Jassim Al Khalifa is an independent member of the Board of Directors at National Finance House (NFH) and serves as the Industry Leader for Financial Institutions and Professional Services across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for Marsh McLennan. He delves into his vision for Saudi Arabia on a global scale. With 25 years of experience, Jassim has led his career and life with a deep regard for strategy, governance, consultation, and inclusivity. Being a seasoned executive in financial services and governance, he is an ardent believer in the power of Vision 2030. Early Upbringing Born and brought up in Saudi Arabia, Jassim's family has always believed that humanity, humility, and compassion are paramount for leading a life that is not centered on the self but aims care & lead by example to family and to uplift others.They ensured his upbringing was multifaceted, with education a crucial aspect and an emphasis on being a good human being. Because of his parents and elders, he grew up with an innate respect for people of all ages and also became a lifelong learner, guided by the syllabus from the book of life. His parents were also instrumental in making him understand that true leadership is about serving others. Family Environment He mentions how his family had a profound influence on him and shaped his worldview. He says, “Whenever there was a family gathering, the discussions centered on advice and collective decision-making. This led to my lifelong passion for the appreciation of governance, strategy, and inclusivity.” He appreciates his Saudi and Gulf roots, which have enabled him to lead with compassion and dignity. He also feels that leadership was ingrained in him early on, as his childhood reflected the same. Given these aspects, he remains a steadfast advocate for the transformative potential of business to uplift his family members and societies, creating long term impact. Inclination Towards Financial Systems Jassim acknowledges, “When leading or participating in a transformation at any organization, initial resistance taught me that change succeeds only when people feel ownership & trust in leadership. I created cross functional task forces that turned skeptics into advocates. He feels that achieving equilibrium between ambition and ethics is pivotal. Having always been enamoured with the financial systems, he feels that this ambition and passion have led him to his current path. Education and Certification As a Certified Director from GCC BDI and an INSEAD International Directors Programme graduate (IDP-C), he holds an Advanced Diploma in Insurance from the Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management & Marketing from Jubail Industrial College. He has been enrolled in the VCPE & EMBA program at SMU since August 2025, in addition to the GCC BDI Diploma, which ended in October 2025. A lifelong learner, he is a keen believer that a person should never stop learning and adapting. Thoughts on GCC Jassim feels that in the GCC, leadership is shaped by the values of majlis culture, which guide open dialogue, respect and shared wisdom in decision making. Taking this into account, he has moulded his leadership style in a manner that pays homage to the spirit of shura (consultation), meticulously channeling the modern governance framework and amalgamating it with traditional values of integrity. Family Business and Philosophy He gives advice for family businesses and entrepreneurs and remarks, “For family businesses, the shift from founder led to institution led models requires courage. My advice: select people carefully & embed governance early, not as control, but as a framework for growth and succession.” Jassim says, “Leadership is the ability to create clarity, foster trust, and empower people to achieve collective excellence. My philosophy has evolved through navigating crises, restructures, and strategic transformations, always imbuing empathy, inclusion and results rooted in ethics. I believe that true leaders combine data driven reasoning with emotional intelligence and cultural awareness. Leadership and Vision Jassim serves as the Industry Leader for Financial Institutions and Professional Services in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at Marsh McLennan. In this capacity, he heads the strategic initiatives proposition across the market, provides guidance to financial institutions and regulatory bodies, and delivers integrated solutions that blend risk advisory, human capital expertise and strategic consultancy via Industry laser focus value proposition, account planning and stakeholder inclusion, working and capitalizing on Marsh, Mercer, Guy Carpenter, and Oliver Wyman as an exceptional industry approach by Marsh McLennan. He also sits on the Board of Directors at National Finance House, where he plays a pivotal role in strengthening governance frameworks, ensuring strategic alignment, and overseeing the Executive Committee. Balancing his public and private sector mandates, Jassim remains guided by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its goal of building world class institutions rooted in culture, governance, innovation, and sustainability. Through his recent membership on the Virtual Advisory Board (VAB), he extends his reach beyond Saudi Arabia and the GCC, reinforcing his position as a trusted advisor to regional and global boards that drive strategic transformation. Awards and Achievements Jassim has won many leadership awards throughout his career, including the Global Excellence Leadership Award, an initiative of Brand Empower Pvt. Limited. GEA is considered one of the most prestigious corporate awards, honoring the very best veterans across distinct industries worldwide. Shedding light on Vision 2030, he continues, My proudest achievement is piloting AXA Saudi full retail echo system in 2013 and settling one of the largest claim about SAR190m in less than 9month and currently leading the first Financial Industry & Professional Services proposition of Marsh McLennan’s organisational model in the world and our region to align with Vision 2030 sectors, enhancing board effectiveness at NFH, and mentoring the next generation of leaders within the financial ecosystem. A Connected Circle His work has a significant interconnectedness with the Kingdom institutional transformation. He mentions that the SAMA 2024 financial sector development report highlights stronger governance, risk maturity, and institutional resilience, areas that align with his board work at NFH. The creation of the National Center for Family Businesses also reinforces the national focus on succession and continuity. In this landscape, the unified One Marsh McLennan brand and its role as an industry leader for financial institutions and professional services become even more relevant, as they enable support for regulators, financial institutions, and family enterprises through fully integrated advisory capabilities. He further adds that this alignment with Vision 2030 reflects how both his board's responsibilities and his industry leadership complement each other and strengthen the financial ecosystem. A Bright Future His plans for the future highlight his vision for a better future, which he believes in with all his heart and soul. The biggest one is building cross-border partnerships to support sustainable finance and advance boardroom effectiveness through strong governance and strategic foresight. Jassim Al Khalifa's leadership is defined by integrity, vision, and humanity. Guided by deep family values, he places his loved ones and community at the center of every decision. With humility and candor, he continues to lead by example, advancing progress not only in business but in the broader culture of leadership and society.

