QNB Group and the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore and jointly develop sustainable finance solutions for qualifying corporate projects in Qatar.
The collaboration will combine QNB’s corporate banking and financing capabilities with GORD’s expertise in the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), certification support, sustainability advisory services, impact measurement and reporting, and capacity building.
Under the MoU, the two organisations will explore potential initiatives including GSAS-linked green financing products and incentive structures, integrated financing and advisory solutions, client-awareness campaigns, and training and knowledge-sharing programmes.
Khalid Ahmed al-Sada, senior executive vice president, Group Corporate and Institutional Banking, QNB Group, said: “This collaboration brings together complementary financial and technical expertise to support corporate clients seeking to advance credible sustainability objectives.
“By combining QNB’s financing capabilities and understanding of clients’ evolving needs with GORD’s GSAS certification and advisory expertise, we aim to explore solutions that support qualifying projects with measurable sustainability outcomes.”
He added: “The MoU also reflects our continued commitment to embedding sustainability into our corporate banking solutions and helping clients progress towards more sustainable business practices and investments. Through this collaboration, we are supporting Qatar National Vision 2030 and advancing QNB Group’s Net Zero 2050 Commitment.”
Dr Yousef al-Horr, founding chairman of GORD, said: “By bringing sustainable finance and credible sustainability assessment closer together, this collaboration can help businesses translate environmental commitments into practical investment decisions.
“Through GORD’s technical expertise and the GSAS framework, we aim to support financing solutions that reward stronger environmental performance and help accelerate sustainable investment across key sectors in Qatar.”
The MoU will also facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building for relevant teams and corporate stakeholders, strengthening their understanding of sustainability standards, project assessment, certification and impact reporting.
Any products, financing arrangements, incentives or benefits developed through the collaboration will remain subject to QNB’s Sustainable Finance Product Framework, applicable laws and regulations, internal approvals, and relevant client and project eligibility criteria.
QNB’s existing sustainability efforts include current Head Office building, which has achieved Gold Level certification under GSAS Operations, and its new Lusail headquarters development, which has attained a 4-Star GSAS Design & Build certification. These achievements reflect the group’s wider commitment to recognised sustainability standards.