- The programme aligns with ADEK’s direction to provide practical workplace exposure and real-world skills, supporting informed career pathway decisions for youth
- This initiative supports ADIB’s ESG social pillar and commitment to community development
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 16 January 2026: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), launched a dedicated job placement programme for Emirati students aged 15 to 18. The programme offered meaningful hands-on work experience alongside practical financial education, equipping youth with the skills needed for future success.
Designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application, the programme provided structured opportunities for students to develop professional skills, gain early workplace exposure, and build financial awareness. Participants engaged with ADIB teams through a mix of on-site and virtual placements, supporting informed academic and career decision-making in line with ADEK’s broader student development goals.
The programme focused on financial readiness by introducing students to ADIB Amwali, the bank’s digital banking proposition designed for young people. The solution enables students to manage spending and save digitally while allowing their parents complete visibility into their financial activity through the ADIB mobile app, reinforcing responsible financial habits in a supervised environment.
Students also took part in tailored, research-based modules focused on understanding financial products and their real-world applications, alongside specialised workshops on budgeting, saving, and entrepreneurial thinking. The programme also introduced students to emerging technologies and evolving career skills, which support long-term employability in a rapidly changing economy.
Commenting on the initiative, Bushra Alshehhi, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at ADIB and Chairman of Kawader, said: “This partnership reflects ADIB’s commitment to investing in people and supporting the next generation of Emirati talent. By combining real workplace exposure with practical financial education, we aim to empower students with the skills, confidence, and financial awareness needed to navigate their future career paths and make informed decisions early in life.”
Dr Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Executive Director, Talent Enablement Sector at ADEK, said: “Preparing our students for the future starts with giving them the right exposure early on. Through our job placement programme, and thanks to collaborations with industry-leading partners such as ADIB, students gain hands-on workplace experience and a deeper understanding of professional environments. This supports confident decisions around university studies and career paths, while building the skills needed for their future success.”
The partnership supports ADIB’s corporate responsibility strategy by contributing to community development and youth empowerment while advancing the social pillar of the bank’s ESG framework. Through its long-standing focus on financial literacy, ADIB plays a key role in strengthening ADEK’s enrichment programmes by equipping students with the financial skills needed beyond the classroom.
About Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC (“ADIB”)
ADIB is a leading bank in the UAE with AED 270 billion in assets. The bank also offers world-class online, mobile and phone banking services, providing clients with seamless digital access to their accounts 24 hours a day.
ADIB provides Retail, Corporate, Business, Private Banking and Wealth Management Solutions. The bank was established in 1997 and its shares are traded on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
ADIB has a strong presence in six strategic markets: Egypt, where it has 70 branches, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and Iraq.
Named World’s Best Islamic Bank by The Financial Times – The Banker publication, ADIB has a rich track record of innovation, including introducing the award-winning Ghina savings account, award-winning co-branded cards with Emirates airlines, Etihad and Etisalat and a wide range of financing products.
About the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK)
The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is the Education Sector regulator across the Emirate. It oversees and provides services throughout a learner’s journey from early education to university and beyond. It also champions inclusivity for People of Determination in the mainstream schooling system and by providing specialized schools.
Across Early Childhood and K-12, ADEK licenses and regulates nurseries and private schools in Abu Dhabi while also legislating, mandating and managing its own charter schools and 2 schools for People of Determination.
ADEK also annually provides distinguished Abu Dhabi students with full scholarships and support to study at the best universities around the world. In addition, the Department audits and enhances the delivery of Higher Education in Abu Dhabi, attracting Higher Education Institutions to open the required programs or schools that serve Abu Dhabi’s needs while championing a student and faculty-friendly ecosystem in the Emirate.
With a vision to Empower Education. Empower Minds. Empower the Future, ADEK recognizes that every learner is different, and a diversity of teaching methods are essential for students to succeed. To that effect, ADEK partners with stakeholders to enable a great education system to flourish in Abu Dhabi and nurture future-ready graduates who have the 21st-century skills required to sustain and carry forward Abu Dhabi’s vision.