Interview: Abdulla Mubarak Al Khalifa, Group CEO, Qatar National Bank Group, on enabling sustainable financing and innovation
How do you see the banking sector’s role evolving to support long-term economic diversification efforts?
ABDULLA MUBARAK AL KHALIFA: Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030 aims to transition the country into a knowledge-based economy with greater private sector participation and reduced reliance on hydrocarbons. Achieving this requires structural reforms and strong support for entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises. The banking sector plays a key role by providing the capital, infrastructure and expertise to develop emerging industries. This includes financing for sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, health care, education, logistics, technology, smart cities and renewable energy, as well as delivering services like trade finance, cash management and e-commerce solutions.
In what ways is the sector adapting to the increasing demand for emerging technologies?
AL KHALIFA: Financial technology (fintech) and digital financial services are major drivers of Qatar’s economic modernisation. Accordingly, the Qatar Central Bank launched the National Fintech Strategy to foster innovation, enhance competitiveness and align with the goals of QNV 2030. The strategy is built around four key pillars: developing infrastructure, advancing fintech sector growth, supporting businesses with digital solutions and establishing Qatar as a regional fintech destination. This roadmap is accelerating change across the banking sector, with institutions increasingly adopting technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), distributed ledger technology and tokenisation.
Which challenges and opportunities do banks face with infrastructure and development projects?
AL KHALIFA: Qatar’s strong sovereign credit rating and fiscal stability provide a foundation for financing major infrastructure and development projects. Banks play a vital role in supporting strategic national initiatives through project finance, investment lending and capital facilitation. A key challenge is maintaining prudent risk management while efficiently allocating capital to projects that offer sustainable, risk-adjusted returns. Fintech and data-driven tools are helping banks address this complexity. On the opportunity side, capital spending is diversifying across infrastructure, manufacturing and private sector-led projects.
What role can the banks play in facilitating green financing and supporting eco-friendly investment?
AL KHALIFA: The banking sector is central to advancing sustainability by channelling capital toward projects with tangible environmental benefits. Green financing enables the transition to a lower-carbon economy, supports national sustainability goals and helps clients shift toward more responsible business practices. Key instruments include green bonds and loans, sustainability-linked products and transition financing – each designed to incentivise sustainable investment.
In what ways are financial institutions positioning themselves to remain competitive and resilient in the face of global economic uncertainties?
AL KHALIFA: Qatari banks are pursuing several strategies to strengthen their position in today’s evolving landscape. First, robust risk management remains critical. Bolstered governance frameworks and sound risk practices help ensure balance sheet resilience, backed by strong capital and liquidity positions. Second, collaboration with regulators is essential. As financial systems become more complex, banks are proactively engaging with regulators to stay ahead of evolving standards and anticipate policy shifts. Third, diversification helps mitigate exposure and capture growth opportunities, particularly in emerging markets. Lastly, embracing innovation is key. Cloud computing, AI and blockchain are enabling banks to enhance customer experience, optimise operations and unlock revenue streams.
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