tag

The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) has come out with a slew of measures, including doing away with multiple advisors for listing and determining the reference price through pre-listing auction in direct listing, as part of simplifying the procedures and attracting foreign investments.His Excellency Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud al-Thani, Governor of the Qatar Central Bank and chairman of QFMA has issued QFMA’s board decision No 8 of 2025 concerning the offering and listing, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) rules.The issuance of the new rules comes as part of the state's drive to stimulate the attraction of foreign investments, and in light of the QFMA's ongoing efforts to continuously review and develop the legislative structure regulating the Qatari capital market in line with the best practices and international standards.The QFMA merged all rules and regulations related to the offering and listing process, such as (rights issues, sukuk and bonds, funds units, book building and share buyback) into unified rules, while added a separate chapter for M&As.On offerings and subscriptions, the QFMA developed the book-building mechanism and required a single offering and listing advisor instead of the previous multiple roles (offering advisor, listing advisor); while in the case of listing, it added a mechanism to determine the reference price through a pre-listing auction in the case of direct listing.On sukuk and bonds, the QFMA made it mandatory for the company to appoint a trustee to protect the rights of investors in such instruments.The QFMA stipulated the requirement of two years before requesting the transfer to the main market from the junior bourse.About disclosure and transparency; the QFMA made it mandatory to disclose in both Arabic and English. It set additional controls and procedures in case of postponing disclosure to align with international practices and obliging companies to keep lists of insiders and prevent their trading during the ban period.In the case of restrictions of founders and major shareholders, the QFMA said in the direct listing on the second market, the sale of up to 30% was allowed during the first year.On M&A, it said the acquisition articles shall apply in the case of the acquisition of shares of a listed company (not in the case of the acquisition of a private company) and regulating the reverse acquisition mechanism. It made it mandatory of the compulsory offer when 90% is reached (minority consent is not required).As per the new rules, the REITs (real estate investment trusts) have been allowed to borrow up to 50% of gross asset value.The key objectives are simplifying the procedures for listing and offering companies on Qatari financial markets and facilitating them for the issuers, enhancing the growth and diversity of the national economy and contributing to the advancement of our capital markets to developed markets, and promoting dealers' confidence, developing regulations and procedures, and providing a safe and sustainable investment environment."Such new rules will contribute to addressing any challenges that may face the Qatari capital sector, and will contribute to enhancing the growth and diversity of the national economy, as well as contribute to enhancing the advancing of our capital markets to the rank of developed markets, especially in light of the development of the Qatari capital market and the qualitative leaps it has achieved over the past few years," Sheikh Bandar said.Dr Tamy bin Ahmad al-Binali, chief executive officer of QFMA, said it had presented the rules for public consultation in April last year, inviting all participants dealing in the Qatari financial markets to review the proposed new draft rules, express opinions on its contents, and provide their comments and suggestions.The desired objectives of any proposed legislative draft to develop the legislative structure of the Qatari capital market will only be achieved through fruitful co-operation and continuous support and assistance from all entities subject to the QFMA's jurisdiction, professionals dealing in the financial markets and companies listed therein, as well as investors dealing in the capital markets, according to him. 

The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) participated in the recent annual meetings of the Growth and Emerging Markets Committee (GEMC) of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), held in Malta.The QFMA was represented at the meetings by an official delegation headed by Khalid Saif al-Sulaiti, Director of the Governance and Disclosure Department. GEMC is the largest committee within IOSCO, representing over 75% of its ordinary membership.The committee seeks to promote the development and greater efficiency of emerging securities and futures markets by establishing principles and minimum standards, providing training programmes and technical assistance for members and facilitating the exchange of information and transfer of technology and expertise.

