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The Qatar Financial Centre and Doha Bank have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate fintech growth and innovation in the country.The QFC Authority (QFCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Doha Bank, marking a major step towards strengthening Qatar’s financial services landscape through strategic collaborations in fintech development and digital innovation.The MoU outlines a collaborative framework in three strategic areas as driving growth in Qatar’s fintech and digital asset ecosystem through joint research, prototype development, and the introduction of innovative financial solutions.It also outlines supporting fintech companies through technical guidance, facilitating secure banking relationships, and streamlining account opening processes; and establishing a programme for regular engagement, including quarterly meetings, joint workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions, to explore new opportunities and ensure the continuous development of the ecosystem."This partnership with Doha Bank is a stride towards positioning Qatar as a leading hub for fintech and digital assets. Together, we will strengthen the foundations for innovation that enable fintech companies to grow with confidence and support the development of technological solutions that will define the future of financial services," said Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive officer, QFCA.Highlighting the importance of collaboration in advancing innovation, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Fahad bin Faisal al- Thani, Group chief executive officer, Doha Bank, said, globally, the banking and financial industry is undergoing major transformations."This highlights the importance of collaboration at the institutional level to drive the development of innovative financial solutions in Qatar and keep pace with these ongoing changes. Our agreement today reflects our shared commitment to advancing financial technologies and innovation within an enabling, inclusive, and comprehensive ecosystem," he said.This collaboration signals a new chapter in financial innovation. As fintech and digital assets reshape global markets, the QFC and Doha Bank are laying the groundwork for creating solutions that will not only serve businesses today but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow’s economy.

Syrian Minister of Transport Yaarub Bader met with Manager of Transport Global Practice for the Middle East & North Africa at the World Bank, Ibrahim Dajani. During the meeting, they reviewed several vital projects for developing the infrastructure and rail transport sectors in Syria, efforts to rehabilitate urban roads and improve transportation, as well as a strategic plan to modernize and rehabilitate the railway network.Both sides emphasized that these projects are crucial for sustainable development and achieving economic integration among Syrian governorates.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) announced that the unemployment rate in the West Bank during the first quarter of 2025 reached 31.7% for men and 33.7% for women. In a report analyzing the impact of the two-year Israeli occupation's aggression on Gaza on the West Bank economy and labor market, the ILO noted a sharp deterioration in livelihoods, with rising unemployment rates, declining incomes, and worsening poverty among Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories.The report indicated that the war and its accompanying restrictions caused a 29% decline in the gross domestic product (GDP) in the occupied Palestinian territory as a whole between the first two quarters of 2023 and 2025, with the West Bank recording a 17.1% contraction.It revealed that the situation worsened during the second quarter of this 2025, with Israeli restrictions tightened across the West Bank. Living standards declined, with real per capita income in the West Bank declining by more than 20% compared to 2023.The ILO predicted a further deterioration in the labor market in the West Bank, with the overall unemployment rate expected to reach 38.5%, affecting more than 363,000 Palestinians. It added that the West Bank recorded modest growth of 9.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, but output remains well below pre-war levels.

