We've been operating in the UAE for over thirty years and now we're expanding in the Emirates as part of our strategy to increase coverage to attractive emerging markets and the reach of its retail banking service. We launched our UAE mortgage business last year, standing out with our Mini-driving sales team. Since May 2007, we've been offering our customers in the UAE new products that make it easier to bank with us. Products like Credit Card, Personal Loans, Liabilities, Investment products such as Mutual Funds and Structured Notes and Workplace Banking for corporate. We've also set up 2 service centres and a branch in Dubai and we're working on a service centre and branch in Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, Internet banking is on the way. At Barclays, through technology and an innovative mobile sales force, we take our banking services to our customers in the UAE instead of them coming to us.
At Barclays Commercial Banking, we offer a wide range of personalised solutions to meet the needs of our clientele. This varies from vanilla trade finance requirements like letters of credit and guarantees to more complex products such as commodity financing, acquisition financing and structured financing packages for certain sectors like property. The solutions we provide are tailored, and can be rapidly customised to meet the evolving needs of our growing customer base.
Knowing the strong trade and investment connections within the Gulf and North African region, our team chose to develop its regional hub in the UAE. As a result, they are able to offer flawless and integrated contribution across the Middle East and North Africa. The operation also includes Retail, which is lead by Ahmed Khan, the CEO at Global Retail and Commercial Banking, Emerging Markets.
We're committed to recruiting, training and developing UAE nationals. We look for experienced individuals to offer career boost into middle and senior level positions. Our UAE recruitment and Development Unit provides focus to our Emiratization program and effectively delivers on our commitment.
We recruit UAE national graduates who hold a higher diploma or a Bachelors degree in groups with a specific target position in mind. We offer our selected candidates a mix of on the job, class room and manager led training that speeds up their organizational development within a period of 12 to 18 months. Moreover, we make sure that each graduate gets an individual development plan that helps him achieve the desired qualifications to deliver on the job.
