DUBAI: Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) has chosen three banks to arrange a $1.8 billion seven-year loan to help fund general operations, its first such facility in a number of years, three banking sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The firm has chosen Citigroup, Emirates NBD and Societe Generale to arrange the loan, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the information is not public.

The three banks have fully underwritten the loan, and a process for inviting other banks to join the facility has begun, said one of the sources, a Gulf-based banker.

Dubal's office was closed on Wednesday for a public holiday, and an official at its parent company did not immediately respond to an email query.