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The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) yesterday launched its mobile application, enabling users to access data, reports, and all updates instantly and efficiently.This initiative is aimed at enhancing the user experience and keeping pace with technological advancements and the requirements of digital transformation within the financial sector.This launch aligns with the Third Financial Sector Strategy and supports Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to build a knowledge-based digital economy.The mobile application has been designed according to the latest technical standards, with a user-friendly interface that allows for easy browsing and searching.The mobile application can be downloaded through the App Store.

Spanish coach David Prats of Al Shamal emphasized the difficulty of his team's upcoming match against Al Shahaniya, scheduled for Sunday, as part of Round 10 of the 2025-2026 Doha Bank Stars League.He stressed the importance of his players exercising caution throughout the encounter.Prats described Al Shahaniya as a dangerous team with talented players who have been delivering solid performances, regardless of their current position in the league standings, which he believes does not reflect the team's true strength.Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Al Shamal coach expressed great confidence in his players and their ability to achieve a positive result and bring joy to the club's loyal fans, who never hesitate to support the team.The Spanish coach also voiced his satisfaction at playing once again at Al Shamal Stadium, which hosted the recent match against Al Wakrah. It marked the team's first appearance at the venue, and he extended his gratitude to the Al Shamal supporters for their strong presence and unwavering encouragement during that game.Al Shahania assistant coach Montazeri spoke to the media ahead of their 2025-2026 Doha Bank Stars League Week 10 match against Al Shamal."We will face Al Shamal, who are having a good season so far. They are a very organized team, so it will be a tough match, like all the league matches. Regarding preparations for this game, the players have shown great enthusiasm in following the instructions given to them during training and I am satisfied with what the players have shown this week," he said."Before this, we faced a strong team in the QSL Cup, Qatar SC, and we managed to win. I expect the Al Shamal match to be exciting and intense," he added."I am currently focusing on the team's mental preparation and the morale of the players, who possess great potential. I am striving to restore the players' confidence through this match and achieve positive results," stated Montazeri.

His Excellency the Governor of the Qatar Central Bank Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud al-Thani, who is also the Chairman of the Qatar Financial Markets Authority met Paul Atkins, Chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) here Thursday. During the meeting, they exchanged views on a range of topics of mutual interest, and discussed ways to enhance bilateral co-operation in relevant fields, the QCB said.

His Excellency the Governor of the Qatar Central Bank, Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud al-Thani took part in a high-level panel titled 'Global updates and progress in cross-border payments', held during the 2025 Middle East and Africa Innovation Summit, organised by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Riyadh.The event was held under the theme 'Resilient finance, innovative future'. The session, which addressed new challenges and opportunities posed by technological innovation in the financial sector, featured the participation of Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England and chair of the Financial Stability Board; Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and Jameel Ahmad, Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, along with the session moderator, Pablo Hernández de Cos, General Manager of the BIS.

The Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center (Aman), one of the centers operating under Qatar Foundation (QF), launched the interactive game "Aman Journey" on Tuesday. The event was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) and the Doha Bank Group (DBG), marking the celebration of World Children's Day 2025, observed annually on November 20.The launch took place in a dedicated QF pavilion, with Assistant Undersecretary for Special Education Affairs, Omar Abdulaziz al-Naama, alongside several of Aman's partners from various sectors in attendance. Acting Executive Director of Aman, Fadhel bin Mohammed al-Kaabi, emphasised that the center is committed to producing innovative interactive programmes for children, noting that the game aims to strengthen children's awareness of social protection issues, imbue them with skills to hold off all kinds of violence, and reinforce personality building and positive behavior.It is essential to merge technology with awareness projects targeting women and children alike. This approach aligns with Qatar National Vision and efforts to support innovation, as well as the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy, which emphasizes digital economy advancement and leveraging technology more broadly to serve the community, al-Kaabi highlighted.He stressed the need for concerted efforts among relevant agencies in the educational and health sectors to ensure a safe environment for children and to push back against violence directed at them, considering them the cornerstone of the future. Director of Community Awareness at Aman, Bukhita al-Ghiathin, explained that the game is an interactive digital platform available on the MoEHE’s Qatar Education portal, targeting children aged 4 to 8 years.The game takes the child on a journey through landmarks in Qatar, delivering awareness content in a question-and-answer format, away from conventional methods, thereby strengthening the child's understanding of social protection mechanisms and how to safeguard themselves at home and in public spaces, outlined al-Ghiathin.Director of the Office of Communication & Media at Aman, Hanan al-Ali, underscored the importance of community partnership in the success of the project, noting that DBG provides prizes for participants, selecting the best player who applies healthy behavioral practices in interactions with others.The game will be available to all public and private schools via the Qatar Education Platform and will be introduced through Aman's awareness workshops in schools, alongside a dedicated pavilion to showcase and operate the game for visitors, as well as promotion through social media platforms, she said.

