On 19 June 2013, Emirates NBD, the leading bank in the region, celebrated its 50th anniversary, an extraordinary achievement that signifies its determination and success. The National Bank of Dubai (NBD), one of the Emirates NBD’s constituent banks, began its operation on this date 50 years ago, as the first national bank in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). NBD merged with Emirates Bank International (EBI), which was established in 1977 and previously known as the Union Bank of the Middle East, to create Emirates NBD.