Banking
From The Report: Qatar 2015
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An increasingly competitive banking environment has encouraged lenders to seek out revenues in previously underserved sectors. Personal lending, for example, has become more important to the sector: in 2010 it accounted for 19.3% of aggregate bank lending, but by 2013 the segment’s share had grown to 23.6% of the credit mix. Meanwhile, lenders have begun to adopt SME-friendly measures such as dedicated branches and products. This segment of the market is expected to assume a more prominent position within the overall credit mix in coming years. As of January 2015 there were 18 licensed banks operating in Qatar’s banking sector, four of which operate in the sharia-compliant segment. Another 20 banks operate from the Qatar Financial Centre.

This chapter contains interviews with Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani, Governor, Qatar Central Bank; Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, Group CEO, QNB; and Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi, CEO, The Commercial Bank of Qatar.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Qatar’s banking sector sees a dynamic performance
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A rapidly expanding population and a steady supply of hydrocarbons and infrastructure projects have allowed Qatar’s banking sector to maintain the double digit growth it has achieved over recent years. However, while the project pipeline remains full, the increasingly competitive banking environment has encouraged the nation’s lenders to seek revenue in previously untapped segments of the market. The result is new products and services, and an increasing investment in markets beyond Qatar’s…

Analysis

Qatar seeks to diversify its economy by supporting SMEs
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It is easy to discern the fresh momentum in the drive to boost the private sector and, more particularly, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Qatar. A number of recent developments indicate the government’s determination to create a more balanced economy for the hydrocarbons-rich state: the appointment in January 2015 of the minister of economy and commerce, Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani, as the new chairman of the Qatar Stock Exchange – integrating the stock market…

Interview

Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani, Governor, Qatar Central Bank (QCB): Interview
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Interview:Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani To what extent have efficiency and transparency increased following the QCB’s assumption of its role as overall regulator of the financial system? SHEIKH ABDULLA BIN SAOUD AL THANI: QCB Law No. 13, which was enacted in 2012, introduced significant changes to the regulations and oversight of Qatar’s financial sector. Under this law, the QCB, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) and the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA)…

Interview

Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, Group CEO, QNB: Interview
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Interview:Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari As Qatari banks continue to expand their international presence, how can they better capitalise on opportunities within their existing network? ALI AHMED AL KUWARI: Qatari banks may leverage the potential between their local and international businesses by adopting a global account management model. This will better serve multinational customers, deepen relationships with existing customers, provide enhanced crossselling opportunities and also introduce innovative…

Analysis

Qatar’s financial sector improves its capacity to handle risk
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Despite having one of the lowest non-performing loan (NPL) rates in the region, the onset of the global economic crisis in 2008 came as a reminder to Qatari lenders of the vulnerability of some areas of their loan books to economic distress. The high levels of personal debt in the GCC were of particular concern to regional regulators and many of them have taken steps to address the issue. Thus, the Qatar Central Bank’s (QCB) decision to establish a credit bureau might be seen as part of…

Interview

Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi, Former CEO, The Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ): Interview
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Interview:Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi How do you foresee loan books performing, given the current public spending drive? ABDULLA SALEH AL RAISI: Under the wise leadership of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emir of Qatar, there is a focus on sustainable economic development. A large fiscal surplus has enabled the continuity of the public investment programme despite global economic volatility. During the Institute of International Finance’s Doha conference, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa…