Business

Dukhan Bank has announced winners of the fourth and final draw of its special campaign in partnership with Visa that gives its credit cardholders an “exceptional chance” to win prizes for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, courtesy of Visa.The lucky winners were announced at the bank’s headquarters under the supervision of a representative of the qualitative licence and market control department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.The winning Dukhan Bank customers are Abdulaziz Mohamed al-Rabban (won opening match ticket); Azlan bin Morshidi, Ameen Alkhateeb, Aquiles Jorge Neto, Sheikh Abdulla al-Thani, and Talal al-Burshaid (received group stage tickets); Abdulhadi Fahad al-Dosari (won ticket for the round of 16); Latifa al-Mana (received tickets for quarter final); while Saeed al-Rashdi and Belal Sakini (tickets for semi-final and the final matches, respectively).The winners walked away with two tickets each, thanks to Visa.During the campaign period, Dukhan Bank customers, who spend monthly QR10,000 or more using their Dukhan Bank Visa credit card, stand a chance to win tickets two for the opening match, group stages, round of 16 games, quarter-finals, semi-finals or the final matches of the much-anticipated tournament, thanks to Visa.To find out more about Dukhan Bank Visa credit cards, customers can visit Dukhan Bank’s website on dukhanbank.com or call the Contact Centre on 800 8555.Alternatively, they can ask the bank’s virtual assistant ‘Rashid’ on the website, mobile app or via WhatsApp on 44100888.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has launched the Industrial Services Platform in its website, an electronic interface that provide sector investors with e-services throughout the various stages of the industrial project as part of efforts to save time and effort, and dispense the need to visit the ministry's headquarters.This initiative stems from the ministry's keenness to improve the business services system in Qatar, as well as to facilitate and speed up the delivery of services for factory owners. Moreover, the initiative contributes to encouraging the investment and industrial climate in Qatar and also instils a culture of innovation in the institutional work environment.Initially, the platform offers 15 main services such as the establishment stage: issuing, renewing, and writing off an industrial project initial approval; the construction stage: issuing, renewing, and writing off licensing to establish an industrial project; and the operation phase: issuing, renewing, and writing off licensing to operate an industrial project (certificate of registration in the industrial registry).Additionally, it offers customs exemption service for an industrial facility; request for subsidised power supply; request for increasing the industrial project production capacity; changing the location of the industrial project; stopping the industrial project; and factory data extractor.The initial approval for an industrial project will take one day (if all documents are submitted via the platform) and the validity is for one year. The applicant should fill out the relevant application form through the platform and have an active commercial register.As for the renewal of the industrial project, applicants obtain the initial approval upon applying and it is valid for one year. With regard to writing off the initial approval, the ministry said it is obtained immediately upon applying, and requires filling out the relevant application form via the platform.Concerning the industrial project establishment licence, the ministry said it requires three days, and the extract validity period is one year. The applicants need to submit the project data (raw materials, machines, and products), and attach the environmental permit issued by the Ministry of Environment, and the notice of the initial plot allocation for the project, or a lease contract/certificate of ownership of the construction site of the factory.For renewing the licence, the ministry said it can be obtained immediately upon applying, and the renewal validity is for one year.The MoCI said obtaining licensing to operate an industrial project (certificate of registration in the industrial registry) takes five days, and the validity period of the obtained licence is two years.The required attachments are an environmental operating permit, a building completion certificate, and a copy of the certificate of conformity to Qatari standards issued by the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology, in the case of industrial facilities that produce concrete, bricks, asphalt, and insulating materials (to be provided upon request).With regard to the service of renewing a licence to operate an industrial project (registration certificate), the ministry said it is obtained immediately upon applying for the service and the renewed licence is valid for two years.This process requires applying for the service via the platform, and attaching the operating permit, and the project budget. Writing off licensing to operate an industrial project (registration certificate) is obtained immediately upon applying for the relevant service via the platform, having a valid or expired industrial project operating licence.According to the details provided by the ministry, the processing time of increasing the production capacity of the industrial project takes three days, and requires filling out the relevant application form via the platform.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 constitutes a great opportunity for promoting further the digital transformation of the state's banking system, and building on the achievements made during the Covid-19 pandemic period, which marked a major shift in the field of digital banking services, benefiting from the adequate infrastructure available for the banks amid rapid digitalisation of services.In this context, the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) unveiled in the past few months a range of initiatives to enable secure, fast and affordable digital payments lined up for the World Cup.Among the most prominent initiatives was the QCB issuing the first licence in the country to provide digital payment services via "Google Play", along with many guidelines that regulate and license various payment activities in the country.According to the QCB, the new services include the issuance of e-wallets through Qatar Mobile Payment system and its uses (merchants services and local money transfer), in addition to offering international money transfers through the e-wallet, via a bank or an exchange shop licensed in Qatar.In late August, the QCB issued the first licence in the country for digital payment services to Ooredoo Money and iPay by Vodafone Qatar.QNB Group CEO Abdullah al-Khalifa said: "The Group has laid out and dedicated a full plan over the years aimed to develop its technological services to better serve the mass of visitors in a distinctive and seamless way during this tournament.We strive to achieve a successful edition of the FIFA World Cup, which is why we have dedicated all our services, digital products and our workforce to ensure that we mark our presence with excellence throughout the tournament.This includes dedicating our ATMs as the sole provider of ATM machines in and around all eight stadiums along many other key locations that is expected to host a large number of fans and spectators."Al-Khalifa also highlighted the launch of the special FIFA-designed credit cards for all of its customer segments, where it was the first bank to launch special FIFA-branded cards aiming at sharing the fun of the most-prestigious football event with its customers.QNB was also the first to launch a special prepaid card design that included Laeeb, the official mascot for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where all digital prepaid cards were updated on the iPhone Wallet application, which saves all customer cards on the iPhone.This provides customers with a sense of exclusivity and uniqueness while sharing the football thrill.For his part, QIIB CEO Dr Abdulbasit al-Shaibi noted in previous statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the QIIB has carried out a number of events and contributions in conjunction with the tournament, including special issue of credit and debit cards, and a number of promotional offers; noting that QIIB is training its staff to deal with visitors during the tournament in a way that reflects the true image of Doha as a forum of civilized interaction between peoples and nations in one of the prominent capitals of global sports.He added that QIIB has also trained a team to provide internal support during the World Cup and beyond, in case of any emergency.Al-Shaibi underlined that QIIB has been investing intensively in banking technology for a long time as digital transformation is an urgent necessity to improve the operational environment.He reiterated that QIIB worked to enhance the digital transformation process, confirming that the bank is opening a completely unique digital branch with a modern design in Msheireb Downtown Doha.The QIIB CEO added that the bank enhanced the role of technology and relied on digital services as part of a comprehensive transformation, in accordance with the best international standards adopted in the banking sector, expressing his confidence that the bank will continue its upward march in relation to various indicators, taking advantage of all the positive market factors, following strict criteria in the field of risk assessment, and encouraging leading initiatives in the field of innovation.Commercial Bank has also launched a premium range of special-issue credit cards for the World Cup with discounts and special promotions at various participating hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, cafes and sports equipment stores.In a related context, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) launched a special edition of the "Visa Signature" credit card, Visa debit card, and Visa prepaid card, in celebration of the historic event.