Invest Bank advances boldly toward full digital transformation

A fintech-minded approach

Al Rafi described the initiative as a comprehensive move toward establishing Invest Bank as a fintech-minded organisation, centered on agility, innovation, and customer-centric simplicity.

“We are a small bank operating in an increasingly crowded and competitive banking sector,” said Al Rafi. “Recognising the need to evolve, we’ve begun a strategic transformation starting with restructuring our capital base and rebuilding our leadership team. Our focus now is on redefining our relevance in today’s financial landscape.”

Digital disruption as a model for growth

Citing the success of digital challengers, Al Rafi added: “The digital age gives us real opportunities. Take Revolut, for example—a digital bank that disrupted legacy players and gained significant market share in just a few years. This proves that being small is not a limitation. With the right mindset, a leapfrog strategy is absolutely possible.”

UAE’s regulatory landscape supports innovation

Al Rafi emphasised to “Sharjah 24” that the bank's ambition is to operate like a fintech—agile, innovative, and relentlessly focused on the customer. He highlighted the enabling nature of the UAE’s regulatory framework:

“The regulatory environment in the UAE enables innovation. Unlike Europe, where regulators often push for change, here we have the choice to lead it ourselves. Open banking is on the horizon, and we want to be proactive and ready,” he said.

Five strategic pillars of transformation

To guide its transformation, Invest Bank has identified five core focus areas:

• Technology & Digital Infrastructure – Building scalable and secure platforms to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Customer Experience – Designing user-first, digital-first banking experiences that are intuitive and accessible.
• Talent & Culture – Attracting individuals who think differently and execute rapidly, fostering a culture of innovation.
• Data & Insights – Using data to better understand, predict, and meet customer needs.
• Partnerships & Ecosystems – Collaborating with fintechs and ecosystem enablers to fast-track innovation.

Laying the foundation for execution

“We’re actively laying the foundation—building the right team, designing the launchpad, and staying focused on execution,” Al Rafi said.

He also acknowledged the critical role of the bank’s leadership spearheaded by Deputy Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, in supporting this shift: “This transformation wouldn’t be possible without our chairman’s belief that technology follows talent. Even in difficult times, he invested in human capital—understanding that people are the true drivers of innovation.”

Sharjah as a strategic launchpad

Al Rafi concluded by pointing to Sharjah’s economic strength as a solid foundation for the bank’s growth: “Sharjah, being one of the largest and most promising economies in the UAE, offers us a strong base to build from. We’re excited, we’re committed, and above all—we’re disciplined.”