Author

Qatar’s maritime sector witnessed a strong year-on-year surge in cargoes and building materials in June 2025; indicating the strength of the country’s non-hydrocarbon private sector, according to the official data.The general and bulk cargo handled through Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports amounted to 143,101 freight tonnes in June 2025, which shot up 151.35% year-on-year but fell 18.52% on monthly basis, said the figures released by Mwani Qatar.The container and cargo trends through the ports reflect the positive outlook for the country’s non-oil private sector, which has been projected to grow faster than the hydrocarbons, as per various estimates.In line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, Mwani Qatar continues to implement its ambitious strategy to enhance the maritime sector’s contribution to diversifying the national economy and strengthening the county’s position as a vibrant regional trade hub.The three ports together handled as much as 810,220 freight tonnes of general and bulk cargo in the first six months of this year.The building materials traffic through the three ports stood at 25,742 tonnes in June 2025, which zoomed 14.39% on an annualised basis but tanked 55.44% month-on-month. The three ports had reported a total of 325,978 tonnes of building materials handled in January-June this year.As many as 232 ships arrived in three ports, which reported 4.18% and 21.09% plunge year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. A total of 1,487 vessels call were reported through the three ports in January-June 2025.Hamad Port is Qatar’s main seaport, located south of Doha in the Umm Al Houl area and whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf.The container movement through three ports amounted to 133,461 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), shrinking 7.88% and 6.57% on annualised and monthly basis respectively in the review period. The three ports together handled as many as 742,789 TEUs in the first six months of this year.The container terminals have been designed to address the increasing trade volume, enhancing ease of doing business as well as supporting the achievement of economic diversification, which is one of the most important goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.The three ports were seen handling 15,229 livestock this June, which plummeted 74.24% and 81.06% on yearly and monthly basis respectively. The ports had cumulatively handled as many as 351,735 heads in the first six months of this year.The three ports handled as many as 9,883 RORO in June 2025, which registered 36.97% contraction year-on-year but soared 45.7% month-on-month. The ports had cumulatively handled a total of 56,817 units in January-June 2025.Qatar’s automobile sector has been witnessing stronger sales, notably in heavy equipment, private motorcycles and private vehicles, according to the data of the National Planning Council.

Market EyeAhead of a US Senate vote on President Donald Trump's landmark tax and spending bill, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) Tuesday remained under bearish spell for the second straight session as its key index fell more than 51 points and capitalisation melted in excess of QR3bn.The insurance, telecom, real estate and industrials counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.48% to 10,698.39 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,771 points.The domestic institutions turned net sellers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 1.2%.About 58% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR3.28bn or 0.52% to QR632.07bn mainly on account of small and microcap segments.The Gulf retail investors were seen bearish in the main market, which saw 2,748 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.03mn trade across five deals.The Gulf funds turned net profit takers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local retail investors continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index lost 0.48%, the All Share Index by 0.54% and the All Islamic Index by 0.64% in the main market.The insurance sector index tanked 2.41%, telecom (1.33%), realty (0.67%), industrials (0.65%), banks and financial services (0.47%), and consumer goods and services (0.29%); while transport gained 0.43%.Major shakers in the main bourse included Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Qatar Insurance, Ahlibank Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qatar Electricity and Water, Commercial Bank, AlRayan Bank, Woqod, Industries Qatar, Estithmar Holding, Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar.Nevertheless, Mannai Corporation, Mekdam Holding, Meeza, Al Mahhar Holding, Baladna and Nakilat were among the gainers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.The domestic funds turned net sellers to the tune of QR17.61mn compared with net buyers of QR33.06mn the previous day.The Gulf retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR5.12mn against net buyers of QR1.55mn on June 30.The Gulf institutions turned net profit takers to the tune of QR2.21mn compared with net buyers of QR16.17mn on Monday.However, the foreign institutions’ net buying increased significantly to QR23.29mn against QR4.99mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR9.62mn compared with net sellers of QR9.92mn on June 30.The local retail investors’ net profit booking decreased substantially to QR7.56mn against QR43.25mn on Monday.The foreign individual investors’ net selling weakened perceptibly to QR0.41mn compared to QR2.59mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second consecutive session.The main market saw 35% contraction in trade volumes to 115.46mn shares, 36% in value to QR307.18mn and 26% in deals to 18,968.In the venture market, a total of 0.21mn equities valued at QR0.58mn changed hands across 55 transactions.

Market EyeEnding six consecutive days of bullish run, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Monday fell more than 18 points on selling pressure especially in the consumer goods, transport and industrials sectors.The local retail investors were increasingly net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.17% to 10,749.48 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,799 points.The Arab individuals turned net sellers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 1.69%.More than 71% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation shed QR1.31bn or 0.21% to QR635.35bn mainly on account of microcap segments.The foreign retail investors were seen bearish in the main market, which saw 0.04mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.09mn trade across seven deals.The foreign institutions’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes. The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. However, the domestic institutions were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index lost 0.17%, the All Share Index by 0.09% and the All Islamic Index by 0.16% in the main market.The consumer goods and services sector index declined 0.55%, transport (0.43%), industrials (0.32%), telecom (0.2%), banks and financial services (0.08%) and real estate (0.04%); while insurance gained 3.22%.Major shakers in the main market include Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Meeza, Medicare Group, Dlala, Qatar German Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Baladna, Industries Qatar, Ezdan and Mazaya Qatar. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar Insurance, Gulf Warehousing, Qatar Electricity and Water, Ahlibank Qatar, Al Mahhar Holding and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding were among the movers in the main market. The local retail investors’ net selling increased substantially to QR43.25mn compared to QR26.38mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR9.92mn against net buyers of QR6.98mn on June 29.The foreign retail investors were net profit takers to the extent of QR2.59mn compared with net buyers of QR1.19mn on Sunday.The foreign institutions’ net buying weakened significantly to QR4.99mn against QR25.15mn the previous day.However, the domestic funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR33.06mn compared with net sellers of QR3.56mn on June 29.The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR16.17mn against net profit takers of QR2.11mn on Sunday.The Gulf retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.55mn compared with net sellers of QR1.27mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the extent of QR0.08mn on June 29.The main market saw 2% fall in trade volumes to 178.83mn shares but on 19% jump in value to QR481.45mn and 77% in deals to 25,564. In the venture market, a total of 0.09mn equities valued at QR0.25mn changed hands across 32 transactions.