Forbes Middle East has ranked Doha Bank Group CEO Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Fahad bin Faisal al-Thani as “the second most powerful banking executive in Qatar” in its annual Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East 2025 list.The ranking celebrates executives who demonstrate exceptional leadership, drive innovation, and shape the region's business landscape. The recognition reflects Sheikh Abdulrahman’s visionary approach to banking and his leadership in positioning Doha Bank at the forefront of digital innovation in Qatar's financial sector.Under his guidance, the bank has pioneered industry-first initiatives, including Qatar’s first mobile app for Letter of Guarantee services, reinforcing its commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that serve evolving customer needs.Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs list profiles the region’s most influential business leaders at the helm of major corporations, acknowledging those who set new standards for excellence, navigate complex markets, and drive sustainable growth across diverse industries.Sheikh Abdulrahman said: “This recognition reflects the dedication of our teams and the trust of our clients. At Doha Bank, we are committed to advancing digital banking, operational excellence, and delivering solutions that support Qatar's economic vision. Being acknowledged by Forbes Middle East reinforces our commitment to setting new benchmarks in the banking sector and serving as a forward-thinking financial institution.”The ranking adds to Doha Bank’s growing list of prestigious industry awards, reaffirming its position as one of Qatar’s leading financial institutions and a trusted partner in driving innovation and excellence in the region's banking sector.

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), in collaboration with American Hospital Clinics, organised a staff awareness initiative to mark ‘World Diabetes Day’ at QIB’s head office, reinforcing the bank’s ongoing commitment to employees’ well-being and community health.Throughout the day, medical professionals from American Hospital Clinics provided blood glucose and blood pressure screenings, Body Mass Index (BMI) assessments, and on-the-spot consultations with specialised doctors to help employees understand risk factors and adopt healthier lifestyle choices. Participants received practical guidance on nutrition, physical activity, and preventive measures to support long-term health.Mashaal Abdulaziz al-Derham, assistant general manager – head of Corporate Communications & Quality Assurance at QIB, said: “At QIB, we are committed to creating a supportive and healthy workplace while contributing to the well-being of our colleagues and the wider community.“Our ‘World Diabetes Day’ awareness initiative provided employees with practical tools for early detection and prevention, and we thank American Hospital Clinics for their valuable partnership in delivering expert screenings and guidance.”QIB regularly partners with leading healthcare institutions to deliver evidence-based health activations for employees, including screening days, awareness sessions, and expert talks that support early detection and prevention. These efforts form part of QIB’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme and align with the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030, promoting a healthy lifestyle and sustainable human development across the community.

