Ahlibank will hold a gala event to mark the official opening of its new corporate headquarters in Wattayah on February 9, under the auspices of HE Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, scretary general of the supreme council for planning.
The new iconic head office which has been designed to accommodate the bank’s current and future requirements houses a conventional branch as well as a separate Islamic branch. The building is an architectural showpiece with enhanced security features and a state-of-the art data centre.
The new building has been designed to reflect Ahlibank’s modern, dynamic and progressive style, rooted in the Sultanate’s rich culture and tradition. The dynamic architectural composition and the Omani landscape narrative that characterise the design of the building can be seen as symbolic of the nature of the Ahlibank as a dynamic and successful international institution strongly rooted and naturally belonging to its Omani context. “The new office campus is a visionary convergence of two aspects that are at the very core of our business philosophy- our Omani heritage and our innovative concept of ‘ahlibanking’,” said Hamdan Ali Nasser Al Hinai, chairman of Ahlibank.
In addition, the headquarters is designed exquisitely to motivate the staff and provide a unique banking experience to the customers. The building utilises state-of-the-art design approaches and technologies creating an intelligent, eco-friendly building with efficient services, including communication systems and building management systems to reduce monitoring manpower cost, state-of- the-art security systems, fire alarm system, and the use of raised flooring throughout.
The building is conceived as a reflection of the distinct Omani natural landscape, with the dramatic contrast between the verticality of the mountain chains, and the delicate layers of palm groves and water features – aflaj, forming the vital oasis around which many Omani villages and towns grew at the foot of these mountains.
The building’s interior expresses the progressive message of Ahlibank, through its corporate culture that enhances the customer, management and staff experience.