Market EyeThe Iran-Israel truce and the US rate cut expectations Sunday led the Qatar Stock Exchange to gain more than 83 points, with capitalisation gaining in excess of QR5bn.Bullish for the sixth straight session, the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.78% to 10,768.19 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,684 points.An across the board buying interests – notably in insurance, industrials and banks - was visible in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved further to 1.86%.About 89% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR5.62bn or 0.89% to QR636.66bn mainly on account of mid and small cap segments.The Arab retail investors were seen increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw 0.05mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.13mn trade across 27 deals.The foreign individual investors turned bullish in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local retail investors’ weakened net profit booking had its influence on the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.78%, the All Share Index by 0.89% and the All Islamic Index by 0.72% in the main market.The insurance sector index shot up 2.7%, industrials (1.15%), banks and financial services (0.83%), consumer goods and services (0.78%), telecom (0.63%), transport (0.6%) and real estate (0.06%).Major movers in the main market included Mannai Corporation, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Insurance, Gulf Warehousing, Baladna, Lesha Bank, Medicare Group, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatar Electricity and Water and QLM.In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Al Mahhar Holding, Qatar German Medical Devices, Al Faleh Educational Holding and Ezdan were the shakers in the main market.The Arab individual investors’ net buying increased notably to QR6.98mn compared to QR1.5mn last Thursday.The foreign retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.19mn against net sellers of QR8.2mn the previous trading day.The Arab institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.08mn compared with no major net exposure on June 26.The local retail investors’ net selling decreased substantially to QR26.38mn against QR46.07mn last Thursday.The domestic funds’ net selling weakened drastically to QR3.56mn compared to QR21.15mn the previous trading day.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking shrank significantly to QR2.11mn against QR12.75mn on June 26.The Gulf retail investors’ net selling eased perceptibly to QR1.27mn compared to QR4.13mn last Thursday.However, the foreign institutions’ net buying weakened drastically to QR25.15mn against QR90.79mn the previous trading day.The main market saw a 6% fall in trade volumes to 182.76mn shares, 15% in value to QR404.07mn and 29% in deals to 14,455.In the venture market, a total of 0.92mn equities valued at QR2.62mn changed hands across 193 transactions.

The Iran-Israel truce had its profound impact on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which saw all of its constituents extend gains to investors, leading the main index vault 424 points and capitalisation add about QR26bn this week.The foreign institutions were seen increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index surged 4.13% this week which saw the Qatar Central Bank maintain status quo on interest rates after its assessment of the monetary policy.“The ceasefire (between Iran and Israel) had its impact in lifting the sentiments across the board. What is important is the sustainability of it,” an analyst with a leading brokerage house said.The Arab individuals were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw Moody’s, a global credit rating agency, affirm Doha Bank’s long-term counterparty risk rating at “A3” and deposit rating at “Baa1” with a “stable” outlook.The Gulf institutions turned bullish in the main market this week which saw Doha Bank enter the global debt market with its first euro-denominated syndicated facility for €500mn on highly attractive terms, demonstrating the continuing attraction to international institutional investors, including European.The Arab funds were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, this week which saw Commercial Bank issue a three-year tenor, QR500mn senior-unsecured bonds with a coupon of 4.90%.The domestic institutions were however seen increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw Fitch confirm the credit rating of Ahlibank Qatar at “A” with stable outlookThe local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.21mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.49mn trade across 59 deals.The foreign individuals were also increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw as many as 2,291 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.02mn change hands across five transactions.The Gulf retail investors were increasingly bearish in the main bourse this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer of the main market this week, which saw Doha recorded as many as 54.02mn transactions valued at QR15.28bn through the country’s payment system in May 2025 with point-o-f-sales constituting a vast majority.Market capitalisation shot up QR25.63bn or 4.23% to QR631.04bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw the industrials and consumer goods sectors together constitute about 51% of the total trade volumes.Trade turnover was on the decline amidst higher volumes in the main bourse; while the venture market saw heightened volume and value this week.The Total Return Index zoomed 4.13%, the All Islamic Index by 4.06% and the All Share Index by 4.06% this week.The transport sector index zoomed 7.74%, telecom (7.5%), realty (6.31%), insurance (6.11%), consumer goods and services (3.59%), industrials (3.4%) and banks and financial services (3.23%) this week.Major gainers in the main bourse included Mannai Corporation, Widam Food, Qatar German Medical Devices, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, QIIB, AlRayan Bank, Industries Qatar, Aamal Company, Qatari Investors Group, Aamal Company, Qamco, Gulf International Services, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Barwa, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, Nakilat and Milaha. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value this week.The foreign institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR719.93mn compared to QR109.13mn the previous week.The Arab retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR40.65mn against net sellers of QR55.08mn the week ended June 19.The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR10.46mn compared with net sellers of QR15.25mn a week ago.The Arab institutions turned net buyers to the extent of QR0.28mn against no major net exposure the previous week.However, the domestic funds’ net selling strengthened significantly to QR634.55mn compared to QR28.14mn the week ended June 19.The local retail investors’ net profit booking expanded drastically to QR101.93mn against QR4.16mn a week ago.The foreign individual investors’ net selling surged perceptibly to QR20.43mn compared to QR6.45mn the previous week.The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking increased markedly to QR14.42mn against QR0.04mn the week ended June 19.The main market saw 4% jump in trade volumes to 1.22bn shares but on 2% decline in value to QR3.02bn and 9% in deals to 116,232 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes more than doubled to 0.32mn equities and value more than doubled to QR0.88mn on tripled transactions to 123.

