Dubai-UAE: 04 October, 2015

For the third year running, National Bonds Corporation, the leading sharia-compliant savings and investments company in the UAE, has been named 'Best Islamic Savings Product' at the Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA 2015).

The award was conferred on National Bonds during a ceremony held in Manama, Bahrain. Celebrating excellence in Islamic finance, the high profile event was hosted in the presence of leading experts and innovators from the world of business.

The award recognizes National Bonds' success in spreading a culture of saving across the UAE and the wider region through a wide array of Sharia-compliant savings products that offer competitive annual returns, in addition to the region's richest rewards programs in its category. One of the most noteworthy features of the National Bonds saving programs is their potential to encourage UAE nationals and residents working in both the government and private sector companies to effectively plan for a secure retirement through enrolling in the Employee Saving Program (ESP).

Commenting on the award, Mohammed Qasim Al-Ali, CEO of National Bonds, said: "We are delighted and honored at this recognition of our successful savings program, the first of its kind in the Islamic region, which has helped thousands of people in the UAE achieve financial stability and positive changes in their lives. It is for this reason that we believe our unique value offer is unmatched in the Islamic world.

"Winning this award for the third consecutive year will further incentivize us to do our utmost to promote financial responsibility and prudence among the general public. In order to guard against the risk of future economic crises, we will seek to educate those who find it hard to manage their finances and discipline themselves towards achieving their financial safety. This approach comes out of our conviction that financial planning significantly helps people to participate in the socio-economic development of our country."  

Al Ali added: "In our priority to ensure the well-being of all segments of the society, we design our savings and investment products in a way that caters to people's long term financial requirements. Encouraging our customers to save enough to cover educational and other essential family expenses even if they are faced with job loss or retirement conforms to the principles of Islamic Sharia and our commitment to making innovative Islamic products the ideal choice for shaping a sustainable financial future for our customers."

The International Islamic Finance Award function is organized annually by Edbiz Consulting. 

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About National Bonds Corporation PJSC
National Bonds, licensed and regulated by the UAE Central Bank, is a Sharia'a compliant saving scheme that provides UAE nationals, UAE residents and non-residents with a credible and safe savings opportunity.  Minors can also own National Bonds, provided the bonds are purchased by the parent/guardian. Each bond costs AED10, with a minimum purchase option of AED100. National Bonds Corporation PJSC announced an annual return up to 4% for 2014. The scheme has distributed an annualized rate of return of 57% since inception, which is a combined average of annual returns and prizes distributed till 2014. National Bonds is a unique savings scheme with a diversified client base of more than 800,000 customers, offering:

·         Opportunity to win more than 40,000 prizes every month. These prizes include monthly and quarterly awards distributed to UAE nationals and residents in separate categories. The quarterly prize offers two participants the chance to win a million dirham award every first Sunday of the quarter. The monthly awards give two bondholders the chance to win two BMW cars, AED10,000 to two women bondholders, and AED 10,000 to two minor bondholders. In addition, regular savers have the chance to win 15 awards worth AED10,000 every month. The monthly prizes also include 40,000 give away cash awards valued at AED50 each

·         Savings with National Bonds can be redeemed easily after an initial 30-day holding period by calling 600522279 or for instant cash redemptions up to AED10,000 per day through visiting selective branches of Al Ansari Exchange and UAE Exchange houses across the UAE.

·         Bonds are subject to a deferred-payment subscription fee which is payable at the time of redemption and waived if Saving Bonds complete the required months of holding period base on the payment mode.

·         The National Bonds Employee Saving Program offers government and private sector employees an opportunity to save a portion of their salary on a monthly basis and also be entitled to all benefits and rewards offered by National Bonds.

·         National Bonds can be purchased from nearly 1,700 outlets across the UAE, including The Sukuk Express through MBME - The Cube machines, Emirates Post offices, exchange houses and banks.

·         National Bonds can also be purchased online at www.nationalbonds.ae

For more information please call:
Ghada El Khoury
APCO Worldwide
Tel: +971 4 375 5247
Mob: +971 55 804 5317
gelkhoury@apcoworldwide.com

© Press Release 2015