As United Arab Bank (UAB) marks its 50th anniversary, Commercial Bank extended its heartfelt congratulations and joined the celebration at the gala dinner in the Museum of The Future, UAE.Key attendees included Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali bin Jabor al-Thani, Chairman of Commercial Bank and Director as well as Member of the Board Risk and Compliance Committee at UAB; Omar Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Commercial Bank and Vice-Chairman, Chairman of the Board Governance & Renumeration Committee of UAB; Stephen Moss, Group CEO of Commercial Bank, Director, Member of the Board Credit Committee, Member of the Board Audit Committee, Member of the Board Governance and Remuneration Committee at UAB; Fahad Badar, Executive General Manager, Chief Wholesale and International Banking Officer of Commercial Bank as well as Director and Member of Board Credit Committee and Member of Board Risk and Compliance Committee at UAB.Since its establishment in 1975, UAB has played a central role in shaping UAE’s banking sector, offering world-class corporate and retail services. In 2007, Commercial Bank became a strategic partner with the acquisition of a 40% stake, marking the first partnership between Qatar and the UAE.Over the years, UAB has expanded its presence and continued to elevate customer experience. This partnership stands as a testament to how regional collaboration can drive progress, inspire excellence, and set new benchmarks across the Gulf.“When institutions share a mutual ambition, they have the power to advance the financial industry and shape a stronger regional future. This is how great achievements are built, and more importantly, sustained. At Commercial Bank, we value partnerships founded on collaboration and trust. For decades, United Arab Bank has demonstrated a commitment that aligns closely with ours.“Today, as it marks 50 years of achievement and leadership in the UAE, we celebrate its inspiring journey and enduring legacy,” said Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali bin Jabor al-Thani.Through this long-term partnership, Commercial Bank looks ahead with confidence as it continues to support UAB’s growth and advancing collaboration across the region’s financial landscape.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) denounced the Israeli Knesset's approval of legislation aimed at annexing the occupied West Bank and imposing alleged Israeli sovereignty over it.An OIC statement on Thursday said that this legislative action, coupled with another law formalizing a settlement, represents a blatant infringement of international law, pertinent United Nations resolutions, the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.Furthermore, the OIC applauded the ICJ's Advisory Opinion, which unequivocally reiterated Israel's legal and humanitarian obligations under international law. The court's opinion emphasized the necessity for unimpeded humanitarian operations spearheaded by the United Nations and its associated bodies, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), while also highlighting the accountability mechanisms for those perpetrating attacks against humanitarian personnel and infrastructure.The OIC asserted that the occupied Palestinian territory, which encompasses the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — including east Jerusalem, constitutes a singular geographical entity. Consequently, any claims of Israeli sovereignty over these areas are devoid of legal standing and are categorically null and void according to international law.The OIC called upon the international community, specifically the United Nations Security Council, to fulfill its obligations and take immediate and decisive action to curb these violations and transgressions. Such actions not only jeopardise the viability of a two-state solution but also threaten broader international efforts to foster justice, stability, and peace in the region.

Aiming to acquire global insights, play a role in policy discussions, and strengthen its international credibility, Commercial Bank has participated in the 2025 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Institute of International Finance (IIF) in Washington, DC.The reception, hosted by the Qatari Banks on October 15 was attended by HE the Minister of Finance, Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari; HE the Governor of Qatar Central Bank, Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud al-Thani; as well as Board members, CEOs and senior executives of Qatari banks.Commercial Bank was represented at these meetings by Board Member, Mohamad Ismail Mandani al-Emadi; Group CEO, Stephen Moss; Executive General Manager and Chief Marketing Officer, Eiman al-Naemi; Executive General Manager, Chief Wholesale and International Banking Officer, Fahad Badar; Executive General Manager, Treasury and Investments, Parvez Khan; and Senior AGM and Head of ALM, Omran al-Sherawi.Throughout these meetings, Commercial Bank explored new business opportunities and strengthened relationships with leading banks across the region and globally, showcasing its leadership in digital innovation.Moss noted: “The innovative solutions we introduce and steps we take to support the growth of Qatar’s financial sector are further strengthened by the knowledge and connections we gain at the annual IMF and IIF meetings. These gatherings give us access to best practices and insights that we bring back home to Qatar and implement in the best way possible.”

The Muscat Stock Exchange recorded its highest weekly trading volume of the year last week, driven by increased activity in bank stocks and other leading companies, as most public joint-stock companies concluded the release of their preliminary Q3 financial results. Trading value rose to OMR 240.9 million, up from OMR 190.8 million the previous week, marking a 26.2 percent increase. The number of executed transactions also climbed from 19,529 to 25,171. The main index gained 40 points to close at 5,289, while the financial sector index rose by 169 points to 8,923. The industrial sector index added 32 points, and the services sector index increased by 4 points. Meanwhile, the Sharia index declined by 4 points to close at 461. According to trading data released by the Muscat Stock Exchange, the total market capitalization of listed securities fell to OMR 30.596 billion, reflecting weekly losses of OMR 108.5 million, impacted by a drop in the market value of bonds and sukuk, which fell below the OMR 5 billion threshold.During the week, prices rose for 38 securities, while 30 declined and another 30 remained unchanged.

