Smart money skills showcased for all ages in the UAE

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) continues to expand the reach of its financial literacy campaign, this time heading to Global Village in Dubai for the second year running.

ADIB, the capital's biggest Sharia-compliant lender by market value, is using the annual event as a platform to highlight the importance of smart money skills to visitors of Global Village, which remains open until March 30.

According to ADIB, Global Village is one of the UAE's most popular attractions with an estimated five million visitors annually.

The importance of teaching UAE residents smart money skills has been embraced by a number of banks and financial services firms, including Emirates NBD and National Bonds, since the financial crisis highlighted the world's lack of financial literacy knowledge.

"Financial education is an integral part of our brand promise," says Trad Al Mahmoud, the chief executive of ADIB. "We are confident that our customers and community will find it instrumental to living a balanced financial life. ADIB is a very active brand that interacts with the individuals of the community."

ADIB launched its SmartMoney initiative in 2011. Since then, the lender has added an interactive portal on to its website that offers tips on saving and investment. The portal helps users to formulate savings plans for education and retirement, for instance, and also carries an investment planner and savings calculator.

ADIB will host a number of educational shows at Global Village for adults and children alike. Its children's character, Darhoom, will feature in the shows. The bank has also set up specially designed mobile branches in Global Village, where visitors can seek information about financial management.

For more information - and to download the SmartMoney booklet - go to www.adib.ae.

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Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) is the latest lender to join the trend for children's savings accounts in the UAE.

DIB's Shaatir account is aimed at helping children to understand banking from a young age and to help them plan for their financial futures.

It also offers young account holders their own website, where children can "learn about banking and saving, play games and watch informative videos".

There are no maintenance fees, no minimum balance requirement and children receive a free money box when they open a Shaatir account.

Go to www.dib.ae for details.

pf@thenational.ae

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet

It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

Smart money skills showcased for all ages in the UAE

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank plans to highlight the importance of smart money skills to visitors of Global Village in Dubai.

The specs

It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times