Icons Oman proudly recognizes Zahra Anwar Al Abdullah as one of the Top 100 Women Leaders, honoring her extensive leadership in investment and treasury operations at the National Bank of Oman. With over two decades of experience, Zahra continues to shape the future of banking through operational excellence, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to service quality.

Leading Investment & Treasury Operations

Currently serving as Head of Investment & Treasury Operations, Zahra oversees a broad range of critical functions from financial reporting to portfolio management and complex derivatives handling. Her leadership influences multiple areas, including options trading, mortgage lending, and customer experience optimization.

A Holistic View of Banking

What sets Zahra apart is her holistic view of banking, built from the ground up. Her journey began in front-line roles in direct sales and branches, later moving into central operations, where she developed a strong grasp of core banking systems and internal workflows. This early exposure gave her a unique blend of business and operational insight, allowing her to bridge front-end strategy with back-end execution. It’s this dual perspective that continues to drive her success in managing complex treasury environments and cross-functional teams.

Key Leadership Contributions

Prior to her current role, Zahra held key leadership positions such as Head of Investment Banking Operations and Head of Asset Management & Brokerage Operations, contributing to the bank’s transformation in:

• Reporting standards
• Customer service enhancement
• Risk management strategies

She also played a leading role in the implementation of treasury systems and managing both conventional and Islamic operations.

“Zahra’s leadership style is results-driven, collaborative, and grounded in continuous improvement. She empowers teams, inspires innovation, and ensures strategic goals are delivered with precision.”

Academic Excellence and Recognition

Zahra holds an MBA with distinction and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Sultan Qaboos University, backed by certifications from CISI and the ACI Treasury Operations exam. She has also been recognized through:

• Talent development programs
• Women’s leadership initiatives
• Consistently high performance ratings

A Role Model for the Next Generation

Through her career, Zahra has become a trusted leader in Oman’s banking sector, an example of resilience, foresight, and excellence. Icons Oman proudly celebrates her as a Top 100 Women Leader and a role model for the next generation of financial professionals.