HSBC Bank Middle East Limited is the largest and most widely represented international bank in the Middle East. The bank has received several awards in various categories.

History

A principal member of the HSBC Group since 1959, the bank's unique relationship with the Middle East dates back more than a century. Founded in London in 1889, it pioneered banking in the region. When it was established in 1889 with a royal charter from Queen Victoria, and a concession from the government of Persia, it was named Imperial Bank of Persia

Imperial Bank of Persia

The Imperial Bank of Persia was an Iranian bank. It was established in 1885 with a concession from the government of Persia to Baron Julius De Reuter, under a Royal charter from Queen Victoria....

, making it the state bank of Persia. It was later named The British Bank of the Middle East (BBME) and now called HSBC Bank Middle East Limited.

Today HSBC provides a wide range of banking services for both corporate and personal customers in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Middle East banking

HSBC maintains a network of offices in various countries in the Middle East

Middle East

The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...

. Operations of the group in the Middle East

Middle East

The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...

 are under this subsidiary, and it forms the regional headquarters the area, making it is responsible for the management of the group's stake in British Arab Commercial Bank

British Arab Commercial Bank

The British Arab Commercial Bank Limited , based in London, England, is a wholesale banking institution providing trade and project finance for Arab markets. The bank’s largest single shareholder at 49% is HSBC Bank Middle East, a member of the HSBC Group...

.

Bahrain

The bank's network in Bahrain extends to seven locations, including an offshore banking unit. HSBC provides a range of banking services for both corporate and individual customers in Bahrain

Bahrain

' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...

. HSBC is the largest foreign bank in Bahrain and has branches, in Manama

Manama

Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...

, Seef, Adliya, Manama and Muharraq as well as a large network of ATMs at 17 different locations.

Jordan

Operations in Jordan are supported by two locations, telephone and internet banking. However, the bank is pursuing a greater presence, particularly in west Amman with the opening of several smaller branches in Al-Madina Al Munawara street, Khalda, Sweifieh and Abdoun circle.

Kuwait

HSBC started operations in Kuwait in 2005 with a capital of KD 15'000'000/-. The branch located in Kuwaiti City at the Khorafi Tower next to the Church. With the one branch policy for international banks HSBC Kuwait is offering full corporate banking, treasury services, custody, investment banking, private banking, and Premier retail banking.

Lebanon

Having entered Lebanon in 1946, HSBC has maintained its presence ever since. A network of four offices in St. Georges Bay, Dora, Ras Beirut, and Verdun is supported by telephone and internet banking services.

Oman

In the Sultanate since 1948, it provides a range of banking services for both corporate and individual customers. Of the four locations in Oman the key locations are Bait Al Falaj and Salalah

Salalah

Salalah , is the capital and seat of the governor or Wali of the southern Omani province of Dhofar. The population of Salalah was 197,169 in 2009....

 branches, along with a full service trading operation, private banking

Private banking

Private banking is banking, investment and other financial services provided by banks to private individuals investing sizable assets. The term "private" refers to the customer service being rendered on a more personal basis than in mass-market retail banking, usually via dedicated bank advisers...

 operation, and a custodial service for the Muscat Securities Market

Muscat Securities Market

The Muscat Securities Market is the only stock exchange in Oman. It was established by the Royal Decree issued on 21 June 1988 to regulate and control the Omani securities market and to participate, effectively, with other organizations for setting up the infrastructure of the Sultanate's...

. It is well accepted amongst the residents but in the recent past has come under pressure for not issuing a debit card to its customers.

Pakistan

HSBC started its operations in Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

 in 1982. Since then, it has expanded to all major cities of Pakistan and operates as a full service bank. It currently has 11 offices. Four of which are located in Karachi

Karachi

Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

, two each in Lahore

Lahore

Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...

 and Islamabad

Islamabad

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...

, and one each in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...

, Faisalabad

Faisalabad

Faisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...

, and Sialkot

Sialkot

Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...

. HSBC's offices in Pakistan were operated by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. In 2008, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation sold Pakistan banking business to HSBC Bank Middle East Limited.

Qatar

HSBC has been present in Qatar since 1954. The bank offers a full range of cross border banking products and services from Commercial and Global Banking to Retail Banking and Wealth Management and Offshore banking.

HSBC is the largest foreign bank in Qatar and has four branches in Doha (Airport Road), Al Sadd, West Bay and Salwa as well as a large network of ATMs at 22 different locations.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates represents a key part of HSBC's business, with 24 branches and offices. It is also the location of HSBC's regional head office.

Board of directors (As of 1st August 2011)

• David G Eldon (Chairman)
• Simon Cooper (Deputy Chairman and CEO)
• Abdel Salam El Anwar
• Alexander A Flockhart
• Robert B Gray
• Mukhtar M Hussain
• Christopher J M Keirle
• A Robin Monro-Davies
• Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi
• Abdulfattah Sharaf
• Thomas L Slattery
• Nicholas G Winsor
• Alexandre P Zeller

External links

• HSBC Bank Middle East Limited website