Qatar recorded as many as 54.02mn transactions valued at QR15.28bn through the country's payment system in May 2025 with point-of-sales constituting a vast majority, according to Qatar Central Bank (QCB) data.The point-of-sales constituted 56% of the payment system transaction, followed by e-commerce 26%, Fawran or instant payment system 17% and Qatar Mobile Payment at 1% in the review period, the QCB said in its social medial handle X.There were 42.74mn card transactions through point-of-sales, which enables merchants to process payments and log transactions, valued at QR8.55bn in the review period. The 0.45mn e-commerce transaction were valued at QR3.97bn in the review period. The point-of-sales and e-commerce together constituted QR12.52bn in May 2025.Fawran – a real-time payment service in Qatar, allowing users to send and receive money instantly and securely within the country – registered as many as 1.65mn transactions valued at QR2.59bn in the review period. There have been a total of 3.1mn total registered Fawran accounts.Fawran was launched in 2024 and system members are QNB, Commercial Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, Ahli Bank, Dukhan Bank, Doha Bank, QIIB and AlRayan Bank.Qatar Mobile Payment (QMP) – which allows immediate transfer of funds between registered customers through any registered payment service providers – saw as many as 189,000 transactions valued at QR181.97mn in May 2025. There has been a total of 1.34mn registered wallets.The QMP is a centralised payment system that was launched in 2020, to enable individuals and corporates to perform instant fund transfers between e-wallets within payment service providers in Qatar. The system members are QNB, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, Ahli Bank, QIIB, Arab Bank, HSBC Qatar, AlRayan Bank, Dukhan Bank, i-pay and Ooredoo Money.Qatar Payment System (QPS) is designed on the concept of real-time gross settlement (RTGS) and electronic straight through processing (e-STP). QPS is based on the SWIFT network and messages standards and utilises the SWIFT messages to reconcile and settle the local payments and securities ownership transfers.QPS is linked to the QCB clearing system, book-entry government securities system, and currency issuing application. All applications are driven by swift messages such as (MT202, MT203).Qatar's retail payment system comprise electronic cheque clearing system; national network system for ATMS and Points of Sales (NAPS); QMP; direct deposit and debit (QATCH); electronic payment gateway (QPay); wage protection system (WPS); and Fawran.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Wednesday gained about 112 points to cross the 10,600 levels and capitalisation added about QR7bn as foreign funds were found increasingly net buyers with Iran-Israel ceasefire lifting sentiments for the second straight session.The 20-stock Qatar Index rose 1.06% to 10,643.52 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,545 points.The transport, insurance, real estate and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main market, which saw 0.69% gains year-to-date.About 87% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR6.95bn or 1.12% to QR628.68bn mainly on account of large and midcap segments.The foreign retail investors’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main market, which saw as many as 0.06mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.14mn trade across 15 deals.The Gulf individual investors’ lower net profit booking had its effect on the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the domestic institutions were seen increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 1.06%, the All Share Index by 1.16% and the All Islamic Index by 0.73% in the main market.The transport sector index shot up 2.68%, insurance (1.65%), realty (1.36%), banks and financial services (1.32%), consumer goods and services (0.78%), telecom (0.35%) and industrials (0.3%).Major movers in the main market include Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Nakilat, Aamal Company, Qamco, QNB, AlRayan Bank, Estithmar Holding, United Development Company, Barwa and Milaha. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar German Medical Devices, Industries Qatar, Dukhan Bank, Medicare Group and Lesha Bank were among the shakers in the main market.The foreign institutions’ net buying strengthened substantially to QR589.32mn compared to QR23.18mn the previous day.The foreign individual investors’ net profit booking declined noticeably to QR1.2mn against QR4.87mn on June 24.The Gulf retail investors’ net selling weakened markedly to QR0.07mn compared to QR4.87mn on Tuesday.However, the domestic funds’ net selling expanded drastically to QR567.25mn against QR52.59mn the previous day.The local retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR38.28mn compared with net buyers of QR3.9mn on June 24.The Gulf institutions’ net buying declined substantially to QR5.62mn against QR21.3mn on Tuesday.The Arab individual investors’ net buying shrank considerably to QR6.85mn compared to QR17.44mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the extent of QR0.28mn on June 24.The main market saw 16% plunge in trade volumes to 277.77mn shares but on 50% surge in value to QR1.03bn and 8% in deals to 28,803.In the venture market, a total of 8,799 equities valued at QR0.02mn changed hands across four transactions.

