Huda Abdulla: Champion of Emiratisation

dubai - The senior FGB executive heads initiatives to enhance female participation in UAE banking and financial services sector

The UAE's banking and finance sector has always played a vital role in supporting the country's strategic plans and visions and in making them a reality, says Huda Abdulla, executive vice-president and head of the Emirati segment at First Gulf Bank (FGB).

At the bank, she is responsible for managing the development of the Emirati segment business propositions and overseeing the consumer banking group's portfolio of loans for UAE nationals. Huda has been a prominent figure in the UAE banking industry for the past 18 years and has contributed to the development of several banking products, such as the Elite Emirati proposition, Visa credit card for women, the Emirati Al Awwal Islamic certificate and the Abu Dhabi Credit Card at FGB.

"I would say that a career in the banking and finance industry is a challenging but exciting one, and also incredibly rewarding. A career in the industry is also fast-paced and dynamic, encompassing a broad range of responsibilities, which means that each day is different. The banking industry is the backbone of the UAE economy and it's crucial for more women to play their part in building the UAE's future," said Huda.

The UAE has made great strides in recent years to enhance female participation across all industries, including traditionally male-dominated sectors such as banking and finance. Today, Emirati women are well-educated, skilled and confident contributors to the UAE's ongoing success and are being actively encouraged to progress, pursue their aspirations and take on leadership roles.

After graduation, Huda began work as a branch customer service officer in a bank while completing her masters in business administration. She then moved on to the role of branch manager. In time, she became head of branches and was then promoted to the role of EVP, head of distribution and channels at FGB, before taking on her current role as head of the Emirati segment.

Importance of Emiratisation
The go-getter feels that as the UAE continues to diversify and strive towards transforming itself into a knowledge-based economy, Emiratisation is playing an increasingly important role in the country's continued development and progress. Emiratisation initiatives are helping to develop a strong pool of Emirati talent, open up new job opportunities across all sectors and prepare the current generation to become the leaders of tomorrow.
"There is a clear movement by banks to increase Emiratisation rates in their institutions and FGB is no exception. FGB has over 350 Emirati employees, and we are consistently working to increase the number of Emiratis employed in the banking and financial sector and improve our Emiratisation rate, which currently stands at 35 per cent."
Every year, the bank participates in career fairs to attract young talented Emiratis and has developed a range of initiatives to promote Emirati participation in the banking and finance sector and help young UAE nationals to develop the skills and expertise they need to pursue a successful career in the industry.
Currently, the bank offers the Nujoom programme, which is an 18-month fast-track management scheme designed to provide participants with the skills required to enter leadership roles in the banking and financial services sector. The programme provides opportunities for young Emiratis to experience a wide range of training activities across the bank, helping them to grow and develop at FGB.
"For current undergraduate students, we offer internship opportunities and a summer training programme, which places participants in various departments within the bank. We also offer a more advanced, specialist bankers programme which is designed for Emirati students studying overseas with a minimum of one year of professional experience and a bachelors, masters or doctorate degree who want to develop a career in the financial services sector," she added.

Supportive environment
Huda said: "I believe that women play a crucial role in the continued progress of our nation and I have been involved in several women-related initiatives. To personally contribute to creating a supportive banking environment for women, I head the Woman Advisory Committee of Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies as chairman and have supported initiatives designed to foster a growing female workforce in the banking and financial services sector. I've also been part of a number of CSR programmes targeting women, including the 'Smear, Don't Fear' cervical cancer awareness programme launched by Zulekha hospital in 2015."

Recent reports show that 8,000 Emirati women account for almost 72 per cent of UAE nationals working in the banking sector and approximately 43 per cent of the overall workforce. According to Oxford Strategic Consulting's 2015 Emirati Employment Report, women are also significantly more likely (21 per cent) than their male counterparts (four per cent) to work in banking and finance.

"These are great figures, which I am confident will continue to increase moving forward with the continued support and guidance of the UAE's wide leadership," she said.

"I've always strived to be a mentor for other women working to progress in the industry, recognising their goals and being supportive of their efforts to develop and succeed. At FGB, I continue to uphold this belief and help to foster a supportive environment which encourages women and gives them the confidence to take on more senior positions."

- sandhya@khaleejtimes.com