The US bank JPMorgan has expanded in Dubai as part of a broader push to grow and do more business with medium-sized companies, an executive told Reuters, as competition in the Middle East intensifies.The move, not previously reported, is a challenge to competitors such as Citigroup, and comes after JPMorgan recently devoted more resources to coverage of so-called midcaps in Austria and Poland."There's a global focus on doing more in the midcap space," Stefan Povaly, London-based co-head of corporate banking for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said. Midcaps give JPMorgan another revenue stream beyond its traditional focus on the biggest blue-chip firms."The Middle East is of course a priority... This is the first step for an expansion into the midcap space," Povaly said.Global financial firms have increasingly set up operations in the Middle East to tap into oil wealth and growing regional markets. Barclays recently announced an expansion into Saudi Arabia, while Goldman Sachs opened an office in Kuwait.Citigroup first opened in the UAE in 1964, and added commercial bank activities in 2007. Speaking about competition in general, Alex Stiris, head of Citi's commercial banking in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, told Reuters that Citi sees the UAE as a location with one of the greatest opportunities for increasing market share and that his bank has an ingrained "natural advantage"."We have seen more competition come into the UAE," he said, not referring to any individual firm."Obviously the more competition, the more we have to be on our tiptoes. So it worries me to some extent," he said. "We can't rest on our laurels.""We are investing selectively," Stiris said. "Investing is not just in terms of just adding more headcount. It's also in terms of just looking at the people we have, and in some cases, just upgrading people." "There's also investing in terms of capital,” he added.Elsewhere, JPMorgan is in the early stages of evaluating a move to increase covering midcaps in Turkey."Over time, we could look to hire bankers dedicated to midcap clients in the country," Povaly said.JPMorgan has relocated Tushar Arora, a banker who has been with the US lender for more than a decade, from London to take up a Dubai role as the first in a team to focus on smaller venture capital-backed companies.The activity follows a push to Poland with the hire of Marcin Pietrucha from Santander, who has built a team based in Warsaw and other hubs.In parallel, JPMorgan is seeking more midcap business in Austria, headed by banker Philippe Bull based in Frankfurt.JPMorgan has a large presence in Germany, in part for coverage of the country's medium-sized Mittelstand firms.JPMorgan has been on an expansion course in Europe. The bank this week officially opened an office in Berlin with space for 400 staff ahead of its launch of a digital retail bank.Last week, German regulators imposed a record fine on JPMorgan for deficiencies in its anti-money laundering controls, reflecting the scale of its operations in the country.

This morning, Israeli occupation forces arrested 11 Palestinians from various areas of the West Bank amid an ongoing escalation of violence against Palestinians. The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that the occupation forces arrested four people from the Nablus governorate after raiding the Balata, Askar Al Qadim, Askar Al Jadid camps and the town of Beit Furik, in addition to two citizens from the town of Beit Rima and the village of Abu Shkheidem northwest of Ramallah, and six others from the city of Qalqilya.

His Excellency Deputy Governor of the Qatar Central Bank Sheikh Ahmed bin Khalid bin Ahmed bin Sultan al-Thani participated in the meeting of the Financial Stability Board Regional Consultative Group for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), which was held in Istanbul Thursday.The meeting discussed a number of topics on the agenda and appropriate decisions were taken, the QCB said.