Market Eye The ceasefire announcement between Iran and Israel had its positive impact on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which on Tuesday surged more than 199 points to surpass 10,500 levels with capitalisation adding in excess of QR11bn. The telecom, transport and real estate counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index shot up 1.93% to 10,536.87 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,579 points. The foreign institutions’ increased net buying had its influence on the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated to 0.37%. About 91% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR11.43bn or 1.87% to QR621.73bn mainly on account of large and midcap segments. The Gulf institutions were seen bullish in the main market, which saw as many as 8,031 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.04mn trade across six deals. The local retail investors turned net buyers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase. The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the main barometer of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Arab institutions turned net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index rose 1.98%, the All Share Index by 1.76% and the All Islamic Index by 1.88% in the main market. The telecom sector index shot up 3.02%, transport (2.92%), real estate (2.6%), banks and financial services (1.65%), industrials (1.47%), insurance (1.24%) and consumer goods and services (0.96%). Major movers in the main market include Widam Food, Qatar German Medical Devices, Lesha Bank, Ezdan, Inma Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank, Alijarah Holding, Salam International Investment, Medicare Group, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Baladna, Al Mahhar Holding, Aamal Company, Gulf International Services, Estithmar Holding, Qamco, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Barwa, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, Nakilat and Milaha. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value. Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Ahlibank Qatar, Al Meera and Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution were among the shakers in the main market. The foreign institutions’ net buying strengthened substantially to QR23.18mn compared to QR9.29mn the previous day. The Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR21.3mn against net profit takers of QR1.88mn on June 23. The Arab individual investors’ net buying increased perceptibly to QR17.44mn compared to QR13.28mn on Monday. The local retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR3.9mn against net sellers of QR2.22mn the previous day. The Arab institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.28mn compared with no major net exposure on June 23. However, the domestic funds’ net selling expanded considerably to QR52.59mn against QR20.15mn on Monday. The Gulf individual investors’ net profit booking rose markedly to QR4.87mn compared to QR1.72mn the previous day. The foreign retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR4.87mn against net buyers of QR3.4mn on June 23. The main market saw 46% surge in trade volumes to 329.37mn shares, 47% in value to QR687.97mn and 5% in deals to 26,645. In the venture market, a total of 0.05mn equities valued at QR0.13mn changed hands across 19 transactions.

Doha’s Islamic finance is undergoing a transformative phase, and blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) offer significant potential to enhance transparency, according to top official of Qatar Development Bank (QDB).“Qatar is well-positioned to lead globally in Islamic finance, setting benchmarks for innovation and sustainability in the $4.9tn Islamic finance industry,” QDB chief executive officer Abdulrahman Hesham al-Sowaidi said in a Qatar Financial Centre report.Highlighting that Islamic finance in Qatar is undergoing a transformative phase, driven by innovation; he said the third Financial Sector Strategy highlights Islamic finance as one of five cross-cutting themes on which we will focus on in the next five years.“A dedicated Islamic finance master strategy has been developed in this regard and is currently being implemented by all concerned stakeholders,” he said.The Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH) has been instrumental in fostering Islamic fintech evolution. Since its launch in 2020, the QFTH has supported more than 100 fintech startups, in alignment with the National Fintech Strategy.“Blockchain and AI offer significant potential to enhance transparency and efficiency in Shariah-compliant finance,” al-Sowaidi said, adding emerging platforms automate compliance, streamline Tawarruq, and scale Murabaha.However, robust regulations and ensuring Shariah adherence in new technologies are crucial, according to him.Collaborative efforts among stakeholders are essential to address these challenges, he added.“We are also keen on investing in leading international Islamic fintech platforms,” he said, citing through Startup Qatar, QDB recently invested in Wahed, a leading global halal investing platform.Wahed subsequently established its regional headquarters in Doha and aims to expand its operations within Qatar.“Looking ahead, we are prioritising digital transformation by integrating advanced digital solutions to enhance service delivery and accessibility,” according to al-Sowaidi.These initiatives reinforce QDB’s commitment to fostering a resilient, diversified economy, one that empowers business, drives exports, and leverages technology for long-term prosperity.Highlighting that QDB sees the coming years as a pivotal period to strengthen its role as an enabler and orchestrator of Qatar’s business ecosystem, he said its updated 2025-30 strategy is built upon the achievements of previous years, aligning seamlessly with the Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.Stressing that its core focus remains on customer-centric innovation; he said “we are reimagining our services to provide tailored, bundled solutions that are adapted to the evolving needs of entrepreneurs and support them at every stage of their journey.By refining and introducing new services, it aims to create a dynamic support system that fosters sustainable success for businesses in Qatar.“We are also deepening our strategic focus on priority clusters and intensifying co-ordination with ecosystem partners to drive greater impact,” he added.Specifically, QDB is enhancing support at the earliest stages of entrepreneurship, particularly in the pre-seed and seed phases, while also fostering joint investment in later stages, expanding guarantee programmes, and strengthening angel investment networks.“Islamic finance remains a cornerstone of Qatar’s economic landscape, deeply embedded in our national financial framework,” he said.

