Abu Dhabi/Paris (May 14, 2014) - The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the Number One Bank in the UAE, will sponsor the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum (ADIF) to take place May 22nd, 2013 in Paris, France.

ADIF, which is held in partnership with Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, brings together French and UAE companies, investors and policy-makers, industry leaders, financial experts, and high-profile government officials

H.E. Mohammed Meer Abdullah Al-Raeesi, the UAE Ambassador to the France will deliver the opening keynote address who will be followed by another keynote address by H.E. Nasser Ahmed Khalifa Alsowaidi, the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and the Chairman of NBAD Board of Directors.

"One of the key ways of contributing to the development of Abu Dhabi is by supporting forums and platforms that bring together key and critical players in development and to create the medium for exchange of information and ideas, and we are proud to sponsor Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in Paris," says Michael H. Tomalin, the Group Chief Executive of NBAD.

Fadi Halout, the NBAD Country Manager in France, will participate in a panel discussing "Banking and Finance."

The Forum will also offer panelists and speakers from several other key Abu Dhabi companies and organisations, such as Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Etihad Airlines, Etihad Rail, Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), and Mubadala.

"France and the UAE are important and critical trading partners with great potentials for significant growth of it. Abu Dhabi Investment Forum will contribute greatly to the growth of trade and exchange between the two nations," said Mr. Halout.

NBAD launched its French operations in 1979. The Paris branch provides tailored banking products and services to select private clients and corporations in Europe and the MENA region. NBAD customers benefit from the Bank's extended up market network of seasoned professional partners.

NBAD has the largest international network among UAE banks, with operations in 19 countries spanning five continents and has a strategy to expand to 41 countries by 2021.

NBAD is ranked one of the World's 50 Safest Banks by Global Finance since 2009.

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About NBAD
The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), The Number One Bank in UAE, was incorporated in 1968 and is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), under stock code (NBAD).

Ranked as one of the top 50 safest banks in the world since 2009, NBAD currently operates across 19 countries on five continents. NBAD has a network of 124 branches and more than 570 ATMs to provide banking services to customers all over the UAE. Besides bricks & mortar branches, NBAD provides 24 hour internet banking access through NbadOnline and NbadDirect, the SMS-based payment service (Arrow) as well as account access and personalised customer support through its 24-hour Call Centre.

NBAD's overseas network stretches from China and Hong Kong in the Far East to Malaysia in the South East; Oman, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain in the G.C.C.; Jordan and Lebanon in the Levant; Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan and Libya in Africa; France, Switzerland,  Channel Islands, and UK in Europe; Brazil in South America, and the USA in North America. NBAD has a strategy to expand to 41 countries by 2022.

NBAD provides its customers with a wide variety of financial services targeting all segments of the consumer and corporate markets.

NBAD aims to support the long-term prosperity of our people, our customers and the communities in which we do business by being transparent and responsible. The Bank is ranked 3rd on the S&P/Hawkamah ESG Pan Arab Index out of the top 50 Pan Arab companies based on their performance on nearly 200 environment, social, and governance metrics.

NBAD is rated senior long term/short term A+/A-1 by Standard & Poor's (S&P), Aa3/P1 by Moody's, AA-/F1+ by Fitch, A+ by Rating and Investment Information Inc (R&I) Japan, and AAA by RAM (Malaysia) , giving it one of the strongest combined rating of any Middle Eastern financial institution.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ehab Khairi
Media & PR Manager- VP, Corporate Communication 
National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD)
Tel: +97126111190
Email: ehab.khairi@nbad.com
Web: www.nbad.com

© Press Release 2013