"Our presence in Jordan will play an important role in NBAD’s international branch network and will serve as a gateway to the UAE, boosting trade and investment between the UAE and Jordan in addition to being the platform to target opportunities in the region," Qamber Ali Al-Mulla, senior general manager of NBAD’s international banking division, said in a statement.

NBAD also said it plans to extend its network in Jordan to six branches by 2014.

The bank says it has wide-ranging expansion plans, and is looking to tap markets across Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. "We are looking at Lebanon, Syria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, and Turkey," Mr Al-Mulla said.

NBAD’s existing network includes branches in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, the UK, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and the US.

In other international developments at the banking group, at the end of last year NBAD Private Bank (Suisse) acquired its building in Geneva in a move to cement its commitment to doing business in the Swiss city. The at Quai de l’Île offices have been home to the subsidiary since its launch in mid-2007.