just expanded on a stead building curve. Let’s take a dive into the story of RAKBANK, its growth and services, and achievements in the UAE banking sector that make it all the more unique.
RAKBANK, also referred to as the UAE National Bank, was founded in the middle of the United Arab Emirates. This bank mainly focuses on providing accessible and diversified banking solutions. With assets reaching a figure of AED 52.8 billion and deposits of AED 36.9 billion by the close of the year 2020, it has created its niche as the leading retail and business bank in the UAE. The bank has always concentrated on providing customer-centric banking solutions through its large network of 27 branches, ATMs, and digital banking channels, thus enabling the customers to bank anytime, anywhere.
RAKBANK started its Islamic Banking unit, RAKBANK AMAL, in 2013. This marked an expansion in services with the entry of Islamic banking. The move was done at a time when more and more people in the UAE were demanding Sharia-compliant financial solutions. A wide variety of Islamic banking products and services are offered by RAKBANK through its subsidiary, RAK Islamic Finance Company. Responding to the need of ethical banking products, be it from individuals or businesses, the launch of RAKBANK AMAL reflects the commitment the bank makes toward serving diversified needs and market trends. The Islamic banking division has, over time, grown to be a major part of the RAKBANK portfolio, delivering innovative, Sharia-compliant financial solutions to champion its customers’ values. From personal banking to business financing, RAKBANK AMAL has redefined the Islamic banking experience for many in the UAE.
It’s not just expanding its banking services that have given RAKBANK its growth momentum. In 2014, the bank announced a plan to buy majority share in Ras Al Khaimah National Insurance Company, RAKNIC, an important move toward enriching its portfolio and searching for major consolidation in the insurance sector. The shareholders voted for the acquisition when they agreed to a majority stake acquisition at AED 3.64 per share of the bank during the ordinary general assembly held at its headquarters in Ras Al Khaimah. It was a strategic acquisition in which RAKBANK would diversify its products portfolio and enter the insurance market thus giving customers access to a bigger financial product suite. By offering insurance solutions alongside its banking services, RAKBANK improved its position as a one-stop financial partner for both individuals and businesses.
Consistent dedication to delivering exceptional services has not gone unnoticed, and RAKBANK has received numerous awards and recognitions over the years based on its achievements in banking and marketing innovation. These agreements testify to the efforts of RAKBANK in offering high-class services and the flexibility of the bank to adjust to the needs of the customers. In 2014, The Asian Banker – Middle East Retail Product Awards granted a Best Internet Banking Initiative Award to RAKBANK for its “Click and Collect” service. This recognition placed emphasis on efforts the bank provides to make the banking experience easier and more convenient through innovations and technology to allow customers to access their banking needs in a simplified manner.
In 2012, RAKBANK won Bank of the Year at the Arabian Business Achievement Awards, thus cementing its position in the UAE banking sector. The bank was also on the winning list for the Best Marketing Campaign of the Year as awarded by the Middle East Prepaid Awards, owing to its MasterCard Bling campaign-an activity that demonstrates its innovative approach to customer engagement and increased brand visibility.
The strong shareholder base of the bank contributes to RAKBANK’s growth and stability. Ownership by the government of Ras Al Khaimah is its largest shareholder in the bank, at 52.76% ownership. UAE citizens own 26.99%, and foreign ownership accounts for 20.25%. This diversified shareholder structure reflects the trust bestowed upon RAKBANK both from the government and private investors, which allowed it to thrive and expand its services. Membership in the Board of Directors has the nucleus comprising members of the ruling family of Ras Al Khaimah and respected businesspeople across the UAE and Kuwait. Such an alliance of the public and private sectors has provided management at RAKBANK with the leverage of maintaining customer-centricity while aligning their activities in accordance with the overall economic objectives for emirate/county and for UAE as a nation.
This bank therefore offers a wide number of banking services, ranging from retail to business and commercial banking options in conventional and Islamic. The bank hereby provides different banking channels, including 27 branches in the UAE. This is accompanied by the availability of comprehensive ATMs networks and digital banking options, online, mobile, and telephone banking services.
RAKBANK works to be at the frontline of digital transformation and to provide customers with the most convenient banking experience. The bank’s “Click and Collect” service is, for example, one instance of its efforts in improving the customer experience through digital innovation, for it won Best Internet Banking Initiative Award in 2014. Through the innovative use of technology, RAKBANK ascertains that its services remain highly accessible to customers everywhere on easy, efficient, and secure terms.
The mobile and online banking platform of this bank ensures that customers can gain access 24 hours a day to accounts, payments, and any other financial services towards hassle-free management of finances without interruptions. In doing this, RAKBANK is poised at the top end of the United Arab Emirates’ banking industry and demonstrates willingness to embracing change when the needs of customers are evolved.
