In line with the bank’s ongoing organic expansion strategy to serve customers and achieve further financial inclusion, Sohar Islamic - Sohar International’s Islamic Window officially inaugurated its new branch in Wilayat Khasab recently, making it the very first Islamic bank in the Governorate of Musandam. The inaugural ceremony welcomed H.E. Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Musandam, as Guest of Honor, and also witnessed the presence of Mr. Ahmed Al Musalmi, Chief Executive Officer of Sohar International and Mr. Abdul Wahid Al Murshidi, Chief Islamic Banking Officer at Sohar International amongst other officials from the bank.

Commenting on the opening, Mr. Ahmed Al Musalmi, Chief Executive Officer of Sohar International said, “The opening of Khasab branch is another milestone in our strategy and to expand our Islamic Banking network across the nation to meet existing and potential market demands. This latest opening for Sohar Islamic in the Governor of Musandam is essential to our drive in promoting higher levels of financial inclusion for customers seeking Islamic banking facilities. In planning for such strategic activities, we always make sure that we are aligned with the government’s socio-economic development plans and are contributing positively to the economy overall.”

Manned with an experienced team of professionals, the branch ensures quick, convenient and responsive banking services catered to meet the varying needs of all customer segments. Besides catering to customers with the full range of Sharia compliant products and services, the branch also provides a 24-hour fully functional ATM/CDM. The branch is open to welcome customers and visitors from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm from Sunday till Thursday. With the addition of this branch, Sohar Islamic ‘s network of branches includes 9 full-fledged branches in Oman offering a comprehensive gamut of innovative banking solutions.

Commenting on being the first Islamic Bank in Wilayat Khasab, Mr. Abdul Wahid Al Murshidi, Chief Islamic Banking Officer at Sohar International commented, “As the first Islamic banking branch in the governorate, we will take all measures to support the local community through innovative Sharia-compliant financial solutions. The bank will remain committed to increasing its channels of services and communication to build a stronger bond and better serve customers, while making banking as convenient as possible across the nation. A state-of-the-art facility, the Khasab branch is in line with Sohar Islamic’s distinct brand value and is designed to provide a premium banking experience to all its customers. The new branch will uphold the bank’s fundamental values of customer-centricity, operational efficiency, and strong adherence to global Islamic banking norms.”

Over the years, Sohar Islamic has been able to bring Islamic banking closer to its customers with an ever-growing network of branches across the nation. Khasab was identified as a key location for the establishment of a new Sohar Islamic branch because of the rapid developments the city witnessed in a short time. As a keen advocate of Islamic finance, the bank will play a critical role in further raising awareness about Sharia-compliant solutions in the Musandam region. As an innovative, progressive, and customer-centric Islamic bank, Sohar Islamic has been at the forefront of leveraging opportunities to positively contribute to the development of the economy while assisting customers in making prudent financial decisions.