Qatar First Bank (QFB) has entered into an agreement with UK’s largest property adviser, JLL in view of the increasing demand for real estate investment in the UK and Europe from investors in Qatar and wider Gulf Cooperation Council region.
Signed at QFB’s private banking lounge in Doha, the agreement provides specialised real estate services to individuals and corporates seeking to add value to their portfolios by owning, occupying and investing in real estate across the world.
The deal with JLL, a Fortune 500 company, would also offer shareholders and clients the ability to source real estate opportunities globally based on their specific requirements and budget.
“By partnering with JLL, and in line with the increased appetite for real estate investments globally, our shareholders, as well as private, corporate and institutional clients, have now the opportunity to benefit from JLL’s real estate expertise through more than 280 corporate offices that have operations across 80 countries,” Nizar Ahmadi, QFB’s head of private banking and wealth management, said.
Terming the deal as another milestone for the bank, he said QFB would continue to invest in Shariah-compliant services and products and these span across its business lines including corporate and institutional banking, private banking and wealth management, treasury and investments, as well as private equity and real estate.
“QFB, which has recently had a successful listing of its shares on the Qatar Stock Exchange, is continuing to execute on its strategy of shifting from being investment focused to investor focused,” Ahmadi said.
Scott Strachan, executive director (Alternative Investments) at QFB, said this agreement is in line with its strategy to position QFB as a trusted adviser and gateway for investors, who wish to tap into innovative, Shariah-compliant, financial solutions and investment opportunities in local, regional and global markets.
“We are at the beginning of a new era and partnering with JLL is part of our efforts to identify and seize new attractive opportunities, deliver excellence and robust returns for our clients, and build a strong brand,” he said, adding JLL has access to one of the broadest catalogues of real estate opportunities as well having extensive research capabilities to support it.
JLL is the world’s second largest publicly traded commercial real estate brokerage firm and the UK’s largest property adviser with more than 280 corporate offices and operations across 80 countries worldwide.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for both parties. Since the very beginning we have always found the team at QFB to be extremely professional and proactive in dealing with their clients and our mutual client’s needs. The result will be a more cohesive and wider range of services for all our clients and a mutual benefit to both QFB and JLL,” according to Will McKintosh, JLL’s director and joint-head of residential for Middle East and North Africa.
Business / Business
QFB in deal with JLL to guide Qatar, Gulf investors on UK and Europe real estate
Ahmadi and Strachan: Shariah-compliant investments.
