Under the patronage of Mansour bin Zayed… Graduation of the third batch of the programme "Enrichment"

ABU DHABI, 10 JUNE / WAM / Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, Chief of the Presidential Cabinet, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Khalid Mohammed Al Amma, Governor of the Central Bank of the Emirates, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Financial Institute, today witnessed the graduation ceremony of 1,200 male and female citizens within the “Ithra” Emiratisation program in the financial sector, which represents an extension of the qualitative achievements in empowering national competencies. And qualify it to lead the future of the financial, banking and insurance sectors.

The ceremony, which was held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), was attended by His Excellency members of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank and the Governor’s assistants.

The ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Mubarak Rashid Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Pensions and Social Security Authority, His Excellency Khalil Ibrahim Al Khouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for Labor Market Operations and Emiratisation, His Excellency Maryam Mohammed Al Musharrakh, Director General of Government Talents at the Department of Government Empowerment – Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Safia Hashem Al Safi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Commercial Control and Governance Sector in the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and His Excellency Abdullah Abdul Ali Al Humaidan, Secretary General of the Zayed Owners Authority. Al-Hammam, and senior officials from federal and local government agencies. The ceremony was witnessed by Ms. Hanaa Al Rostamani, CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank Group, and Ms. Shamsa Al Falasi, CEO of Citibank Inn. any. UAE Branch, in addition to CEOs of licensed banks and financial institutions, and representatives of academic and educational institutions and strategic partners.

The event included a comprehensive presentation of the most prominent achievements of the Emirates Financial Institute in empowering national cadres, in line with the country’s vision of building a sustainable knowledge economy. The ceremony also reviewed the strategic results of the “Ithra” program, which since its launch in 2022 has contributed to the qualification of 4,750 male and female citizens through specialized training and professional programs, providing the financial sector with promising national competencies capable of keeping pace with the requirements of the future.

At the level of annual outputs, the number of graduates of the program reached 1,056 male and female citizens in 2024, 1,103 in 2025, and 1,200 during the current year, while the program currently includes 1,391 enrollees who are expected to graduate during the next year. These results reflect the program’s pivotal role in supporting Emiratisation goals and enhancing the readiness of national competencies to work and excel in the financial sector.

His Excellency Khalid Mohammed Balama, Governor of the UAE Central Bank and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Financial Institute, appreciated the generous care and great support given by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to develop the skills of Emirati cadres in the financial sector, as they are the basic foundation for establishing a sustainable future and building a national economy based on competitiveness and innovation. He pointed out that the exceptional outputs and results of the “Ithra” program embody the Central Bank’s strategy aimed at empowering national competencies to lead the sector and consolidating the country’s leading position as a global financial center.

His Excellency praised the fruitful cooperation of licensed financial institutions in attracting graduates, in a way that supports the goals of Emiratisation as a national priority, calling on graduates to harness their new knowledge and experiences to meet the aspirations of the wise leadership and serve the development trends of the state.

The ceremony included honoring 27 of the first male and female graduates of the “Ithra” program, in recognition of their academic and professional excellence, and the achievements they achieved during their training journey, in embodying the program’s commitment to establishing a culture of excellence and innovation among national competencies. 60 people of determination who participated in training and rehabilitation programs in cooperation with the Zayed Authority for People of Determination were also honored, in a step that reflects the program’s commitment to the principles of inclusivity and empowerment of various segments of society.

In turn, Mr. Marwan Al Muhairi, CEO of the Emirates Financial Institute, stressed that the “Ithra” program has become a leading national model in supporting Emiratisation and enhancing the competitiveness of Emirati cadres through advanced training paths and international professional certificates.

He explained in his speech during the ceremony that the program covers vital areas including banking services, investment, risk management, and financial technology, in cooperation with an elite group of internationally respected academic and professional institutions, such as the University of Oxford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA), and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). It also includes advanced specialized programs such as Financial Risk Management (FRM), Technology Leaders, and the EXETRA program, ensuring the readiness of national competencies to keep pace with the rapid transformations in the sector.

The ceremony included the signing of a number of memorandums of understanding and strategic partnerships aimed at accelerating Emiratization goals and human capital development, as the Emirates Financial Institute concluded a memorandum of understanding with Takamul Company, signed by Mr. Marwan Al Muhairi, CEO of the Emirates Financial Institute, and Ms. Xiao Ying Yang, CEO of the company, with the aim of enhancing technical cooperation and developing digital solutions that support professional programs.

The institute also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government Empowerment Department to qualify and develop 2,000 male and female citizens in the Al Ain region over a period of two years. The institute was represented at the signing by Mr. Marwan Al Muhairi, while the department was represented by His Excellency Maryam Mohammed Al Musharrekh, Director General of Government Talents.

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates announced a strategic partnership with the Emirates Council for Balanced Development, signed by His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for the Banking Operations and Support Services Sector at the Central Bank of the Emirates, and His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Bakhit Al Kaabi, Secretary-General of the Council, with the aim of supporting the employment of Emirati cadres in villages and remote areas over a period of three years, which contributes to promoting sustainable economic and social development in various regions of the country.

The partnerships extended to include the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, signed by Mr. Marwan Al Muhairi and His Excellency Safia Hashim Al Safi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Commercial Control and Governance Sector. The agreement aims to develop national competencies by launching two specialized programs, one for new graduates and the other to train experienced professionals, ensuring their readiness for the requirements of the future.

The UAE Central Bank and the Emirates Financial Institute confirm, through partnerships and initiatives, the continuation of building the skills of national cadres in accordance with the highest international standards, in a way that supports the national agenda for Emiratisation and enhances the competitiveness of the financial sector at the regional and global levels.

Mohammed Al Ali, CEO of Education at the Emirates Financial Institute, told the Emirates News Agency, WAM, that the Institute celebrated the graduation of 1,200 male and female citizens as part of the “Ithra” program, one of the pioneering initiatives launched by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates with the aim of empowering national competencies and enhancing their readiness to work in the financial and banking sector.

He added that the graduation ceremony witnessed the signing of four memorandums of understanding and strategic partnerships with a number of entities and institutions to support Emiratisation goals and contribute to the development of national human capital. He congratulated the graduates, both male and female, and wished them success in their professional careers and a promising future in the financial sector.

For her part, Yusra Baqi, Head of Human Resources at Afaq Islamic Finance Company, said that the graduation of a new batch of “Ithra” program members represents a source of pride and pride for the sons and daughters of the nation, stressing that the program is one of the qualitative national initiatives that contribute to qualifying and empowering Emirati competencies to work in the financial sector in accordance with the best international standards and practices.

In turn, Ahmed Mohammed Al-Fardan, Director of Emiratisation at Azadea Group and member of the Nafis Youth Council, expressed his pride in the graduation of 10 male and female citizens from the group within the “Ithra” programme, noting that the program contributes to preparing national competencies and qualifying them to engage in the labor market efficiently in the government and private sectors.

For her part, Amal Abdul Latif Omar, CEO of Human Capital at Bee’ah Group, stressed that participation in the graduation ceremony for “Ithra” program members reflects the importance of investing in national competencies, praising the role played by the Emirates Financial Institute in preparing and qualifying national cadres and building their capabilities in the financial sector in a way that supports the sustainable development process witnessed by the UAE.

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