Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (Adib), a top-tier Islamic financial services institution, has partnered with Etisalat, the largest telecom company in the UAE, to bring the first Islamic telecom reward payment card to the UAE.

The new Adib-Etisalat cards, available in Classic, Gold and Platinum, will be packed with attractive features and Etisalat related benefits. They will offer cardholders best-in-market sign up and Etisalat ‘MORE’ Reward points, a statement said.

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Etisalat and launch the UAE’s first Islamic telecom co-branded card,” said Sarvesh Sarup, head of Retail Banking at Adib.

“At Adib, we aim to build partnerships with strong and respected brands to provide exceptional value to our customers and to enrich their banking experience. Adib and Etisalat’s innovative partnership is driven by a high degree of collaboration and technical integration between two powerful brands.”

“With this new card, we offer our customers a rewarding experience that helps them connect with their loved ones as loyalty points gained through the card’s usage can be converted to talk time, amongst other redemption benefits,” he added.

Matthew Willsher, chief marketing officer at Etisalat said: “Developing new partnerships is key to our strategy of innovating exciting ways to reward our customers. We are excited about the new Adib-Etisalat card, designed to add value by combining Etisalat’s unique MORE points programme with the benefits of Adib’s covered cards.”

“Etisalat and Adib share a strong corporate relationship. Adib is keen to utilize the latest technology to enhance customer experience and that makes the bank a natural choice for this co-branded card,” added Willsher.

Customers can redeem MORE reward points earned on the Adib-Etisalat card to get free talk time and for bill payments with Etisalat, partner vouchers that can be redeemed at a host of partner outlets and conversion of points into Etihad Guest miles.

Members can also redeem points through purchases from an option of more than 3,000 products and services at MORE reward online shop hosted at etisalat.ae/more. They can redeem MORE points or a combination of points plus cash.

Cardholders will benefit from the existing features of Adib covered cards which include, free SMS transaction alert service and a 55-day grace period on repayments.

Monthly card repayments by non-account holders can be made conveniently via the Adib network of 69 branches, 400+ ATMs as well as through UAE Exchange, Al-Ansari and Al Fardan Exchange offices throughout the UAE.

“Adib is keen to launch more co-branded cards as we understand that customers want added benefits. In 2010, we successfully launched the UAE Football Covered Card and Etihad Guest Covered Card that offered special deals and industry leading benefits. We expect Adib-Etisalat Covered Cards to perform well,” Sarup concluded. – TradeArabia News Service