There is much more to FinTech than companies that provide banking apps. We are living through a technological revolution in the ways in which financial services are delivered across the economy, from personal banking to business-to-business insurance. There is much growth still to take place, with penetration of digital methods and AI that is high in some applications, and low in others.
A recent report by the Qatar Development Bank (QDB) chronicles this development and makes recommendations for further progress.
Current and anticipated growth in the FinTech sector in the Gulf Co-operation Council economies is high: With revenues in the sector set to grow from QR5.6bn revenues in 2023, to QR31.7bn by 2030, the Qatar Development Bank reports. This is a compound annual growth rate of 25%.
Evolution of FinTech is relatively recent in the nations of the Gulf Co-operation Council, but development is accelerating after a slow beginning. A Deloitte study in 2020 showed a FinTech adoption rate of 22% among Middle Eastern consumers. Peer-to-peer transfers was the most widely used application.
The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated development, causing an increase in online retailing. Globally, there was a surge in venture capital investment in FinTech firms in 2021, when it reached QR441bn, before dipping to QR323bn in 2022.
In terms of the number of FinTech firms, the leader in the Gulf region is the United Arab Emirates, with 686. Qatar comes fourth, with 102 firms established. There is scope for further technological innovation, as well as the spread of existing digital payment systems.
Generative AI is increasingly being used for a range of applications. It can help with fraud detection, by identifying suspicious patterns of activities, and with checking credit-worthiness. Customer service can be improved with instant advice from smart chatbots. Large language models can, within certain safeguards, help provide personalised financial advice. And AI can help with regulatory compliance.
Insurance is a sector that is being transformed by technology. Increasingly known by the shorthand term InsurTech, new technology can make it easier for customers to manage policies and settle claims quickly. There is also the scope for under-served, low-income citizens to have greater access to insurance. Increased operational efficiency can help providers reduce premiums.
Globally, the InsurTech market is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate of around 38%, reaching QR678bn by 2030. However, InsurTech accounts for just 0.3% of the total insurance market globally, which amounts to $6.9tn.
Another significant FinTech application is the development of blockchain and smart contracts. A blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology, which speeds processes, reducing the need for intermediaries. A smart contract enables automatic payments once key contractual requirements are met.
Islamic FinTech is an established sector. AI can help ensure that investments are compliant with Shariah law, as well as being socially and environmentally responsible. Qatar is host to specialist Islamic finance industry.
The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) established a National FinTech Strategy in 2023. The four pillars of the strategy are infrastructure, growth, skills and financial inclusion. Some 29 initiatives have been planned for the first five years, with many already underway. The country’s Third Financial Sector Strategic Plan was launched in the same year, and covers banking, digital finance, insurance and capital markets.
FinTech has been the leading sector for venture capital in Qatar, attracting QR46mn of funding, three times more than any other industry. Key to the development has been the establishment of the Qatar FinTech Hub. Established in 2022, it creates ‘waves’ of programmes, in which start-ups receive mentoring, business advice and market access support. The Hub contributed more than QR54mn by 2024, and has set up five waves.
In Qatar, the total digital payments market rose from QR107bn in 2022 to an estimated QR130bn in 2024, and is projected to reach QR181bn by 2028. The transaction value of e-commerce payments has come down, indicating that digital payments are used more for everyday transactions.
The report categorises five categories according to market maturity and potential. They are: Peer-to-peer lending, buy-now-pay-later, InsurTech, digital wallets and digital payments. All five score at least medium on growth potential, while InsurTech and peer-to-peer lending are low on maturity.
Recommendations are grouped into three categories: Leveraging existing support, such as the Qatar FinTech Hub; exploring opportunities across the value chain, such as collaboration between software firms and existing players; and prioritising the identification of market needs, including under-served sectors.
The author is a Qatari banker, with many years of experience in the banking sector in senior positions.
