Dubai, United Arab Emirates: “Aafaq Islamic Finance”, a leading institution in the financial sector that provides financial products and services compliant with the provisions of Islamic law throughout the UAE and the region, has announced that it has won the “Happiness at Work Award” award within The category of “Best Employee Engagement Programs” during the activities of the fourth cycle of the program, which awards this prestigious award to the happiest workplace, and to those that have taken pioneering steps to raise the level of happiness of their employees.

“Aafaq Islamic Finance” was the first company in the private sector that committed to implementing the “Happiness Index” initiative, in response to the generous invitation launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and to His Highness’ announcement to “Adopt a national charter for happiness and positivity, in commitment to creating the happiest environment for our society”.

6 years after the establishment of the “Happiness Department”, Yusra Baki, Director of the “Happiness Department” at “Aafaq Islamic Finance”, said: “We are proud of receiving this prestigious award, because at “Aafaq” we have adopted the reality of work whose goal is the core of our employees, to form the platform on which it stands their happiness and their health as well. We have succeeded thankfully in building: a healthy, happy and productive workplace, inspired by the UAE government’s vision of the happiness index, and its keenness to achieve prosperity, well-being and stability for its people and residents on the blessed land of the United Arab Emirates, noting that the “Happiness Index” initiative was inspired from the father’s approach, the founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may Allah have mercy on him. He famously said: “My wealth is the happiness of my people”.

Baki added: “We have launched many initiatives in “Aafaq” aimed at enhancing the happiness index of the company’s customers and employees, and making the satisfaction of our customers a primary competitive advantage in the various services and products that we offer, and in the initiatives that we launch. The importance of happiness in the work environment lies in the fact that it affects in depth on many indicators, such as: productivity, job satisfaction, and employee commitment to his work, all of which are considered among the most important pillars of job performance indicators. In addition, the establishment of an effective, interactive and distinguished community in work sites, results in employees’ appreciation of the value of work and its importance not only on their performance, ideas and experiences process, but rather on their entire lives.

It is known that “Aafaq Islamic Finance” won first place in the “Best Workplace in Private Sector” award for the year 2018. By the year of 2019, it has won two awards for “Best Employee Engagement Program” and “Best Workplace Public Health Program”, for 4 Consecutive years.

For his part, Rashid Mahboob Al Qubaisi, CEO of Aafaq Islamic Finance, “We at “Aafaq” are following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and his brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him. According to that, we established the “Happiness Department” 6 years ago, which periodically reviews strategic objectives and indicators of happiness and satisfaction.

Al Qubaisi added: “The UAE is the home of happiness and its title globally, as it attaches great importance to achieving the happiness of individuals and society, and is keen to provide prosperity, well-being and stability to its people and residents on its blessed land, knowing that it ranked first in the Arab world for the seventh year in a row in the “World Happiness Report” for the year of 2021. And it has continued to advance globally over many developed countries and economies, according to the global report issued annually by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and we are committed to keeping the happiness of our employees and customers at the forefront of our priorities”.

About Aafaq Islamic Finance:

Aafaq Islamic Finance PJSC was established in 2006 and provides a wide range of high-quality Sharia-compliant banking products and services to corporate and retail clients. It stands out to be one of the most independent financing companies in the UAE. Moreover, the company’s strategy focuses on exploring opportunities within different business sectors to achieve the highest levels of happiness for all stakeholders including shareholders, customers, employees, strategic partners and the community.

Aafaq depends on the strength of its strategic partnership with leading institutions in the UAE, such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization, Dubai Economy, Emaratech, Trakhees, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and many Tas-heel, Amer and Business centers and others. aafaq provides the customers of these entities with services like E-dirham, Labour Guarantees, Wages Protection System, payment services for Dubai Economy and topping up of Noqodi wallets. In addition, aafaq offers a wide range of financing solutions and smart payment tools for companies and individuals.