Entrepreneurs
The Power Couple of Instagram: Sara’s Journey to 5.5M Followers
Sara’s growing online fame is marked by her creativity, reliability, and deep engagement with her audience. From comedic sketches featuring her husband Ghaith to aspirational lifestyle imagery, Sara has effectively demonstrated her capability as an artist in keeping her followers interested in her content. With adept use of humour, honesty, and aesthetic sensibility, Sara stands out as one of the dearest influencers in the UAE.
Versatility is one characteristic that best describes Sara. She posts more on Beauty and Cosmetics, Apparel, and Accessories, but often crosses over into areas like Fitness, Healthcare, and Healthy Living. She offers a great deal of value to her audience through beautifying tips, exercises, and product recommendations among other content forms. This variety keeps audiences interested and puts her in the lead position as a go-to partner for brands who wish to create a more memorable impression.
Characterized as luxurious and a dynamic way of life, no destination aligns more with Sara’s fulfilment than Dubai. Through the travels she takes through the Maldives, Seychelles, and Turkey, Sara embodies luxury exploration spirits that epitomize Dubai as the ultimate and highly sought-after destination around the world for glamorous and adventurous characters. The tales are not just inspiring ones for her listeners but also speak to the part Dubai played in unlocking access to the extraordinary destinations around the world.
Collaborations underpin all of Sara’s accomplishments. For example, in a recently collaborated project with Garnier, one of her social media reels had nearly 4 million views with 130,000 interactions. Similarly, in another collaboration with Temu, such an engagement was conducted in an informative and entertaining manner, thus it gained an impressive 7.7 million views and about 500,000 engagements. These above collaborations represented the potential of marrying creativity with brand messages and finally producing something authentic and relatable. The synergy of relating to her husband, Ghaith, has that effect for Sara. A build-up in her persona comes about through the collaboration bestowed upon her with some quality that makes not only aesthetically pleasing but also emotionally meaningful. While comedy up to poignant moments, the dynamic between Sara and her husband, Ghaith, is something that essentially encompasses Sara’s brand. Their connection to her talents allows her to build a followership that enjoys an impressive 80% credibility score—a notable achievement, undoubtedly, within the realms of influencers.
Amazingly, the engagement metrics attached to Sara’s account average 9.6 million views and 1.1 million engagements per post. For a long time, such performance left in its wake most of her colleagues from the blogging community. Furthermore, she has averaged engagement rates between 4 and 5 percent, which is all proof that she indeed is extremely trusted and interesting for her audience.
Effects of Sara touch the lives of individuals. Her GRWM videos are revealing and inspiring, along with beauty tips and Q&A sessions that make them feel valued and included. This is genuine, and she welcomes each other with her excitement about cementing herself as one of the authentic social media icons in the UAE.
Sara represents a vibrant and dynamic culture about Dubai, full of energy, diversity, and aspirations, but she also keeps her feet on the ground, inspiring her followers through this story to pursue their passions and be true to themselves, but concurrently enjoy all of life’s pleasures.
When the digital world may dismiss trends, Sara’s story continues—logical, funny, hopeful, and full of energy. She has been an inspiration among young aspiring influencers, and a very revered personality among her subscribers, thanks to her capacity to capitalize on entertainment that also harbours heavy content. Through her consistent creation of content that deeply connects with her audience, Sara represents how true enthusiasm and authenticity contribute to a long-term record of success in an area that, from day to day, seems to be constantly changing with each shift in social media trends.
Entrepreneurs
How Varsity Tutors Connects the World through Personalized Learning
Varsity Tutors seems to be one trendsetter in the world of education, doing an edge in leveraging the technological front towards tailoring and making learning accessible. Conceptualized on the idea that every child is as special as his needs, Varsity Tutors connects learners of all age groups with experts in multiple subjects for fulfilling academic tutoring needs, professional skills training, and much more towards assuring that every individual’s unique educational needs are met.
What makes Varsity Tutors distinct is its dual platform approach. While for them, a learner has the option between in-person sessions or online and mobile platforms-most of which take place remotely-award-winning digital tools allow learners to get high-quality instructions from anywhere in the world. Where the finishing school kind of excellence in education is one aspect of the culture of Dubai, the parents and the students here have come to trust Varsity Tutors. Its flexibility coupled with highly advanced methods would dovetail easily into the forward-thinking approach towards education in Dubai.
The academic tutoring isn’t where it ends. Varsity Tutors also deals with professionals who want to up skill or achieve certifications for boosting their careers. Live, interactive learning makes some rather complicated subjects quite digestible, thus making this an engaging and very immersive experience. Online learning is ultimately isolating because with Varsity Tutors, one gets human contact and real-time feedback so that learning is effective but also fun.