The Japanese yen’s renewed weakness is testing the patience of policymakers in Tokyo and unnerving investors.The currency fell to 154.79 against the dollar on November 12, its lowest level in around nine months, following recent declines largely prompted by the emergence of Sanae Takaichi as Japan’s new leader. Takaichi’s focus on boosting economic growth has fuelled expectations she will be reluctant to prod the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates — a move that would support the yen.If the central bank waits longer to increase borrowing costs, the government may be forced to wade into currency markets to prop up the yen. Officials have indicated they are keeping a close eye on currency market movements, a typical first step before direct intervention.While Japan is committed to international pacts that stipulate markets should determine exchange rates, the Group of 20 has acknowledged that excessive or disorderly currency moves can threaten economic and financial stability, giving members wiggle room to intervene when volatility spikes. Japanese officials insist it is sharp or disorderly movements — not any specific exchange-rate threshold — that trigger intervention.The question now is how far — or how quickly — the yen needs to fall before Tokyo steps in to protect it.Why is the yen’s weakness cause for concern?While the yen’s slide over the past decade or so has transformed Japan into an affordable travel destination for millions of foreign tourists and boosted the profits of the nation’s biggest exporters, its weakness has become acute.For an economy heavily dependent on imported energy and raw materials, the feeble yen drives up costs, fuelling inflation for households and squeezing margins for domestically focused businesses. The resulting cost-of-living crunch has already helped bring down two prime ministers.There’s another reason why Japan’s government may want to act. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Japan for its weak currency, arguing it gives Japanese manufacturers an unfair trade advantage. That’s a point that came up in trade negotiations between the two nations.What is currency intervention?When a country’s central bank steps into the foreign exchange market with the intention of strengthening or weakening its currency, that’s known as direct intervention.In Japan’s case, the Finance Ministry decides when to act and the BOJ carries out the operation via a limited number of commercial banks. Japan will either buy yen or sell dollars to strengthen the local currency or sell yen and buy dollars to weaken it. The scale of the transactions depends on how much impact the ministry seeks and how quickly the market reacts.Where does the money come from?When Japan intervenes to prop up the yen, the dollars typically come from its foreign reserves in the form of cash or US Treasury holdings. As of the end of October, Japan had $1.15tn in foreign currency. During last year’s interventions, for example, Japan appeared to sell some US Treasuries from its reserves to help finance the action.How effective is currency intervention?Intervention is a clear way for the government to tell speculators it won’t allow its currency to go into free fall or rocket up. However, it only offers a temporary fix unless economic fundamentals driving the trend are also addressed. In addition, foreign reserves are generally there to protect the economy in the event of a major financial shock or unexpected event, not to artificially prop up the currency. A unilateral move is still seen as unlikely to turn the tide of currency momentum, but it can buy time until market dynamics change.How often does Japan intervene in its currency market?Japan has exchanged vast amounts of money over the years — usually to weaken the yen. But recent intervention has been in the opposite direction. The government spent a total of almost $100bn on yen-buying to prop up the currency in 2024. On each of the four occasions the exchange rate was around 160 yen per dollar, setting that level as a rough marker for where action might take place again.To keep traders guessing, officials often don’t immediately confirm an intervention. But the ministry discloses the amount spent on intervention at the end of each month. Generating doubt and fear of losses in the market is part of the ministry’s strategy, making the comments of officials highly potent.What is verbal intervention?To keep traders on guard and slow movements in markets, senior officials can make remarks that hint at the prospect of intervention and bloody noses for market players. Comments by the finance minister or the ministry’s top currency official can quickly scare speculators. Officials typically use a carefully calibrated set of expressions to ratchet up their warnings and show how close they are to moving. References to “taking action” suggest intervention is close.What are the flow-on effects of monetary intervention?When Japan’s authorities intervene in currency markets, the immediate impact is typically sharp. Past episodes show the yen jumping around 2 yen against the dollar within seconds and 4 to 5 yen within hours.These abrupt swings can cause huge losses for traders making speculative bets that the currency will keep moving in the previous direction. Sharp moves can also cause headaches for businesses trying to price goods, make payments and hedge against exchange rate fluctuations.For the government, intervention also carries political and diplomatic risks. It can draw criticism for currency manipulation, especially when intervention is aimed at weakening the yen, a direction that can help exporters with trade. That charge is harder to argue when Tokyo acts to support the yen.What is the US stance on a weak yen?Trump accused Japan’s leaders of guiding the yen lower to gain a competitive advantage in early March and said tariffs were the solution. Japan remains on the US Treasury Department’s “monitoring list” for foreign-exchange practices after posting trade and current account surplus against US, but doesn’t fulfil all the conditions to be characterised as a currency manipulator.Tokyo and Washington issued a joint statement in September, in which the two finance chiefs reaffirmed that intervention “should be reserved for dealing with excess volatility or disorderly movements” and not for competitive advantage. Still, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on October 7 said Japan’s government needed to give the central bank space to manage volatility — comments seen as a warning against excessive weakness in the yen.Any intervention would take place after prior notice to the US and if it ended up strengthening the yen, it may be tacitly welcomed by the Trump administration.

Ahli Bank (a Qatari public shareholding company) successfully issued QAR 500 million in debt securities to international and local investors through ABQ Finance limited company (a special-purpose company) owned fully by Ahli bank.In a statement published on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) website, the bank explained that the issuance is part of its USD 2 billion Medium-Term Note (MTN) program.