The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) participated in the annual meeting of the Africa/Middle East Committee (AMERC) of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), which was held in the UAE. QFMA chief executive officer Dr Tamy bin Ahmad al-Binali attended the meeting, which discussed several issues and topics, including online harms in digital securities markets, the regional capital markets integration, the members’ experiences and initiatives in this regard, lessons learned and challenges ahead. During the workshop accompanying the meeting, the shift towards the use of tokenised digital assets (tokenisation) in financial markets was highlighted and discussed whether this technology represents a natural progression in market development or poses a challenge to traditional regulatory systems. The meeting also explored modern trends in the future of sustainable finance, how environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have become part of the global financial system, and how financial markets can be reshaped to keep pace with these new standards. On the sidelines of the meeting, al-Binali met with Emmanuel Givanakis, chief executive officer of the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in Abu Dhabi. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on several issues and topics of mutual interest, and they discussed bilateral co-operation, particularly in the areas of capital markets and financial services. They also reviewed the key global developments and trends in this field and explored future avenues for collaboration between both parties.

Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) has announced the adoption and launch of a new trading surveillance system on the financial market, which aims to enhance the efficiency of surveillance operations, protect market dealers and ensure the application of the highest standards of transparency and integrity. The announcement came on the sidelines of QFMA's participation in the Nasdaq Surveillance Conference which was held in Toronto, Canada with an official delegation headed by His Excellency Chief Executive Officer of QFMA Dr. Tamy Bin Ahmad Al Binali. QFMA explained that the new trading surveillance system was implemented by Nasdaq, a global leader in financial technology solutions and market surveillance systems. The new system will position QFMA alongside its global peers in the field of financial market surveillance. It will also enhance the QFMA's efforts to swiftly and smoothly detect any suspicious transactions or unusual transactions. Furthermore, parts of the new system have been developed using artificial intelligence-based software, making QFMA one of the first financial market regulators to use artificial intelligence in trading surveillance operations, thus increasing investor confidence in the Qatari financial market. The adoption and launch of this system are part of QFMA's strategic initiatives to develop the technical and regulatory infrastructure in financial markets, in line with global developments in the industry, and support the goals of building a developed and secure financial market in the State of Qatar. Nasdaq Surveillance Conference is a leading global forum for market surveillance professionals. This conference brings together senior executives, regulators, and industry experts to discuss emerging trends, regulatory challenges, and the latest technological advancements in the industry. The conference agenda includes interactive discussions featuring global experts from various countries, working sessions, and case studies, during which participants exchanged experiences that can contribute to strategic decision-making in the financial sector. Key themes discussed at the conference include "Surveillance at the speed of Change", "Global Regulatory Outlook", "Surveillance Lessons from Market Volatility events", "Deep Dives: Real Challenges, Real Solutions", "The AI Tipping Point in Surveillance", and "Future Casting: Surveillance by Design in 2030". In addition to the formal program, the conference features curated networking events designed to foster collaboration among peers, enable participants to build strategic partnerships and share best practices and experiences in the financial sector. The QFMA's participation in the conference provides a favorable opportunity to strengthen its global connections and enhance its regulatory strategies under which it operates. This will position it at the forefront of regulatory excellence and enhance its efforts in shaping a robust market infrastructure and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) announced the launch of an awareness campaign for the fourth season of the Gulf Smart Investor Award that was recently launched by the Gulf Investment Awareness Program (Mulim), which runs from September 2025 to the end of February 2026. The Investment Awareness Program "Mulim" is a Gulf awareness initiative that aims to raise awareness of financial and investment culture and produce content that enriches the culture of financial transactions in the GCC communities. The program was first launched in its first season, in 2020, by the capital markets regulators in the GCC. Since then, QFMA has been contributing to the success of the program in all its phases, with the aim of raising awareness among investors in Qatar and the GCC, spreading awareness of the basics of investing in the capital markets, fraud and risk methods, ensuring the need to adopt strategies that help mitigate such risks, and introducing the regulations and legislation that govern transactions in the financial markets, which eventually raise the standards of efficiency in these markets. The Gulf Smart Investor Award aims to enable competition among creative university students, school students, or talented individuals from citizens and residents of the GCC through four tracks, namely video, drawing, photography, and writing, to select 44 winners, 11 winners on each track, in order to spread investment culture, raise awareness of the importance of saving and investment, how to avoid financial fraud, and raise the level of financial awareness among community members to enhance their ability to plan and enabling them to have the elements to make the right financial decisions that achieve financial stability and enhance their ability to achieve their financial goals. The award also seeks to raise the level of financial literacy by acquiring the necessary skills that help in using financial resources in the most effective and efficient manner. The GCC Smart Investor Award allows participants to submit their entries under three main categories, including financial planning, savings, and investment. Following the end of the stage of receiving entries in the various tracks of the award, the work of the judging committees will start in March 2025, with the winners to be approved by April 2025, and then the final ceremony to honor the winners will be held in May 2026. The award targets citizens and residents of the GCC countries, with prizes exceeding QR 1.5 million. Head of Communication Section at Public Relations and Communication Department at QFMA Maryam Al Heidous said that the "Gulf Smart Investor Award", which is witnessing its fourth consecutive season, has gained great importance from all GCC capital markets authorities, explaining that QFMA actively participates every year in promoting the award in Qatar, and encouraging various segments of the local community, especially university and school students, to actively participate in all tracks and categories of the award. Al Heidous pointed out that the QFMA's interest in the success of the Gulf Smart Investor Award in all its seasons stems from its mission aimed at enhancing financial literacy among various segments of society, developing the level of financial skill and knowledge among investors, protecting them and enabling them to make the right investment decision at the right place and time, in a way that contributes to encouraging and developing investment in a safe financial market and an attractive investment environment, which plays a major role in supporting the growth and diversity of the national economy. Al Heidous explained that the topics covered by the award deal with saving, financial planning, sound financial habits, sound spending, saving, financial terms, expense, wastefulness and extravagance, money and currencies, investment, financial fraud, protecting funds and investments, and money box. Al Heidous called on talented citizens and residents of Qatar to actively participate in the award, in order to showcase their ideas and innovations, and make them available to those who wish to benefit, develop their capabilities, and enhance their financial knowledge. Al Heidous confirmed that there is a special judging committee, comprised of experts from various GCC countries with expertise in the award's tracks, which will supervise, evaluate and sort the entries and select the winners. Those wishing to participate in the award and to view its conditions and the participation mechanism, can visit the website (mulimgcc.org) program.

The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) has changed its official logo, 20 years after its establishment under Law No 33 of 2005.It joined the umbrella of the governmental visual identity of Qatar after adopting the official emblem of the state in its new corporate identity.This move reflects the well-established and close connection between it and the national identity and further enhances its institutional presence both locally and internationally.