Varsity Tutors boasts an impressive record: three million hours of live instruction delivered to date. Its strong showing does, in fact reflect the capacity to be flexible and grow within a highly dynamic educational landscape. The platform offers many different subjects through its extensive network of experts, giving any learner the chance to find an appropriate match for their goals. The reach of the program worldwide resonates with diverse communities everywhere-from students and professionals in multicultural Dubai, all of whom are seeking top-notch learning solutions to thrive in a competitive environment.
Innovation is one of the leading factors for Varsity Tutors’ success. For instance, learning in its mobile app is at the fingertips of the user: a user can schedule sessions, view resources, and interact with his instructor quite easily. This convenience has been a game-changer for many busy professionals and tight-scheduled students. Dubai’s bustling educational and professional scene has found synergy with Varsity Tutors’ vision. The platform aligns with the city’s goal of fostering a knowledge-based economy, equipping its residents with the tools needed to succeed in a globalized world. With its emphasis on personalized learning, Varsity Tutors supports Dubai’s mission to nurture talent and encourage lifelong learning.
The impact of Varsity Tutors goes beyond individual learners. Students will be empowered to reach great academic and professional heights, contributing to the building of a brighter future in communities around the globe. Quality, accessibility, and innovation ensure the firm does not only serve but lead an evolving education sector globally.
Varsity Tutors is a legacy of transformation and change in the face of education through technology potential. The platform combined personalized instruction with avant-garde digital tools that changed the face of learning. From young students to professionals undergoing training, there have been many from New York to Dubai and everywhere in between who have found a haven in Varsity Tutors.
Entrepreneurs
Nomadic Capital’s Visionary Founder: Ziad Ghosn’s Journey of Success
Ziad Ghosn, however, goes beyond being an entrepreneur; instead, he is a visionary who moulds industries in the GCC. Having been around over 15 years and immersed in the intricacies of the UAE market, Ghosn has converted Nomadic Capital into a thriving hub of innovation, incubating game-changing ventures in fields such as technology, food and beverage, and healthcare. Ghosn, along with his co-founder wife, Stephanie Khouri, is on the forefront of debunking traditional business models to herald smarter and more efficient solutions. He is the epitome of innovation and resilience.
Education and corporate experiences formed the base for Ziad Ghosn’s entry into the entrepreneurial world. He graduated with honours from the American University of Dubai, and a Master’s Degree in International Business from London, further helping him polish his skills in the bigger organizations of Wunderman, Y&R, Emirates Lebanon Bank, and Pragma Group. This experience gave him the much-needed knowledge and market insights to create his own ventures.
Ghosn, alongside his wife Stephanie Khouri, has partnered with Nomadic Capital Limited since 2017. Founded on a vision to introduce innovation in the GCC region, this start-up aims to tap into untapped markets by offering services either incu-bating potential ideas or undertaking their own ground-breaking initiatives. Collaboration is what made Nomadic Capital a leader in fostering innovation and tackling modern business challenges. Pushdot was the mobile application which Nomadic Capital produced and which earned the company a place among the top 50 start-ups to watch in the UAE. The app has been acclaimed within the region and has further received international accolades such as the Appy Awards in New York. This recognition has, therefore, underlined the app’s capability to update business needs through innovative digital tools.
Ghosn’s initiatives cover much more than mobile technology. Operating Nomadic Capital, he has done much to create opportunities in the food and drink sector, as, with his team, he was granted the International Business Excellence Award for Innovation in F&B. Among the concepts of the firm, of great significance is the Automat, a fast-food restaurant model whereby hot meals and beverages are dispensed via vending machines. Such a concept not only offers convenience but also addresses efficiency and operational issues in the industry.
Recognizing the potential of technological integration with healthcare, Ghosn has turned his attention to this booming industry recently. The focus of his last efforts has been on providing better patient care and streamlining business operations through advanced digital features. Through these gaps in traditional models for healthcare, Ghosn manages to deliver smarter solutions that are more accessible and promise to redefine the industry in the GCC and beyond.
The entrepreneurial pursuits of Ziad Ghosn reflect the kind of relentless drive for innovation and adaptation to modern business needs. His ability to turn from retail automation towards health care reveals the visionary of an entrepreneur who stands out in today’s competitive landscape. Through leveraging cutting-edge technology and deep market insights, Ghosn continues making opportunities that challenge conventional norms and redefine possibilities.
Through his firm Nomadic Capital, Ghosn gives more than just ideas to life; he creates a culture of innovation that resonates across industries. His entrepreneurial success is a blueprint for would-be business leaders, outlining how strategic vision and adaptability lead to transformative outcomes.
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