His Excellency Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari met with the President of the Islamic Development Bank Group Dr Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Jasser, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, the relations between the two parties were reviewed, along with prospects for enhancing and developing them in key shared investment and financial sectors, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest. HE Minister of Finance also met with Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Bank, Christian Sewing, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. During the meeting, a number of topics related to shared interests were discussed, with a focus on financial and economic matters.

China's yuan-denominated loans rose 14.75 trillion yuan (about $2.08 trillion) in the first nine months of the year, central bank data showed on Wednesday. Of the total, household loans grew by 1.1 trillion yuan, and loans to enterprises and public institutions increased by 13.44 trillion yuan, according to the People's Bank of China. Outstanding yuan loans stood at 270.39 trillion yuan at the end of September, up 6.6 percent year-on-year, according to the central bank. The M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.4 percent year-on-year to 335.38 trillion yuan at the end of September. The M1, which covers cash in circulation, demand deposits and client reserves of non-bank payment institutions, stood at 113.15 trillion yuan at the end of last month, up 7.2 percent year-on-year. The M0, which indicates the amount of cash in circulation, increased 11.5 percent year-on-year to 13.58 trillion yuan at the end of September. According to preliminary statistics, the aggregate financing to the real economy was 30.09 trillion yuan in the first nine months, which was 4.42 trillion yuan more than the same period last year. The outstanding aggregate financing to the real economy stood at 437.08 trillion yuan at the end of September, registering 8.7 percent year-on-year growth.

His Excellency the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari participated in the meeting of Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors, and Heads of Regional Financial Institutions from the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The meeting was chaired by Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and was held on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings, now being held in Washington, DC. The meeting discussed key strategic issues related to economic growth in the region, in addition to future outlooks and fiscal policy requirements to combat inflation. It also addressed sustainable financing strategies, ways to stimulate economic growth, and the promotion of innovation in financial development.Regional and global challenges were also reviewed, particularly the risks of rising inflation rates and food insecurity. The participants stressed the importance of continuing efforts to adapt to the current financial and economic developments.The meeting was held within the framework of enhancing regional cooperation and the exchange of insights among financial and economic policymakers, with the aim of supporting economic stability and achieving sustainable development across the region.

Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Finance, has signed an agreement with the World Bank Group to establish an office that will serve Qatar and support the wider region. This initiative comes within the framework of strengthening bilateral co-operation and supporting economic development efforts across the region. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, now being held in Washington, DC. “This agreement reflects Qatar’s commitment to deepening its international partnerships with leading financial institutions and accelerating the implementation of sustainable development programmes adopted by the country, in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030,” the Ministry of Finance said in a release. The establishment of the World Bank office in Qatar provides an advanced platform for the exchange of technical and financial expertise with institutions and multilateral organisations. This new partnership also highlights Qatar’s status as a leading regional hub for economic and financial development, reaffirming its commitment to open and effective international cooperation in pursuit of inclusive and sustainable growth.

His Excellency the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari participated in the meeting of Arab Finance Ministers, alongside Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group and several finance ministers.The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, now taking place in Washington, DC. The meeting comes as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation with international financial institutions, exchange views on global economic developments, and explore opportunities to support financial stability and promote sustainable growth in the region.It aims to highlight the achievements of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in addressing global and regional priorities, and explore opportunities for cooperation across several actionable economic and financial sectors – contributing to the empowerment of both regional and global economic growth.The meeting also shed light on the attractiveness of the investment environment in GCC countries and the creation of high-quality opportunities across various sectors. In addition, it addressed the economic and development policies expected to be adopted as part of joint GCC efforts in the coming phase.