QIIB has signed a sponsorship agreement with Al-Gharafa SC as part of its ongoing strategy to support Qatari sports and to build strong, long-term partnerships. Under the agreement, QIIB will be the club’s official sponsor for the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 football seasons. The partnership reflects the close and successful relationship between the two sides and highlights QIIB’s active role in supporting clubs, national teams, and major sporting events in Qatar.
The agreement was signed by QIIB chairman Sheikh Dr Khaled bin Thani bin Abdulla al-Thani and Al-Gharafa SC president Sheikh Jassim bin Thamer al-Thani during a ceremony attended by senior representatives from both sides.
The event was also attended by QIIB CEO Dr Abdulbasit Ahmed al-Shaibei; Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim al-Thani, head of Football at Al-Gharafa; and Rashid Issa al-Dossary, general manager of the club, along with several senior officials from both parties.
The agreement reflects QIIB’s continued commitment to supporting Qatari sports and building strong national partnerships with leading clubs, including Al-Gharafa SC. With a proud history, strong presence in local and regional competitions, and a wide, loyal fan base, Al-Gharafa SC remains a key name in Qatar’s sporting landscape.
The sponsorship will include the bank’s presence across the club’s various platforms, support for its sports and media programmes, and contributions to strengthening the club’s professional environment, all aimed at enhancing team performance and helping the club achieve its competitive and fan-driven ambitions, in line with its future vision and goals.
Sheikh Dr Khaled said, “This sponsorship reflects QIIB’s continued commitment to supporting national sports clubs and our firm belief in the vital role of sports in personal development, fostering national pride, and keeping pace with the comprehensive progress taking place in Qatar under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
“The bank has supported the club across several football seasons in the past, a successful and valued partnership that we take great pride in. It laid the foundation for a relationship built on trust, mutual respect, and true collaboration.”
He added: “At the heart of this strategy is our sponsorship of Qatar’s national football teams and our three-year sponsorship of the prestigious Amir Cup, in addition to our support for several national and international sporting events. This reflects our commitment to contributing to the remarkable progress of Qatari sports across all fields and keeping pace with Qatar’s rise as a leading global sports hub.”
Sheikh Jassim confirmed that Qatar’s remarkable sporting progress and its global recognition are the result of the country’s outstanding success in hosting major international events. He said, “Thanks to the generous patronage of His Highness the Amir and his unwavering commitment to advancing Qatari sports, our country has rightfully earned its place as the sporting capital of the Middle East.
“From our perspective, QIIB’s sponsorship is more than just support; it reflects a shared vision and deep alignment with the national direction set by His Highness the Amir. This is exactly what we’ve come to expect from QIIB, a leading Qatari institution with a strong and proven commitment to sports. The bank’s ongoing partnerships with clubs and federations across the country stand as a model for meaningful, long-term collaboration in the sporting sector.”
Sheikh Jassim also said, “I’m confident that this sponsorship will deliver meaningful results for both sides, especially given Al-Gharafa’s strong standing in Qatari and Asian football, its proud history of achievements, and its large and loyal fan base. In recent years, the club has remained a serious contender for domestic titles, earned back-to-back appearances in Asia’s elite competitions, and, most recently, won the prestigious Amir Cup.
“Our current position at the top of the league table is further proof of our momentum, and we hope that this progress will inspire more Qatari institutions and sponsors to follow QIIB’s example in supporting national sports.”
Dr al-Shaibei said, “QIIB’s sponsorship reflects the bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting national sports. We see sports as a key driver of community development and a powerful platform for promoting positive values such as teamwork, discipline, and ambition.”
He added: “At QIIB, we are committed to forming partnerships that deliver real, lasting impact, both in sports and within the broader community. We believe that supporting established national clubs like Al-Gharafa SC contributes to building a strong, achievement-driven sports ecosystem.
“This sponsorship also aligns with our institutional direction and the Third Financial Sector Strategy launched by Qatar Central Bank, which emphasises governance, sustainability, and social responsibility, all key pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Sheikh Mohammed said, “We are very pleased with this partnership, which brings together two respected names with strong standing in Qatari society. QIIB, in particular, holds significant economic weight as a leading institution with a well-established role in the national banking sector.”
He added: “This sponsorship is a natural extension of QIIB’s commitment to national engagement. We believe it also strengthens the social role of both parties, as we remain united by a shared goal: to contribute, each in our own way, to the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Qatar.”