Market EyeThe domestic institutions’ strong buying interests on Sunday led the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) open the week on a stronger note with its key index gaining 19 points amidst weakened trading activities.The telecom, insurance, real estate, transport and industrials counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.19% to 10,280.2 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,380 points.The Arab individual investors turned net buyers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated to 2.75%.More than 73% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR1.39bn or 0.23% to QR606.8bn mainly on account of microcap segments.The foreign institutions continued to be bullish but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 0.02mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.05mn trade across nine deals.The local retail investors were seen net profit takers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The foreign individuals were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.19%, the All Share Index by 0.15% and the All Islamic Index by 0.44% in the main market.The telecom sector index shot up 2.31%, insurance (1.59%), realty (1.17%), transport (0.71%), industrials (0.4%) and consumer goods and services (0.16%); while banks and financial services fell 0.37%.Major movers in the main market include Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Widam Food, QLM, Medicare Group, Lesha Bank, Qatar German Medical Devices, Qamco, Gulf International Services, Barwa, Ezdan, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar and Nakilat.Nevertheless, Dlala, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Mekdam Holding and Woqod were among the losers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The domestic institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR26.59mn compared with net sellers of QR31.98mn on June 19.The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR1.57mn against net sellers of QR19.91mn last Thursday.The Gulf institutions net selling weakened noticeably to QR1.83mn compared to QR13.5mn the previous trading day.However, the local retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR24.26mn against net buyers of QR14.9mn on June 19.The foreign individuals’ net profit booking strengthened substantially to QR9.56mn compared to QR1.04mn last Thursday.The foreign institutions’ net buying declined significantly to QR7.34mn against QR50.18mn the previous trading day.The Gulf individual investors’ net buying eased perceptibly to QR0.13mn compared to QR1.34mn on June 19.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the sixth consecutive day.The main market saw 31% plunge in trade volumes to 192.31mn shares, 67% in value to QR357.64mn and 32% in deals to 14,998.In the venture market, a total of 43,808 equities valued at QR0.11mn changed hands across 14 transactions.

Heightened tensions on Iran-Israel conflict and the appurtenant fears of wider ramifications in the region had their inherent dampening effect on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), whose key index plummeted 365 points and capitalisation eroded more than QR21bn this week.An across the board selling – notably in the transport, telecom, insurance and real estate counters – led the 20-stock Qatar Index tank 3.44% this week which saw Edaa modify the foreigners’ ownership limit of Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company to 100% of the total capital."A major concern is the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20% of global oil trade; while Iran has not yet targeted the route, even a limited disruption would severely impact global supply," Oxford Economics said in a research note.There was only one gainer (Industries Qatar) in the bourse this week which saw Aamal Company, one of the region’s leading diversified companies, planning to acquire PME Qatar, a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality thermoplastic piping systems, serving the country's construction, civil engineering, and industrial sectors.The Arab individual investors were seen increasingly net sellers this week which saw Moody’s, a global credit rating agency, affirm Commercial Bank’s long-term counterparty risk rating at “A2” and deposit rating at “A3” with a "stable" outlook.The domestic funds were also seen increasingly bearish this week which saw Fitch, an international credit rating agency, affirm Commercial Bank's long-term issuer default rating at 'A' with a "stable" outlook.The Gulf institutions were increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw Fitch confirm Dukhan Bank's credit rating at 'A' with "stable" outlook.The foreign individuals were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 53,695 AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.12mn trade across 37 deals.More than 96% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market this week which saw as many as 1,290 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.01mn change hands across six transactions.The local retail investors continued to be net profit takers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The foreign funds’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw Fitch confirm QIIB's credit rating at 'A' with "stable" outlook.Market capitalisation eroded QR21.66bn or 3.45% to QR605.41bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw the industrials, realty and banks together constitute about 73% of the total trade volumes.Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the main bourse; while it was on the decline in the venture market this week which saw Gulf Warehousing Company establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in Saudi Arabia to expand its regional presence and enhance its logistics and supply chain capabilities across the Gulf Cooperation Council.The Total Return Index plunged 3.44%, the All Islamic Index by 2.91% and the All Share Index by 3.46% this week which saw Qatar Insurance Company (QIC) receive (p)‘AAA’ ESG Rating by MSCI ESG Research, the highest possible rating under MSCI’s globally recognised environmental, social, and governance framework.The transport sector index tanked 6.65%, telecom (5.67%), insurance (5.62%), real estate (4.25%), banks and financial services (3.22%), consumer goods and services (2.32%) and industrials (2.02%) this week which saw Fitch confirm the credit rating of Doha Bank at 'A' with "stable" outlook.Major losers in the main bourse included Widam Food, Inma Holding, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar German Medical Devices, Aamal Company, Commercial Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, QNB, Doha Bank, Lesha Bank, Dlala, Qatar Oman Investment, Salam International Investment, Medicare Group, Mannai Corporation, Estithmar Holding, Qamco, QIC, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Barwa, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, Nakilat and Gulf Warehousing. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.The Arab retail investors’ net selling increased substantially to QR55.08mn compared to QR33.12mn the previous week.The domestic funds’ net selling strengthened significantly to QR28.14mn against QR6.21mn the week ended June 12.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking expanded noticeably to QR15.25mn compared to QR4.88mn a week ago.The foreign individual investors’ net selling rose perceptibly to QR6.45mn against QR3.64mn the previous week.The foreign funds’ net buying weakened markedly to QR109.13mn compared to QR124.23mn the week ended June 12.However, the local retail investors’ net profit booking shrank drastically to QR4.16mn against QR69.77mn a week ago.The Gulf individual investors’ net selling eased markedly to QR0.04mn compared to QR6.51mn the previous week.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net profit takers to the tune of QR0.1mn the week ended June 12.The main market saw an 88% jump in trade volumes to 1.17bn shares, more than doubling value to QR3.07bn on 73% increase in deals to 127,685 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes declined 33% to 0.12mn equities, value by 33% to QR0.32mn and transactions by 7% to 41.