The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) announced Wednesday the issuance of the Code of Governance for listed companies.In accordance with the Board of Directors Resolution No. (5) of 2025, all parties covered by this system are required to ensure compliance with its provisions within one year from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, QFMA stressed.This code addresses many topics, encompassing the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors, its composition and membership requirements, Board practices and conflicts of interest, Board committees, the senior executive management, the internal control system, the principles and policies for granting remuneration and incentives, communication between the Board and shareholders, disclosure of corporate governance, and companies in which the government is a stakeholder.A set of principles were observed in drafting the provisions of this Code, including transparency and clarity, justice and equality, and responsibility, oversight, and accountability.In conversation with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of the Governance and Disclosure Department at QFMA, Khalid Saif al-Sulaiti, emphasised that this new code is a crucial step in keeping up with the advancement of the capital market's regulatory framework to meet the highest international standards, and in a manner consistent with the characteristics of the Qatari financial market.The initiative aims to reinforce principles of transparency and integrity, while safeguarding shareholders' rights, thereby strengthening confidence in the Qatari capital market. The code replaces the previous framework issued in 2016, and includes substantive amendments, most notably raising the minimum number of board members for listed companies to seven, while setting a maximum limit of 11 members, al-Sulaiti highlighted.He evinced that code also sets out a clear and detailed mechanism for the nomination and election process and includes an annex explaining the procedures from the opening of nominations through the formation of the board and its committees, specifying the types of members, whether independent, non-independent, executive, or non-executive, as well as the mandatory committees that must be established.The code is based on international best practices and standards of governance, giving foremost importance to the principle of disclosure, particularly regarding shareholders' rights and equality among them, al-Sulaiti said.He further added that the code introduces disclosures on companies' adherence to sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and climate-related standards, requiring listed companies to publish periodic reports on these aspects, alongside disclosures of material news and financial statements.He commended the commitment of listed Qatari companies to governance standards, evincing that such adherence reflects their dedication to maintaining an exceptional standing both domestically and internationally, while enhancing confidence among clients and suppliers, affirming that the Qatari market today hosts a wide swath of best companies across various sectors globally.This new code obliges companies to disclose sustainability, climate, and corporate social responsibility reports. And QFMA will issue a guiding manual to assist companies in complying with these standards in accordance with international best practices, al-Sulaiti underlined.In connection with attracting foreign investors, he emphasised that the regulations issued play a pivotal role in enhancing investor confidence, pointing out that foreign investors typically assess the regulatory environment before entering any market.This assessment is facilitated by Qatari companies' disclosure of comprehensive annual reports, which include governance-related disclosures, he said.He indicated that Qatari companies are characterised by strengths, as many of them, especially in the industries, banks, and communications sectors, adhere to the highest standards of governance, making them the best on the regional and global stages.Given the rapid realignments in the global markets, this code has been put in place to keep abreast of the domestic and global evolutions, al-Sulaiti highlighted, anticipating that it would contribute to fostering transparency and investors' confidence, thereby adding significant value to the Qatari financial market.As set forth in this code, the rules and provisions of this code are derived from the recommendations put out by international institutions in connection with corporate governance, foremost of which are namely the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN.He noted that there are best regional and international practices added in this field. Thus, in accordance with the specifics of the Qatari financial market, each company is required to develop a policy, approved by the board, for disclosure and transparency commensurate with the relevant international principles, including those of OECD on corporate governance and ISSB, in a manner that serves the company, its stakeholders, and relevant authorities.Al-Sulaiti further noted that these practices are intended to bolster the level of governance practices and ensure compliance with disclosure requirements within the timeframes specified in the relevant legislation, including disclosure of financial reports and the annual sustainability report, which outlines the company’s contribution to environmental protection, social engagement, and corporate governance, in accordance with this system and the rules of the market in this regard.QFMA works to entrench the principles and values of corporate governance in accordance with the best international standards and practices, in a manner that contributes to optimising company performance, upholding the public interest, enhancing the efficiency of the financial markets, which would, at the end of the day, strengthen the legislative environment attractive to investment in Qatar, in addition to protecting investors’ rights and ensuring stability in financial market dealings, al-Sulaiti said.He highlighted that governance is a set of relationships between the firm's management, the board of directors, shareholders, and other stakeholders, outlining the mechanism through which goals are set, as well as the vehicles to achieve these goals, followed by monitoring the performance, as long as governance determines the powers, responsibilities, and the decision-making process.In addition, governance regulates the company's relationship with the peripheral atmosphere, as well as the community where the company conducts its activities. As such, the company becomes the guarantor of good and proper management, both for the sake of serving the interests of the company and all the aforementioned groups.At its core, corporate governance aims to ensure justice and equality among all stakeholders by guiding management in operations, risk management, organising interests, avoiding conflicts of interest, upholding transparency and disclosure, and contributing to sustainability. It also involves establishing the necessary departments, divisions, and committees, as well as internal mandates, policies, and approved procedures to guarantee the fulfilment of governance objectives.