DUBAI- The chief executive of Dubai's Noor Bank is leaving the bank, which is being acquired by Dubai Islamic Bank DISB.DU , two sources familiar with the move said.

John Iossifidis, who joined Noor Bank in the middle of 2017 and previously worked at Mashreqbank MASB.DU , disclosed his departure in a memo to employees, the sources told Reuters.

The resignation came as shareholders of both Dubai Islamic Bank, the United Arab Emirates largest sharia-compliant bank, and Noor Bank approved the acquisition last month.

One of the sources said Iossifidis would continue to provide leadership in the short term and Dubai Islamic Bank's CEO Adnan Chilwan would then take charge until the integration of the two banks was complete.

DIB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Noor Bank officials were not immediately available to comment.

With the acquisition, DIB will become one of the largest Islamic banks in the world, with total assets worth 275 billion dirhams ($74.9 billion), from 230 billion dirhams as of the end of September.

The deal comes after a wave of mergers in the UAE's banking sector on the back of tougher competition and regulation, coupled with a slowing economy and a slide in house prices.

(Reporting by Tom Arnold and Saeed Azhar; Editing by Alex Richardson) ((Saeed.Azhar@thomsonreuters.com; +971 44536787; Reuters Messaging: saeed.azhar.reuters.com@reuters.net))