Market EyeFears of regional instability, owing to Iran-Israel dispute, continued to dampen sentiments in the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), whose key index lost more than 63 points and capitalisation melt in excess of QR3bn.The foreign funds turned net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.61% to 10,347.91 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,420 points.The transport, telecom and consumer goods counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened further to 2.11%.More than 78% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation shed QR3.08bn or 0.5% to QR610.44bn mainly on account of small and microcap segments.The Gulf retail investors and funds were seen bearish in the main market, which saw as many as 804 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR1,768 trade across three deals.The local retail investors continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Arab individuals continued to be bearish but with lesser vigour in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index declined 0.61%, the All Share Index by 0.5% and the All Islamic Index by 0.45% in the main market.The transport sector index plummeted 2.58%, telecom (1.09%), consumer goods and services (0.65%), real estate (0.51%), banks and financial services (0.3%) and insurance (0.22%); while industrials was unchanged.Major shakers in the main market include Nakilat, Estithmar Holding, Mannai Corporation, Lesha Bank, Commercial Bank, Dukhan Bank, Alijarah Holding, Dlala, Qatar German Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Medicare Group, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Aamal Company, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar and Vodafone Qatar.Nevertheless, Qatar National Cement, Ahlibank Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Meeza, Qatar Islamic Insurance and Industries Qatar were among the gainers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR6.03mn compared with net buyers of QR13.69mn the previous day.The Gulf individuals were net profit takers to the extent of QR2.68mn against net buyers of QR2.9mn on June 17.The Gulf institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR1.59mn compared with net buyers of QR3.81mn on Tuesday.However, the domestic funds’ net buying increased significantly to QR27.09mn against QR15.61mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR2.07mn compared with net sellers of QR6.47mn on June 17.The local individual investors’ net selling weakened noticeably to QR11.75mn against QR14.6mn on Tuesday.The Arab retail investors’ net profit booking eased perceptibly to QR7.12mn compared to QR14.93mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the fourth consecutive day.The main market saw 14% contraction in trade volumes to 182.95mn shares, 20% in value to QR399.39mn and 23% in deals to 18,932.In the venture market, a total of 4,500 equities valued at QR0.1mn changed hands across three transactions.

Aamal Company, one of the region’s leading diversified companies, is planning to acquire PME Qatar, a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality thermoplastic piping systems, serving the country's construction, civil engineering, and industrial sectors.Aamal Company has commenced negotiations to acquire Hepworth PME Qatar, whose ownership is split between a related party and an unrelated party, and that the acquisition will be through one of Aamal Company’s subsidiaries, it said in a regulatory filing with the Qatar Stock Exchange.Established in 2003, Hepworth PME Qatar offers comprehensive piping solutions, including pipes, fittings, valves, pumps, measurement and control systems, and jointing equipment and accessories.This potential acquisition aligns with Aamal’s strategic objective to expand its industrial manufacturing segment, enhancing its product portfolio and market presence in line with Qatar’s National Vision 2030.

Market EyeDisplaying resilience, the Qatar Stock Exchange on Monday mirrored the regional trends, as its key index shot up more than 177 points and capitalisation added QR12bn on an across the board buying interests.The foreign institutions were increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index zoomed 1.73% to 10,464.8 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,312 points, a day after the regional markets were rattled by fears of wider conflict after Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks.The telecom, real estate and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main market, whose year-to-date losses narrowed to 1.01%.About 87% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added 1.99% to QR616.5bn mainly on account of large and midcap segments.The Arab individuals turned net buyers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.02mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.05mn trade across eight deals.The Gulf institutions were seen bullish in the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The foreign retail investors turned net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.The Total Return Index gained 1.71%, the All Share Index by 1.78% and the All Islamic Index by 1.61% in the main market.The telecom sector index shot up 2.72%, realty (2.47%), banks and financial services (2.06%), transport (1.53%), consumer goods and services (1.49%), insurance (1.04%) and industrials (0.94%).Major movers in the main bourse included Medicare Group, Ezdan, Doha Bank, QNB, Dlala, Mannai Corporation, Commercial Bank, Lesha Bank, Dukhan Bank, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatar German Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Widam Food, Baladna, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Al Mahhar Holding, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Estithmar Holding, Qamco, Mazaya Qatar and United Development Company.In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Beema, Qatar Electricity and Water, Ahlibank Qatar and Mekdam Holding were the losers in the main market.The foreign institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR37.36mn compared to QR13.91mn on June 15.The Arab individual investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR8.89mn against net sellers of QR22.02mn the previous day.The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR8.36mn compared with net buyers of QR12.31mn on Sunday.The foreign individual investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.78mn against net sellers of QR3.78mn on June 15.However, the domestic funds were net sellers to the extent of QR39.66mn compared with net buyers of QR0.8mn the previous day.The local retail investors turned net profit takers to the tune of QR16.87mn against net buyers of QR24.15mn on Sunday.The Gulf individual investors’ net profit booking strengthened marginally to QR0.86mn compared to QR0.74mn on June 15.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second consecutive day.The main market saw an 8% contraction in trade volumes to 239.97mn shares but on 12% jump in value to QR566.45mn and 12% in deals to 32,908.In the venture market, a total of 0.01mn equities valued at QR0.03mn changed hands across eight transactions.

