as part of its strategic objectives to empower women and support sports
Cairo – July, 2024: First Abu Dhabi Bank Misr (FABMISR), one of the largest banks operating in Egypt, has proudly announced its sponsorship of young female athletes through the “Women in Sports” platform. A press conference was held to celebrate the winners of the platform, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, and a specialized committee. The committee includes two sports experts, Sherif El Arian, the modern pentathlon champion, and Aya Madany, the former pentathlon player, as well as Mariam Elsamny, Head of Consumer Banking at FABMISR, and Tamer Yousry, Founder of TimeOut for Sports and Entertainment.
Through the platform, FABMISR will sponsor 12 young female athletes this year, selected by a specialized committee. The committee will be responsible for reviewing and following up on the performance of each young athlete and ensuring their development according to performance indicators. The e-platform, “www.womeninsports.online” offers young female athletes between the ages of 13, and 20 who aspire to achieve sporting milestones, such as qualifying for the Olympic Games, the opportunity to receive the necessary support. This support encompasses financial and moral support, for a period of up to three years.
The platform includes a committee for selecting young athletes, which includes Dr. Sherif El-Arian, a modern pentathlon champion who also excels in fencing and shooting sports, who participated in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He currently serves as a member of the Executive Board of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, President of the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation, President of Sports Activities at the American University in Cairo, Vice President of the International Modern Pentathlon Union, and the President of the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation. Alongside Aya Medany, a former pentathlete who competed in three consecutive Olympic Games and winner of the 2011 World Cup. She currently holds positions in both the International and Egyptian Olympic Committees as well as the Egyptian Parliament.
Additionally, the committee includes a representative from FABMISR, Mariam Elsamny, Head of Consumer Banking at the bank, and Tamer Yousry, Founder of TimeOut for Sports and Entertainment, a leading company in sports marketing and management in the Middle East and Africa.
On this occasion, His Excellency Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, stated: “We affirm our unwavering support for youth entities, which contributes to the completion of the Egyptian state’s plan in the youth and sports sectors by setting a work vision and future goals by 2030. We are keen to encourage the contributions of the private sector in supporting the sports sector and to establish a system that continues to support sports champions in various federations, through building partnerships and signing of memoranda of understanding, to provide opportunities to present distinguished sponsorship programs for athletes. This comes with the aim of supporting sports champions and discovering talented athletes, in addition to providing support to promising Olympic athletes and preparing and qualifying them to compete to achieve outstanding results and win medals in various international events and championships.”
In this context, Mohamed Abbas Fayed, CEO and Managing Director of FABMISR said: “Our strategy in Egypt revolves around several pillars, foremost among them being empowerment of women and support for sports. Our support for the “Women in Sports” platform reflects our ongoing efforts to empower women and support sports by providing the necessary tools and correct scientific approaches for young women, encouraging them to achieve sporting accomplishments that contribute to Egypt’s sporting history and enhance the role of Egyptian women in it. This reflects our motto, ‘Success Builds on Success,’ and aligns with the state’s efforts in this regard.”
For her part, Mariam Elsamny, Head of Consumer Banking at FABMISR, stated: “FABMISR’s support of the “Women in Sports” platform serves as a strategic investment in the Egyptian community. We believe in the power of sports to achieve the desired societal development, alongside our deep belief in the ability of Egyptian women to achieve success in all fields, especially sports. We are proud to be part of their journey, as FABMISR has always been a leader in supporting community initiatives while striving to be a pioneer in the banking sector. We are excited to see the results of our efforts as our future champions take place on global podiums in various sports.”
This year, 12 young female athletes have been selected: Farida Abo Hashim (Modern Pentathlon), Sarah El Sammany (Swimming), Haneen Ramadan (Modern Pentathlon), Sama Ayman (Modern Pentathlon), Aseel Osama (Javelin Throw), Fatma Ghanem (Judo), Khadija Mohamed (Trampoline Gymnastics), Salma ElZayat (Padel Tennis), Farida Osman (Padel Tennis), Malika Taymour (Squash), Jana Hossam (Tennis), Jana Khattab (Taekwondo).
FABMISR’s support of the “Women in Sports” platform represents a continuation of the bank’s initiative to support the role of Egyptian women in sports. This initiative is part of the bank’s efforts to support various segments of Egyptian society, particularly women and youth, in achieving their dreams and passions by providing the necessary support. This comes as an integral part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, which also includes supporting creative and innovative industries, as well as promoting sustainability to achieve sustainable development, which will have a positive impact on driving economic growth in Egypt.
FABMISR, a subsidiary of the First Abu Dhabi Bank Group (FAB), is one of the largest foreign banks operating in Egypt. FABMISR’s local network operates through 68 branches, where it provides leading banking products and services that cater to all customer segments; along with achieving the highest value for its stakeholders and employees. Moreover, the bank offers a personalized banking experience to meet the various expectations of its customers from large organizations, SMEs and consumers whilst utilizing its global experience to support stakeholders, entrepreneurs and the local economy.
FAB is one of the world’s largest and safest financial institutions with an international network spanning over five continents. The bank also offers global relationships, extensive experience, and financial strength to support local, regional, and international companies seeking to manage their businesses at home and abroad.
FAB is rated Aa3, AA- and AA- by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s (S&P, and Fitch, respectively), making it the most robust aggregate rating of banks in the Middle East and North Africa region. FAB is also a regional leader in sustainability and is part of the MSCI ESG Leaders Index and FTSE4Good EM.
