Al Hilal Bank announced in January 2025 that Jamal Al Awadhi has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi-based institution, which describes itself as the UAE's premier Shariah-compliant digital bank. Al Awadhi succeeds Abdul Shakeel Aidaroos, who departed the bank in December 2024 after a five-year tenure in which he oversaw a significant strategic repositioning of the institution toward a fully digital banking model.
Al Awadhi's appointment to the chief executive role comes less than a year after he joined Al Hilal Bank as Deputy Chief Executive Officer in May 2024. The speed of his elevation to the top position reflects both the confidence the board has placed in his leadership and the need for a smooth transition following Aidaroos's departure, ensuring that the bank's strategic momentum and operational stability are maintained through the leadership change.
AL AWADHI'S BACKGROUND AND DIGITAL EXPERTISE
Before joining Al Hilal Bank, Al Awadhi served as Chief Operating Officer of Wio Bank, the Abu Dhabi-based digital banking platform backed by Abu Dhabi Holding and Etisalat. His time at Wio Bank gave him direct experience of building and operating a digital-first financial institution in the UAE's regulatory environment, including the technology infrastructure, compliance frameworks, and customer acquisition strategies specific to that model.
Prior to his role at Wio Bank, Al Awadhi held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Media, bringing experience in managing large consumer-facing organisations and leading complex digital and media transformation programmes. The combination of financial services technology and broad executive leadership experience makes him a distinctive choice to lead a bank whose competitive proposition is built almost entirely on its digital capabilities and Shariah-compliant product design.
Al Hilal Bank was established by the Abu Dhabi government as a fully Islamic institution and has been refocusing its business model on digital delivery channels. Its positioning as a challenger digital bank differentiates it from the larger full-service Islamic banks in the UAE, including Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Emirates Islamic, and targets customers who prefer to manage their finances entirely through mobile and digital platforms without visiting a branch.
TRANSITION AND STRATEGIC CONTINUITY
Abdul Shakeel Aidaroos steered Al Hilal Bank through five years of material change, including the bank's strategic refocusing on its digital proposition and the rationalisation of its balance sheet and product range. His departure in December 2024 marks the end of a transformative chapter, and the board's choice of Al Awadhi as successor suggests a desire to continue building on the digital strategy rather than revisiting the bank's fundamental direction.
The transition of leadership at a digital bank typically involves close attention to technology investment continuity, product development pipelines, and the retention of key technical and commercial talent. Al Awadhi will be expected to reassure staff and customers that the bank's service quality and development roadmap will not be disrupted by the change at the top, while simultaneously setting out his own vision for the next phase of the institution's growth.
Al Hilal Bank confirmed the appointment in a press release published on its website. Further details regarding Al Awadhi's priorities for the bank and any planned strategic initiatives were not disclosed in the initial announcement, and interested parties will be watching for early indications of his agenda as he settles into the chief executive position.