Doha's Islamic fintech market is expected to record a 10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the years to 2028, reaching QR16.1bn in total transaction volumes, according to the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) report."This robust growth is being driven by increasing consumer demand, favourable regulatory frameworks, and strategic investments in fintech infrastructure," said the report.Qatar’s Islamic fintech market has seen remarkable growth during the past five years, reflecting a CAGR of 26%.Total transaction volumes for Islamic fintechs based in Qatar more than tripled from QR3bn in 2020 to nearly QR10bn in 2024; it said quoting the latest Global Islamic Fintech (GIFT) report.Qatar remained in the top 10 countries in the GIFT Index, ranking eighth in 2024, supported by a strong overall ecosystem, regulatory environment, and infrastructure for Islamic fintech.New York-based Wahed, a digital Islamic investment platform and one of the world’s largest Islamic fintechs, set up a regional office at the QFC in 2024, expanding its presence in the region.By offering innovative Shariah-compliant investment solutions, Wahed aims to cater to the growing demand for Islamic and ethical investments in the region."This strategic move marks a significant milestone for Islamic fintech in Qatar, aligning with the country’s vision to become a leading Islamic finance hub," the report said.Payments and enabling technologies constitute the largest segments of Qatar’s Islamic fintech market, by number of companies, reflecting the region’s focus on modernising Islamic financial services.This aligns with the broader region, where the digital payments sector is experiencing significant growth driven by the increasing adoption of e-commerce, mobile payments, and contactless payment solutions."Growing use of digital wallets and mobile payment apps highlights the region’s shift towards seamless and secure digital transactions," it said.Enabling technologies, which include innovations such as blockchain and AI (artificial intelligence), are crucial for modernising financial services in Qatar and enhancing the overall financial infrastructure, it said, adding they also support the development of more secure and efficient financial systems, which are essential for the growth of Islamic fintech.Meanwhile, the digital assets segment, encompassing digital currencies and tokenised assets, is growing in importance, reflecting the region’s efforts to integrate advanced financial instruments within the framework of Islamic finance, it said.The report highlighted that the transparency, security, and decentralisation provided by blockchain technology are particularly appealing in the context of Islamic finance, which emphasises ethical and transparent financial practices."This segment is poised for substantial growth, supported by the QFC’s increased regulatory and development focus on digital assets," it added.Highlighting that BNPL (Buy Now-Pay Later) solutions are rapidly gaining traction in the region, driven by increasing demand for flexible payment solutions and the rise of e-commerce; the report said the region has seen significant adoption of BNPL services, with companies like Tamara and Tabby leading the market and reshaping consumer behaviour."In Qatar, the potential for Islamic fintechs in this area is substantial," it said, adding by integrating BNPL services with Islamic finance, fintechs in Qatar can provide a value proposition that combines financial inclusivity with adherence to Shariah principles.Qatar has already taken significant steps to capitalise on this opportunity, with the QCB approving five companies, including Spendwisor and PayLater, to participate in a regulatory sandbox for BNPL services.

Market EyeEarly indications of the US-China trade talks had its reflection on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) as its key index gained as much as 68 points and capitalisation added about QR3bn this week.The foreign funds were seen bullish as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.65% this week which saw the Qatar Financial Markets Authority’s 2024 annual report disclose that the QSE-listed firms undertook five indirect acquisitions valued at QR583mn during 2024.The banking counter witnessed higher than average demand this week which saw Doha Bank disclose that a leading domestic investor acquired a portion of Qatar Investment Authority’s stake in it.However, the local retail investors turned net profit takers in the main market this week which saw a Qatar Financial Centre report suggest that Doha can leverage its robust financial infrastructure to develop and list more sector-specific exchange traded funds or ETFs such as those focused on energy, financial service, and construction and real estate.The Arab individuals were seen increasingly bearish in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 10,112 AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.02mn trade across nine deals.More than 51% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market this week which saw as many as 1,569 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.02mn change hands across four transactions.The Gulf retail investors turned net profit takers in the main bourse this week which saw as many as 0.1mn sovereign bonds valued at QR1.04bn change hands across three transactions.The domestic funds were seen net sellers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The foreign individuals turned bearish in the main bourse this week which saw Bait Al Mashura Finance Consultations -- the country's first certified entity authorised to provide Shariah audit, investment advisory, and financial consulting services to Islamic financial institutions – disclose that Qatar’s Islamic finance sector saw a 4.1% year-on-year growth in assets to QR683bn during 2024.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw A M Best, a global insurance rating agency, confirm ‘A-(Excellent)’ rating on Qatar Islamic Insurance with a “stable” outlook.Market capitalisation added QR2.74bn or 0.43% to QR627.07bn on the back of mid and small cap segments this week which saw the industrials and banks together constitute more than 50% of the total trade volumes.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the main bourse; while it was on the rise in the venture market this week which saw Fitch, a global credit rating agency, confirm 'A' rating in Qatar Islamic Bank with a "stable" outlook.The Total Return Index gained 0.65%, the All Islamic Index by 0.28% and the All Share Index by 0.65% this week.The banks and financial services sector index shot up 1.41%, transport (0.45%), consumer goods and services (0.44%, insurance (0.43%) and telecom (0.05%); while industrials and real estate declined 0.94% and 0.32% respectively this week.Major movers in the main bourse included Beema, Commercial Bank, AlRayan Bank, Ahlibank Qatar, QIIB, QNB, Estithmar Holding, Qamco, Qatar Insurance, QLM and Nakilat.Nevertheless, Gulf International Services, Qatar German Medical Devices, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Ezdan, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Lesha Bank, Mannai Corporation, Industries Qatar and Mazaya Qatar were among the shakers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR124.23mn compared with net sellers of QR92.16mn the previous week.However, the local individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR69.77mn against net buyers of QR30.35mn the week ended June 4.The Arab retail investors’ net selling increased substantially to QR33.12mn compared to QR10.92mn a week ago.The Gulf individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR6.51mn against net buyers of QR5.09mn the previous week.The domestic funds were net sellers to the extent of QR6.21mn compared with net buyers of QR57.72mn the week ended June 4.The Gulf institutions turned net profit takers to the tune of QR4.88mn against net buyers of QR6.47mn a week ago.The foreign retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR3.64mn compared with net buyers of QR3.14mn the previous week.The Arab institutions turned net profit takers to the tune of QR0.1mn against net buyers of QR0.32mn the week ended June 4.The main market saw an 8% plunge in trade volumes to 626.46mn shares, 14% in value to QR1.4bn and 31% in deals to 73,657 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes more than quadrupled to 0.18mn equities and value also more than quadrupled to QR0.48mn on more than tripled transactions to 44.

