Dubai, Feb.19th,2006 (WAM) -- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank today opened a new branch at Karama in Dubai, taking to 43 the total number of the bank's branches across the country.

In presence of a number of state high ranking officials,prominent figures of the UAE business community, ADCB directors, managers and executive officers, Rashid Humaid Al Mazroei, ADCB board member, accompanied by Mr. Eirvin Knox, CEO of ADCB inaugurated the new state-of-the-art branch.

''Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank continues to provide itsservices all over the UAE for ensuring innovative, efficient,fast and easy to use products and services to its customers'.

The new Karama branch came to cater for the increasing demand on banking services from of the expanding trade and economic activities flourishing in Karama area withinDubai economic progress matrix,'' said Al Mazroei.

'''This branch is a new valuable addition to ADCB's branchnetwork endeavouring to keep pace with the international standards and trends for providing its customers with innovativecustomer oriented products and services in Dubai and the NorthernEmirates,'' he added, pointing out that ADCB had, in September 2005, opened two other new branches in theNew Dubai city (Internet City and Emirates Mall) which harboursmany resorts, mega shopping malls, giant residential complexesand vast investment opportunities.

'''Sincere efforts and hard work coupled by good planningand sound strategies enabled ADCB to position itself as a majorfinancial institute on both national and regional levels,'' heconcluded.

Mr. Eirvin Knox, CEO of ADCB said :''The establishment ofthis new branch in Karama area under the Bank's new brand comesin realization of the board's strategic vision aiming at openingmore branches and business centres in prime locations in theUAE cities to ensure ADCB's services and products availableand readily accessible to all our clients .

''The inauguration of this branch demonstrates the highestlevels of commitment to providing the best financial and bankingservices under a comprehensive plan in real effective contributionto the UAE Economic growth' added Knox.

Mr. Knox also revealed ADCB's intent to open a new branchsoon in Sharjah to cater for the Emirate's fast growing marketand unveiled the Bank's plan to open five new branches in AbuDhabi and other cities in 2006 to meet rapidly increasing demandon its services.

By the end of 2006, he disclosed, ADCB network would have a total of 46 branches.

'''The new branch environment will encourage customers touse technology and alternative channels, reduce queuing timesas before entering the branch core business area the customerencounters the fast transactions zone where clients can get accessto our ATM network, the contact centre as well as our InternetPool, taking advantage of this activity to cross sell and improvethe impression of service quality'. Knox concluded.

ADCB, one of the UAE's leading financial institutions, posteda net profit of AED 1.9 billion for the year ending on 31stDecember 2005 against AED 801 million for the last year, an increase of 139 per cent.