His Excellency Tariq bin Khadim, Member of the Sharjah Executive Council and Chairman of the Directorate of Human Resources in Sharjah, hailed the support extended by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to the Emiratization programs and strategies and His Highness’ keenness to take the necessary actions to serve the interests of the nation and its people and ensure optimum human resource utilization.

The statement was made on the occasion of signing a memorandum of understanding between Sharjah Islamic Bank and the Directorate of Human Resources in Sharjah on Sunday, 1st of April 2012.

Bin Khadim said that signing this MoU is in line with Directorate of Human Resources’ strategy of assisting, training and enabling job seekers to find work either in the public or private sectors. The agreement is also part of Sharjah Islamic Bank’s belief, as one of the most important banks that are partially owned by the Government of Sharjah, in the importance of social partnership and in supporting all the social and service organizations in the country. “The MoU is consistent with the Bank’s leading role in recruiting and training job seekers”, he added.

The MoU includes several key provisions designated to develop a general framework of cooperation between the two parties, under which the basic rules and scopes of cooperation will be determined in a way that achieves the mutual interests and supports the Emiratization policy in the UAE in accordance with both parties’ regulations and applicable laws in the UAE.

As per the MoU, the Bank will appoint candidates in accordance with its requirements, whereas the directorate will provide the Bank with full data about the job seekers. The Bank will conduct interviews with candidates, evaluate them and select suitable talents.

The Directorate of Human Resources will provide training courses and development programs for those who are employed by the Bank. To activate cooperation and coordination between the two parties in training and rehabilitation, both parties agreed that the Directorate will provide the Bank with training courses and provide certificates of training for those who successfully completed the courses.

The signing ceremony was held at the Directorate of Human Resources’ headquarters and attended by His Excellency Tariq bin Khadim, Member of the Sharjah Executive Council and Chairman of the Directorate of Human Resources in Sharjah and HE Mohammed Abdullah, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, who signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations in presence of HE Abdullah Salem Al Mashwi, Director of the Directorate of Human Resources in Sharjah, HE Abdullah Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Head of the Directorate’s Dafin Branch and a number of senior officials from both parties.

Bin Khadim highly appreciated Sharjah Islamic Bank’s initiative to sign this MoU with the Directorate to establish and support a strategic partnership between the two parties and to attract qualified national talents to the Bank.

He praised the Bank’s keenness to nationalize current positions at the Bank and to provide a caring and nurturing work environment for national talents seeking jobs in the banking sector.

He said that the Directorate is ready to expand its cooperation with the Bank to include recruitment and training, and other Human Resources requirements.

He also stressed on the importance of the complementary roles of various government and private organizations and the importance of coordinated efforts to support Emiratization efforts and strategies and achieve the optimal utilization of human capital.

HE Mohammed Abdullah, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, said that attracting and retaining national graduates, providing the right positions for them, developing their skills and experience and helping them make successful careers in Islamic banking are at the top of the agenda for Sharjah Islamic Bank. “This strategy is being implemented under the slogan “Our Nationalism Leads Us”, and is in line with the vision and aspirations of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of Sharjah Islamic Bank”, he added.

He said that this MoU with the Directorate of Human Resources is of great importance to Sharjah Islamic Bank as part of the Bank’s belief in the vital role played by the Directorate in building bridges of communication between national graduates and potential employers. This will enhance the Bank’s approach to providing an attractive national work environment based on cooperation, understanding and team spirit which will help develop a national human workforce that is able to contribute to developing the community.

Abdullah said that Sharjah Islamic Bank which, was established in 1975, is one of the pillars of the banking industry in the UAE and one of the most prominent private organizations in supporting the development of human resources in the banking sector. The Bank has established excellence and leadership in Emiratization and in developing human resources, and was worthy of the Human Resources Award for Financial Sector in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and the Dubai Human Development Award in 2006 and 2007 in addition to the Highest Nationalisation Ratio Award within the GCC countries in 2007.

Abdullah also extended thanks and appreciation to HE Tariq bin Khadim, Chairman of the Directorate of Human Resources and Member of the Sharjah Executive Council, for the efforts made by the Directorate and the immediate response to Sharjah Islamic Bank’s initiative in signing the MoU which will help boost cooperation between the Bank and the Directorate and provide training and job opportunities for national talents in the Bank.