The MENA Fintech Festival 2024, scheduled on December 3-5 at the Qatar National Convention Center in Doha, is poised to be one of the most influential gatherings for fintech professionals, investors, startups, and policymakers in the MENA region. This event serves as a vital platform for exploring the latest innovations, trends and regulatory developments shaping the financial technology landscape. Event…
Interview:Salem Al Mannai What is the potential impact of requiring mandatory health insurance for visitors and non-residents? SALEM AL MANNAI: This policy is an opportunity to expand the market’s size. The public sector is currently excluded from the scheme, so the onus is on the private sector to make sure it works effectively. The government aims to integrate primary health care services…
Interview:Bassel Gamal What recent shifts in the global economic landscape are impacting Qatar’s banking sector? BASSEL GAMAL: The banking sector has shown remarkable adaptability in recent years. Qatar’s economic outlook remains positive, with the current growth rate serving as a testament to this optimism. The banking landscape is characterised by stabilised finance expansion stemming…
Interview:Abdulaziz Nasser Al Emadi How is Qatar enhancing the visibility of its capital markets on the international stage? ABDULAZIZ NASSER AL EMADI: The QSE has implemented a programme of roadshows whereby Qatari-listed companies travel to specific countries to introduce themselves to key institutions in order to enhance the visibility of both the companies and the QSE as an investment destination.…
Interview:Abdulla Mubarak Al Khalifa Where do you identify the primary drivers of credit expansion in the banking sector? ABDULLA MUBARAK AL KHALIFA: Now that the 2022 FIFA World Cup is behind us, Qatar is entering a new phase of growth by focusing on expanding its liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity through the North Field – the world’s largest non-associated gas field. This project involves…
Interview: Sheikha Maryam bint Khalifa Al Thani What is Qatar doing to promote financial transparency and responsible lending practices? SHEIKHA MARYAM BINT KHALIFA AL THANI: Credit reporting is a pivotal risk assessment tool that is gaining prominence in the country’s financial sector. To facilitate its wider adoption, the Qatar Credit Bureau has undertaken a phased expansion of its membership.…
With the launch of a new joint initiative to support the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the global insurance industry is evolving in ways that could carry important implications for business in emerging markets. The initiative, the Global Shield against Climate Risks (GSCR), was announced by the ministers of finance of the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group – which comprises economies susceptible…
Islamic finance has emerged globally as a dynamic sector, garnering increased investor attention and becoming a new frontier of digitalisation efforts. Given Qatar’s significant experience in the sector, authorities and financial institutions are increasingly paying attention to ways in which financial technology (fintech) could become a lever for the sector’s expansion. On the Rise “State…
As governments in the region continue to push for privatisation, the GCC is set to see continued strong performance in initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2024. The total number of IPOs in the region decreased marginally from 48 in 2022 to 46 in 2023 – still well above the 20 recorded in 2021. Proceeds from GCC issuers totalled $10.8bn in 2023, compared to almost $23bn the year before. The growing…
Released in January 2024, Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy 2024-30 (NDS-3) aims to bolster the role of the private sector in driving economic growth, shifting away from unsustainable government-led expansion. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are identified as key players in this shift, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 36% in SME contributions to the non-hydrocarbons…