Market EyeThe Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Wednesday saw losers outnumber gainers, but settled 16 points higher, even as capitalisation stayed largely flat.The transport and consumer goods counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.15% to 10,713.35 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,665 points.The Gulf institutions were seen net buyers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved to 1.35%.The Arab individuals turned bullish in the main bourse, whose capitalisation was up mere 0.02% to QR631.71bn mainly on account of microcap segments.The foreign funds continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.02mn trade across eight deals.The local retail investors’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen declining vis-à-vis gains in the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The domestic institutions’ lower net profit booking had its effect on the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.The Total Return Index was up 0.15% and the All Share Index by 0.09%, while the All Islamic Index was down 0.02% in the main market.The transport sector index shot up 2.41%, consumer goods and services (0.73%) and industrials (0.04%); whereas telecom declined 1.02%, real estate (0.54%), banks and financial services (0.16%) and insurance (0.07%).Major movers in the main bourse included Nakilat, Milaha, Medicare Group, Qatar Electricity and Water, AlRayan Bank and Estithmar Holding. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Vodafone Qatar, Ezdan, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatar Islamic Bank, Lesha Bank, QNB, Gulf International Services and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding were among the shakers in the main market.The Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR9.74mn compared with net sellers of QR14.75mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR0.79mn against net sellers of QR10.55mn on Tuesday.The local retail investors’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR43.77mn compared to QR45.68mn on June 10.The domestic institutions’ net selling weakened perceptibly to QR6.72mn against QR10.18mn the previous day.The foreign individual investors’ net selling shrank noticeably to QR2.66mn compared to QR3.98mn on Tuesday.However, the Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking strengthened markedly to QR5.6mn against QR2.47mn on June 10.The Arab institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.1mn compared with no major net exposure the previous day.The foreign institutions’ net buying weakened substantially to QR48.32mn against QR87.62mn on Tuesday.The main market saw a 20% contraction in trade volumes to 187.04mn shares and 8% in value to QR454.63mn but on 4% jump in deals to 25,156.In the venture market, a total of 0.06mn equities valued at QR0.17mn changed hands across 17 transactions.

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is creating an ecosystem for tokenised carbon markets, which will not only facilitate cross-border carbon credit movements but also enable tokens produced in various countries to be easily exchanged.“The carbon markets ecosystem will be tested within the lab environment to validate its functionality, efficiency, and potential impact on carbon offset initiatives,” the QFC said.Developing carbon markets ecosystem was in the first wave of the innovation challenge of the QFC Digital Assets Lab, which is powered by the Qatar Central Bank and will foster open innovation in Qatar through ‘proof-of-concept and proof-of-value’, accelerating the growth of Qatar’s digital sector in order to establish Doha as a global financial and commercial hub by 2030.The tokenisation of carbon credits is aligned with the global linking of the currently “fragmented” carbon markets, and facilitates the cross-border movement of carbon credits; the interoperability of DLT (distributed ledger technology) protocols will enable tokens produced in different countries to be easily exchanged, it added.The objectives of creating carbon markets ecosystem are to develop and test a DLT-powered platform that facilitates the tokenisation, trading and verification of carbon credits.“The QFC aims to collaborate with industry stakeholders to coordinate the advancement of digital utilities and platforms that enable the smooth and reliable flow of environmental, social and governance (ESG) data,” it said.These initiatives would play a crucial role in aiding financial institutions and businesses to channel capital to sustainable projects, while also monitoring commitments and evaluating the overall impact, according to it.“The QFC will partner with domestic and international Greentech providers and stakeholders to develop the network which will include a disclosure portal, registry, and a marketplace/exchange,” it said.The carbon credit tokenisation involves the migration of information and features of carbon credits onto a DLT, where these credits are represented as tokens and can also be directly issued on DLT, with all associated attributes publicly accessible.Each carbon credit corresponds to a carbon token, establishing a one-to-one relationship, it said, adding the QFC’s role is to establish the rules for the lab as well as getting approvals, monitoring participation, intervening when there is non-compliance and commercial establishment. “The QFC will support the development of the ecosystem,” it said, “in looking forward, QFC acknowledges that the digital assets landscape is constantly evolving, and innovative solutions continue to emerge.”The endeavour would be to design carbon offsets projects in consultation with stakeholders and sells carbon credits to buyers.The QFC ecosystem would ensure setting standards for carbon credit quality, certify and issue carbon credits, and have a registry to track certified credit projects and credits issuance and retirement.