Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a leading financial institution, has partnered with StartUp Academy on an event themed around ‘E-commerce’ and attended by an audience comprising 200 start-up founders, SME leaders and entrepreneurs.

The event was the second StartUp Academy forum held in 2017, with ADIB’s Head of Global Transaction Banking for FI, GRB and Abu Dhabi, Hicham El Khaoudy, sharing his insights on the pioneering fintech developments that can enable UAE businesses to capture growth opportunities in the online retail space.

“E-commerce represents a major opportunity for many UAE retail businesses and ADIB is at the forefront of developing innovative transaction solutions that can support growth in this sector,” said Hicham El Khaoudy, Head of Global Transaction Banking for FI, GRB and Abu Dhabi. “The establishment of a secure and efficient payment infrastructure which seamlessly integrates within a business’ website is an essential component of the industry. As the ecommerce segment in the Middle East matures, ADIB will continue to play a major role through facilitating many dependable, convenient and instant digital transactions made between consumers and businesses.”

Mahdi Kilani, Head of ADIB Business, said, “E-commerce is changing the way businesses are trading in the UAE and around the world. It is now imperative for businesses to have some sort of online presence either to trade or to market their products.”

Speakers joining El Khaoudy for the forum included: Sarah Jones, Founder & CEO of Sprii.com; Steve Plimsoll, Chief Digital & Data Officer at PwC Middle East; John Tsioris, CEO and Founder of InstaShop; and Gemma Kennedy, Head of Sales at Virtuzone.

ADIB has responded to the increasing need from managers of UAE corporates and fast growing SMEs for banking services which help them run their businesses in a more effective and efficient manner. Today, over 90 percent of transactions at ADIB are now conducted via our digital channels, which includes a specialist mobile banking app for corporate and business banking clients.

Participants at the StartUp Academy event also received guidance on the disruptive technologies that can help their business grow within the nascent UAE e-commerce industry, and tips on how to think critically about the issues that will protect and strengthen their business proposition in an increasingly competitive environment. ADIB sponsored three Arabian Business StartUp Academy events in 2016 and is the programme’s Financial Education Partner this year.