Deals of the Week: Barclays enters the world of apps with new feature

Barclays has launched a mobile app for its customers, joining a host of other lenders in the UAE to offer on-the-go banking. Courtesy Barclays

Barclays, the third-biggest foreign lender in the Emirates, has joined the world of apps with the launch of its mobile and tablet banking service.

The app, which is available from Google Play for Android smartphones and Apple's App Store, is free to download.

Through the app, customers can access a range of Barclays online banking services, including real-time viewing of their accounts, transferring funds and paying credit-card bills. Users can also recharge their Etisalat and Salik accounts and pay utility bills.

"We believe that mobile banking is important for our global-minded customer base," says Venky Srikantan, the head of retail banking at Barclays.

"In the UAE, where almost half of all residents have a smartphone and mobile-phone penetration is among the highest in the world, mobile banking is becoming a necessity for consumers.

"Their busy and often hectic lifestyles, juggling work, family and social commitments, has led to an increased demand for mobile transactional services."

The app can also be downloaded from www.barclays.ae/apps or by searching for Barclays UAE on the Google Play or Apple App Store sites.

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Mobile banking apps appear to be the flavour of the month, with Emirates Islamic Bank (EIB) releasing the UAE's first Islamic banking app for iPhones.

The Arabic-enabled app can be downloaded from Apple's App Store and enables customers to access a range of features, such as account inquiries, transfers, bill payments, credit-card services and on-the-go exchange rates.

"Smartphones are now an integral part of everyday life," says Faisal Aqil, the general manager of consumer and wealth management at EIB.