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The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) is undertaking a multi-pronged strategy, which includes a comprehensive liquidity-enhancement agenda and streamlining the IPO (initial public offering) and listing process, as it expects this year a robust pipeline of listings, encompassing new companies and additional bond and sukuk issuances. The local bourse seeks to position it as a comprehensive capital-markets platform capable of supporting different financing needs across economic cycles, according to Abdullah Mohammed al-Ansari, the newly appointed chief executive officer of QSE. “Our primary focus in 2026 is the execution of our new strategic plan and the delivery of the foundational initiatives that will shape the market for years to come. This includes advancing a comprehensive liquidity-enhancement agenda, refining market-making frameworks, strengthening securities-lending functionality and deepening the tools available to both institutional and retail investors,” he told Focus, a monthly publication from the World Federation of Exchanges. Highlighting that the listed companies have increased to 55 with the latest entry of Mosanada Facilities Management Services; he said the momentum is expected to continue into 2026, with a robust pipeline of planned listings, encompassing both new companies and additional bond and sukuk issuances. “This forward pipeline underscores our confidence in the market’s trajectory and reflects the growing willingness of issuers to view QSE as a primary venue for long-term capital formation,” he said. Stressing that product diversification remains a core priority as it continues to expand the range of tradable instruments across equities, fixed income and Shariah-compliant products; al-Ansari said a key component of this execution phase is its work with regulators and market stakeholders to streamline the IPO (initial public offering) and listing process. The objective is to enhance efficiency and clarity across the listing journey while preserving robust governance and regulatory standards, he said, adding by simplifying procedures, improving co-ordination, and reducing time-to-market for prospective issuers, the QSE aims to make it more attractive and accessible venue for capital formation, supporting both private-sector growth and broader economic diversification. In parallel, he said, the QSE is advancing initiatives to strengthen governance, ESG (environmental, social and governance) integration, disclosure quality, and investor-relations practices among listed companies. “Working closely with regulators, academic institutions, and global partners, we are supporting issuers in elevating transparency, sustainability reporting, and engagement with investors. This year, therefore, represents not an incremental step, but the beginning of a multi-year transformation focused on efficiency, competitiveness, and the long-term resilience of Qatar’s capital market,” according to him. Highlighting that the opportunities ahead for QSE span several interconnected areas; he said product diversification remains a key driver of growth, with the continued development of ETFs (exchange traded funds) and sukuk markets, alongside a deeper and more diversified fixed-income ecosystem. Despite a challenging global environment characterised by tightening liquidity and persistent volatility, Qatar’s listed companies delivered stable and resilient performance, he said, adding this resilience has reinforced confidence among international investors and strengthened Qatar’s position as a “stable and attractive” investment destination. The role of QSE in this context “is clear; we must ensure that the capital market can effectively mobilise capital, support corporate growth and provide investors with access to Qatar’s ongoing economic transformation. The convergence of economic strength, structural reform and forward-looking policy gives us a unique opportunity to accelerate market modernisation and long-term value creation,” he added. 

Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) listed its sukuk on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) Wednesday, marking a landmark milestone as the first Islamic sukuk to be traded in the QSE’s history.The sukuk issuance worth QR500mn offers an annual return of 4.40% with a three-year maturity. The listing represents a significant addition to Qatar’s Islamic finance market, contributing to greater market depth and the diversification of Shariah-compliant investment products.The listing was highlighted by a bell-ringing ceremony held in the presence of QIIB chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah al-Thani, QSE CEO Abdullah Mohammed al-Ansari, and QIIB CEO Dr Abdulbasit Ahmed al-Shaibei.The listing of the QIIB sukuk represents an important milestone for Qatar’s debt capital market, as it expands the bank’s financing options and enables access to a broader investor base. It also enhances financial flexibility, supports diversification of funding sources, and strengthens the bank’s financial stability and competitiveness in both the local and regional banking markets.Sheikh Dr Khalid said, “This listing comes at a time when the Qatari economy continues to demonstrate strong performance and an advanced standing that attracts investors from around the world, reflecting the high level of confidence in the national economy and its financial institutions.“The listing of the bank’s sukuk on Qatar Stock Exchange provides local and regional investors with access to high-quality financial instruments, enhances liquidity, and contributes to the depth of Qatar’s financial market. This step is aligned with QIIB’s strategy to diversify its activities and further strengthen its financial position both locally and internationally.”He also affirmed that QIIB has achieved accelerated growth and significant performance improvements in recent years, supported by technological advancement, digital transformation, and its strong credit profile. He noted that the bank has maintained an ‘A2’ credit rating from Moody’s and an ‘A’ rating from Fitch Ratings, both with stable outlooks, reflecting the strength of its financial position and the effectiveness of its management.Al-Ansari welcomed the move, stating that the listing will enable issuers to introduce innovative, Shariah-compliant financing products that enhance investor confidence and reinforce Qatar’s position as a regional hub for Shariah-compliant investment. He noted that such products also respond to investor demand for Islamic investment solutions backed by real underlying assets.He said, “This listing is directly aligned with the Third Financial Sector Strategy, particularly in expanding the range of investment products available in the market and deepening the capital market by increasing its maturity and capacity to accommodate diversified investment instruments that meet the varying needs of investors.”Al-Shaibei said, “The listing of the QIIB sukuk represents a historic and strategic step that reflects our long-term vision to deepen our presence in capital markets and expand financing options through diversified financial instruments that meet the expectations of a broad investor base. Over recent years, we have witnessed strong demand for QIIB sukuk in international markets, particularly on the London Stock Exchange.“Today, the bank has chosen to list its sukuk on the Qatar Stock Exchange based on several key considerations, including strengthening the depth of Qatar’s financial market through the introduction of high-quality investment instruments, enabling Qatari investors and local institutions to access instruments previously listed abroad, diversifying funding sources, expanding the investor base, and aligning with the Qatar Central Bank’s direction to develop capital markets in support of Qatar National Vision 2030.” 

QIIB, rated ‘A2’ by Moody’s with a stable outlook and ‘A’ by Fitch Ratings with a stable outlook, announced the successful issuance of a $500mn senior unsecured Sukuk with a five-year maturity, issued under 'Regulation S' as part of the bank’s existing $2bn Trust Certificate Issuance Programme. The transaction attracted strong demand from regional and international investors, with total orders exceeding $2bn — more than four times the issue size, QIIB said Saturday. This remarkable demand underscores investor confidence in QIIB and reflects the continued strength and resilience of Qatar’s economy, which continues to offer attractive investment opportunities across diverse sectors. The sukuk was priced at a profit rate of 85 basis points above the five-year US Treasury rate, with a final yield of 4.548% per year — one of the most competitive pricing levels achieved by Islamic financial institutions for similar issuances. Notably, allocations to investors outside the GCC exceeded 49% of the transaction. The issuance was arranged and marketed by a syndicate of leading global and regional banks acting as Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners, including: Al Rayan Investment LLC, ABC Bank, Citi, Dubai Islamic Bank, Dukhan Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, HSBC, Mashreq, QNB Capital, Standard Chartered Bank, ICBC, and The First Investor. Ahead of the issuance, QIIB conducted a global investor call, followed by a series of virtual meetings and in-person investor meetings in London recently. Commenting on the successful issuance, QIIB Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei, stated: **media[379021]** “The successful completion of this sukuk issuance represents a significant milestone that reaffirms QIIB’s strong financial position and the continued confidence of global investors in both the bank and the Qatari economy, which remains robust and highly attractive to investors. The issuance received strong demand from a wide range of investors across different regions, reflecting QIIB’s standing as a leading Islamic financial institution.” He noted, “The competitive pricing and strong order book demonstrate QIIB’s sustained appeal in international capital markets, supported by our solid credit ratings, high operational efficiency, and prudent risk management. This issuance further contributes to diversifying the bank’s funding base and supports the growth plans approved by our Board of Directors.” Al-Shaibei also highlighted QIIB’s consistent track record in the sukuk market, noting: “QIIB has a solid and proven history in sukuk issuances. We previously issued Additional Tier 1 Sukuk and other sukuk that were significantly oversubscribed by investors worldwide. We were also the first Qatari institution to issue a 'Sustainable Sukuk', which attracted exceptional interest from sustainability-focused funds — enhancing our global profile and diversifying our investor base.” He concluded: “We will continue to strengthen the bank’s portfolio and expand our presence in international capital markets, in line with QIIB’s strategic direction and Qatar National Vision 2030.”