President Donald Trump told Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House Wednesday that talks with Iran must continue, rebuffing the Israeli prime minister's push for a tougher stance against Tehran."There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated," Trump said on social media after their three-hour meeting."If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be," said Trump, adding a reminder of last year's US strikes against Iran's nuclear program.Seeking to push for the Islamic republic's ballistic missile program to be included in any deal, Netanyahu had rushed to Washington for his seventh meeting with Trump since the US leader returned to power.Netanyahu's office said that during the talks with Trump the Israeli premier had "insisted on the security needs of the state of Israel in relation to the negotiations" on Iran.Trump has hinted at US military action against Iran following Tehran's deadly crackdown on protesters, but at the same time Washington and Tehran restarted talks last week with a meeting in Oman.So far, Iran has rejected expanding its talks with the United States beyond the issue of its nuclear program, though Washington also wants Tehran's ballistic missile program and its support for regional militant groups on the table.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Tehran would "not yield to excessive demands" on its nuclear program.But he insisted his country was not "not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons."

Baladna Q.P.S.C., Qatar’s leading dairy and juice company, announced its full year and fourth quarter results for the period ended 31 December 2025. Performance for the year reflected strong growth, primarily attributed to returns from the Strategically Diversified Investment Portfolio and the continued execution of the Company’s international expansion strategy, as Baladna advanced its long-term vision of expanding beyond the domestic market. Results highlight the Company’s ability to deliver record financial performance while progressively building a diversified international platform.Financial highlightsBaladna delivered record financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025, achieving its highest revenue, EBITDA, and net profit to date.Full year revenue reached QAR 1.27 billion, up 11% year on year, driven by higher volumes across key channels, with HoReCa contributing significantly and recording a 30% growth.Fourth quarter revenue increased to QAR 326.5 million, compared to QAR 286.2 million in the same period last year. The improvement was driven primarily by higher revenue contribution from the evaporated milk segment, supported by seasonal demand, increased visitor activity during the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 held in December.Profitability improved materially during the year. Full year EBITDA rose to QAR 770.1 million, with a margin of 60.7%, while net profit reached QAR 538.8 million, with a margin of 42.6%. Performance mainly reflected returns from the Strategically Diversified Investment Portfolio, implemented as part of the Company’s plan for geographic and sectoral diversification, alongside the increasing contribution from international investments and overseas operations. Earnings per share increased to QAR 0.252, compared to QAR 0.086 in 2024.Operational highlightsBaladna continued to deliver across its core operations while actively extending its commercial reach beyond the domestic market. The Company expanded its export activities with the commencement of regular shipments of selected long-life dairy products to Syria through a local distribution partner, leveraging Baladna’s established production capabilities and strengthening its regional presence. Across the domestic business, demand was supported during the fourth quarter by increased activity associated with the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, alongside continued portfolio management across core dairy and juice categories. Throughout the year, Baladna expanded its portfolio to 267 SKUs, adding over 33 new products. The Company now operates more than 149 sales routes, reinforcing its number one market position in Qatar. Product portfolio activity remained focused on performance and consumer demand, with selective product introductions and ongoing optimization supporting mix quality and operational priorities. Strategic highlightsBaladna continued to advance its international growth strategy, building a phased and scalable international footprint.In Algeria, the integrated agri-industrial project continued to record strong execution progress during 2025, advancing from planning into active on-ground development. During the 4th quarter, 186 drilling permits were secured, 45 wells completed, irrigation and pivot systems installed, and the first crop cycle successfully initiated, laying the foundation for feed self-sufficiency. Industrial development progressed with completion of the main laboratory concept design, optimization of the Central Utilities Building, and updates to the site masterplan, while major engineering milestones, including high-pressure and low-pressure boiler systems, compressed air and nitrogen plants, water treatment, and refrigeration plant designs, were completed and submitted for contractor review. Site utilities and wastewater drainage planning are under development, supporting operational readiness for the processing facilities. The project also advanced regulatory engagement on livestock imports, and road access coordination with authorities ensured connectivity to this remote site, supporting ongoing construction and infrastructure activities. By Q4 2025, the project had achieved visible site progress and remained on track with its phased development plan, reinforcing Baladna’s long-term objectives toward first milk production and contribution to local food security by 2027. The Algeria project represents the cornerstone of Baladna’s international expansion strategy and a key driver of long-term growth beyond Qatar.Building on this foundation, Baladna progressed its expansion into Syria, where preparatory activities continued for the planned integrated industrial project, encompassing arable farming, dairy and juice processing plant, a plastic packaging facility and warehousing infrastructure. In parallel, the Company has established an on-ground commercial presence through exports, supporting market development alongside ongoing project planning. In Egypt, the Company’s fully operational back-office hub supported international operations and investment activities, providing a platform to facilitate the execution of Baladna’s expanding regional footprint.Together, Algeria, Syria and Egypt form the initial phases of Baladna’s broader international expansion roadmap, as the Company continues to evaluate additional markets in a measured and selective manner. These initiatives reflect Baladna’s continued progress in executing its international growth strategy under its long-term “From Qatar to the World” vision, supported by returns from its Strategically Diversified Investment Portfolio. Capital IncreaseThe Extraordinary General Assembly approved an increase in the Company’s paid-up share capital by 24%, from QAR 2,143,984,962 to QAR 2,658,541,352, through the issuance of 514,556,390 new ordinary shares at an issue price of QAR 1.01 per share. The capital increase will be implemented through a rights issue, with priority granted to eligible shareholders registered with Edaa as at the end of the trading session on 10 March 2026, subject to the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities. For the complete financial statements, please visit https://baladna.com/corporate or email [email protected]