Young people are the collar bone of society, and Bank Muscat, the leading financial services provider in Oman, works relentlessly to empower youth by continually organizing training programmes to help them develop their professional skills and grant them access to career opportunities across the Bank’s departments and branches. It is important to examine the outcomes achieved annually in this area and explore potential future paths, creating an opportunity for growth.
Bank Muscat recognises the importance of developing human resources, and it has established a strategic plan for developing the capabilities of Omani youth across different specialties. The Bank is committed to adopting various innovative initiatives and programmes to form a fertile environment for creative ideas and help youth to learn from the experiences of others. To effectively implement this plan, the Bank annually assess the needs of its various departments across a range of financial disciplines.
On this occasion, Said Salim Al Aufi, General Manager – Human Resources & Administration at Bank Muscat, explained: “Omani youth are active partners in the current development plans and they are the leaders of tomorrow. In the Bank, we take pride in our young employees who work across the various departments and branches. Considering their pivotal role, we are keen to provide various training and learning opportunities to help them enhance their performance and achieve their goals. I would like to take this glorious occasion to extend my appreciation to our employees for their ongoing efforts to strengthen the Bank’s leadership position.”
Sharing her view on the opportunities provided by Bank Muscat for growth and development, Isra Talal Al Araimi, Acting Unit Head Family Accounts 1, said: “The Bank’s culture strongly encourages professional development through training programmes and workshops. I participated in many of these courses, including finance and financial analysis, as well as courses that focus on soft skills such as negotiation and how to deal with different personalities. These courses added significant value to my work, and I advise young people to be open to continuous learning and, continuously, seek advice from their colleagues and benefit from their experiences. I believe that we should also learn how to be optimistic, flexible, and willing to keep up with changes in the market.
Mohammed Abdullah Al Mukhaini, Branch Manager – Sur Al Sharia, shared the same view, saying: “Young people should be adaptable and open to new challenges, as well as strive to develop solid ties within the organization. In terms of training opportunities, I benefitted from specialized management workshops as well as leadership programmes such as the Jadarah programme for branch managers, all of which helped me improve my financial knowledge and develop my skills, preparing me for higher-level leadership roles.”
On her part, Najla Ali Al Hasani, Senior Specialist – Technology Innovation, explained: “It is normal to face challenges at first, but the most important thing is to learn from them and continue to grow. We should embrace new prospects, as everything is an opportunity for learning, maturity and self-discovery. Change may be difficult, but by time we will find ourselves surrounded by a support network and experienced people to learn from. Bank Muscat continuously seeks to provide various training programmes to qualify national cadres and youth for leadership. I had the opportunity to participate in the High Potential Graduate Development programme and the First Time Managers Programme, which greatly enhanced my understanding and awareness of the banking sector, in addition to developing my personal skills such as working within a team and innovating new solutions.”
Similarly, Mazin Moosa Al Farsi, Personal Banker at Burj Al Sahwa branch, said: “I am really pleased with the results I achieved as a result of the training workshops I attended, which focused on various subjects such as customer services and how to communicate with people with disabilities. For successfully applying the knowledge I gained, I was awarded the ‘Best Employee in Customer Service’ certificate. I would like to advice my fellow colleagues to achieve balance between work and personal life, as well as commit to their work, depend on themselves and stay informed about recent updates.”
Bank Muscat has a full-fledged Learning and Development department; Jadara Academy. The department focuses on developing skills and capabilities through e-learning modules, scholarships, professional certifications, management and leadership training programmes.
Bank Muscat places a high priority on continuously improving employee satisfaction and uplifting workforce morale by actively acknowledging and addressing employees’ feedback, thus maintaining a professional work environment. The Bank has over 4000 employees working in the different branches across Oman, all have access to equal opportunities to benefit from the development programmes offered. In recognition of its role in this aspect, Bank Muscat was awarded the “Best Places to Work” Award for the year 2024 from the prestigious global institution.
