The Saudi British Bank (SABB) has been named the winner of Banker Middle East Product Award 2011 for the Best Customer Loyalty Program in Saudi Arabia. The bank received the award at the annual magazine product awards ceremony held in Dubai. This is the 4th annual event held to recognize banking products and services that are either exceptionally innovative or have generated excellent financial results and transference of market share. The bank received the award for ICSABB, a distinctive reward program, which offers cardholders vouchers for using their SABB credit cards. ICSABB vouchers are like cash and may be redeemed at a wide range of stores across Saudi Arabia. Launched in 1995, the program has become a flagship service for our loyal cardholders. This is reflected on the high redemption rate of ICSABB certificates. Meanwhile, SABB has appointed Thamer A. Jan as the general manager of commercial banking. Thamer has taken up his position assuming full responsibility for the entire commercial banking business in SABB on a Kingdomwide basis. Ahmed Alsudais, head of branches and sales, said: "In loyalty programs, we value and express our appreciation for the relationship with our customers." Commenting on Thamer's appointment, David Dew, SABB MD, said: "I am delighted to welcome Thamer back to the SABB family. This is a typical success story illustrating how SABB identifies young local graduates and develops them through a structured development program to take over strategic and important senior management positions. Thamer has taken up his new position assuming full responsibility for the entire commercial banking business in SABB on a Kingdomwide basis."
 

Etihad Airways has partnered with Remit2India for the first "The Light of India Awards" ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York on Friday, recognizing exemplary achievement by overseas Indians in the fields of business leadership, corporate leadership, political leadership, science and technology, journalism and literature, and arts and entertainment. Etihad Airways' SVP Americas Geert Boven said: "The individuals honored here have proven themselves to be exceptional leaders among Indians living abroad, for their talent, dedication and individual successes. "Etihad Airways is proud to be the international airline partner of The Light of India and an ongoing supporter of the Indian community. Both as a strong international market for our guests and as a valuable part of our workforce, Indians have made great contributions to the success of our business." India is the largest market served by Etihad, with 52 flights per week from Abu Dhabi to eight destinations including Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Bangalore. In addition to "The Light of India" partnership, Etihad outreach to the Indian community worldwide includes ongoing promotions with Bollywood star and Etihad Brand Ambassador Katrina Kaif and the "Next Stop Bollywood" Facebook competition. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, began operations in 2003, and in 2010 carried more than seven million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi hub, Etihad serves 66 cities in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.
 

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a mobile phone provider, has announced the launch of Galaxy Pro Smartphone. Featuring Samsung's integrated Social Hub Premium and the "innovative" dual-input control via a touch-screen and full QWERTY keyboard, the new smarthphone is described as the perfect business partner and social secretary for every users' “Smart Life”. Samsung Social Hub Premium gives one-touch access to all emails, instant messages and social networking accounts; coupled with the speed and control of the Galaxy Pro's dual-input interface. Powered by the Android 2.2 "Froyo" platform, the Galaxy Pro also gives access to over 150,000 apps on Android Market(tm), opening users' mobile life to a world of new possibilities. "The Samsung Galaxy Pro is the perfect device for professionals looking to manage their busy work and social lives," said Shin Andrew, Samsung KSA HHP business unit manager. "When you want to get ahead and stay ahead, you want a Smartphone that can give you the edge. With immediate access to your work and social communities via Social Hub Premium, and the endless application experiences afforded by Android Market, the Galaxy Pro gives you that edge." The Galaxy Pro is equipped with the "Think Free" office document editor, allowing consumers to view and edit MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on the move. This also makes the GALAXY Pro more effective and productive in the workplace. Samsung Social Hub Premium is the "ideal solution" for users.
 

Nama Chemicals has launched in Jubail its first program to raise awareness in home safety and first aid as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program for 2011. The event was hosted at the Women's Foundation for Social Services where health and safety professionals gave lectures and held interactive discussions on safety around the home and first aid with members of the foundation. Abdulmohsin Al-Ogaili, CEO, Nama Chemicals, said: "We launched this initiative as part of our CSR program for 2011. This is the first program of many that are designed to educate and raise awareness in home safety and reduce the number of serious accidents that occur in our homes." He added: "We have a very successful and ongoing health and safety program for all of our staff in their work environment and I feel that it is our responsibility to promote health and safety outside of the workplace. Most accidents that happen at home can be prevented and the goal of this program is to explain how they can be prevented as well as what to do if they occur." The program began with two lectures from two female doctors, which focused on "First aid at home" and "Common causes of house fires." Nama Chemicals is fully committed to reducing any negative impact on the environment, through the use of a more sophisticated production processes with continuous training and monitoring of the tireless contribution in maintaining clean and healthy surroundings. "We have set standards not only to protect staff, but also to preserve the environment.
 

GO Telecom has announced its latest renewal offer for current customers, which includes up to 20 percent discount and free months for all Home Broadband and Voice packages. Customers can renew their subscription and benefit from the offer and continue enjoying the high quality nomadic Broadband Internet with real speeds and Voice services that can be accessed anywhere within GO Telecom network, without the need for monthly fees or the need to change the Voice service number in case of relocation. Customers can renew their subscription through the company website www.go.com.sa or toll free number 08111011180 via Credit Card or SADAD or through the company's sales outlets in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Yanbu, Khamis Mushait, Abha, Dammam, Alkhobar, Dhahran, Hofuf and Qatif.
 

NCB Capital, a GCC wealth manager and Saudi Arabia's largest investment bank, has signed an exclusive agreement with INJAZ-Saudi Arabia to sponsor a three-year financial literacy-training program for male and female Saudi university students. This program will provide students with an appreciation and understanding of the fundamentals of investing and money management, with an emphasis on how to make informed investment decisions. The component elements will include courses on financial planning, personal investment, advantages and disadvantages of credit, and protection against identity theft. Announcing the launch of the venture with INJAZ-Saudi Arabia, Jawdat Al-Halabi, CEO of NCB Capital, said: "As the leading wealth manager in the Kingdom, we have a responsibility to help broaden the understanding of financial services throughout the population. Being able to offer this program to younger members of society is an important step in helping them to gain broad financial knowledge and to appreciate the importance of financial planning before they set out on their careers." This program is part of NCB Capital's commitment to supporting the educational initiatives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government, which are aimed at encouraging economic growth and employment throughout the Kingdom. Nael Samir Fayez, CEO of INJAZ-Saudi Arabia, said: "We are especially pleased that NCB Capital is sponsoring this initiative since we share the same values."
 

ANB Invest, the investment arm of Arab National Bank, announced the closing of its "Al-Mubarak Diyar Jeddah Real-Estate Fund," a Shariah-compliant fund. The fund's capital was offered to the public on Feb. 19 February, 2011 and was successfully completed on April 4, 2011. Gary Littlejohn, CEO of ANB Invest, said, "We are pleased with how well this fund was received by the investing public. In less than two months, our company raised the required amount of SR351 million, and subscriptions had to be turned down because of additional demand." The fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation through investment in the development of a fully-serviced, residential real estate project targeting the middle income class. Located to the northeast of Jeddah, the project will be constructed over a flat surface measuring approximately 800,000 m2. The Project covers development of residential and commercial plots, all of which are licensed to accommodate 4-story buildings, including allocation of plots for construction of commercial/shopping centers, mosques, schools, public parks and government offices. Development services also include construction of an integrated infrastructure like electricity network, street lighting, water supply network, sewerage system, telephone network, roads and other necessary development elements. Hamad Ben Mohammad Ben Saedan Real-Estate Investment Co. is the project developer and promoter.