The National Bank of Abu Dhabi would continue to lend customers in Dubai in accordance with its cautious and selective lending policy. The bank has been urged by the gulf emirate's flagship entity, Dubai World to halt lending for the time in the backdrop of its failure to commit its debt repayment obligations.

Michael Hardwick Tomalin, the Group Chief Executive of the bank, said that the bank believes in a growth driven lending policy for Dubai and its should not be compared with its policies for other markets including the US, UK or Abu Dhabi.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday to announce the opening of the Abu Dhabi government-owned bank's first Asian branch in Hong Kong, Group Chief Executive Michael Hardwick Tomalin said the bank's lending policy towards Dubai is not unlike other markets such as the US, UK or its home turf, Abu Dhabi.

While announcing the bank's first Asian branch in Hong Kong supported by the Abu Dhabi government-owned bank, Tomalin added, "The use of our lending balance sheet to win other businesses, such as fee-generating businesses, has proven to be a good long-term strategy for the bank."