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Qatar's commercial banks witnessed a 6.3% year-on-year jump in total assets to QR2.13tn in October 2025, according to the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) data.Domestic assets amounted to QR1.82tn or 85% of the total assets of the commercial banks and foreign assets stood at QR0.31tn or 15% of the total in the review period.Total domestic credit rose 5.1% year-on-year to QR1.36tn at the end of October 2025, the central bank said on X. The commercial banks' overseas credit amounted to QR65.15bn in the review period.Private sector credit stood at QR955.58bn (67% of the total credit), public sector credit amounted to QR462.84bn (32%) and credit facilities to non-banking financial institutions were QR9.79bn at the end of October 2025.Of the QR955.58bn private sector credit, the commercial banks' domestic credit amounted to QR918.55bn and outside Qatar amounted to QR37.03bn in the review period.In the case of public sector, the commercial banks' domestic credit amounted to QR436.84bn and outside Qatar stood at QR25.99bn in October 2025.Of the total QR1.36tn domestic credit from the commercial banks, services received QR471.89bn, real estate (QR267.51bn), trading (QR216.43bn), consumption loans (QR182.45bn), government (QR157.93bn), industry (QR27.47bn) and contractors (QR36.8bn) in the review period.The commercial lenders' other assets stood at QR49.2bn with inside Qatar at QR39.55bn and outside the country at QR9.66bn at the end of October 2025.The commercial banks' securities portfolio stood at QR339.91bn with debt securities at QR199.34bn and sukuk at QR133.61bn in October this year.Of the QR339.91bn total securities portfolio, domestic portfolio stood at QR299.41bn and outside Qatar at QR40.5bn during the review period.Of the QR199.34bn debt securities, those issued by governments amounted to QR125.23bn, banks at QR10.61bn and others at QR62.95bn. In the case of sukuks, those issued by government stood at QR117.63bn, banks at QR10.31bn and others at QR5.67bn at the end of October 2025.The banks' investments in subsidiaries and associated amounted to QR53.2bn with inside Qatar at QR7.09bn and outside the country at QR46.11bn at the end of October 2025.Total domestic deposits were up 0.9% year-on-year to QR850.23bn in the review period. Of which, personal deposits stood at QR278.26bn, government institutions' at QR190.01bn, private sector at QR193.52bn, semi-government entities' at QR44.06bn and non-banking financial institutions at QR14.17bn in October 2025.Broad money supply (M2) rose 0.9% year-on-year to QR740.3bn in October 2025. 

QNB has become the first Qatari bank to launch Mastercard virtual card numbers (VCN) for corporate clients to enable companies to create single-use or multi-use virtual cards with predefined limits, specific usage timeframes, and merchant category controls, showcasing its commitment to providing its clients with the highest levels of banking experience. A signing ceremony was recently held between senior executives from QNB and Mastercard to commemorate the launch and formalise the new partnership between the two organisations. The landmark launch reinforces QNB’s leadership in the commercial payments space and highlights its strategic role in redefining how businesses in Qatar manage, control, and optimise their financial operations. The agreement aims to bring further advancements and greater benefits to QNB’s corporate cardholders through innovative payment solutions and enhanced digital capabilities, marking a significant milestone in its mission to modernise corporate payments and strengthen the country’s transition toward a cashless, digitally enabled economy in line with the Economic Development pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030. **media[382835]** With Mastercard generating the virtual cards, the bank is introducing a new level of efficiency and transparency to business payments, replacing manual processes and paper-based instruments as QNB issues virtual card numbers instantly, offering convenience, security, and flexibility. Through this platform, QNB enables companies to create virtual cards with simple steps through the integration of Mastercard’s innovative VCN platform with corporate approval workflows, giving organisations real-time visibility and control over every transaction. By digitising payments that were traditionally executed via cheques and wire transfers, Mastercard is enhancing security, simplifying reconciliation, and supporting better working capital management through flexible settlement periods. Businesses benefit from up to 55 days of interest-free grace period offered by QNB, streamlined reconciliation, and the ability to automate recurring supplier and operational payments — all contributing to greater liquidity and operational agility. Businesses will also benefit from QNB’s ‘SmartData’ expense management tools, which provides a unified experience for virtual card generation, reporting, and analytics, with QNB issuing Mastercard-generated cards.

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.

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.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Washington with his Liberian counterpart Sara Beysolow Nyanti to discuss deepening US-Liberia bilateral relations and expanding US commercial engagement in Liberia.  In a statement, the US State Department said that Rubio and Nyanti explored avenues for expanding US participation in Liberia's critical minerals sector with the aim of creating jobs and economic growth in both the United States and Liberia.

The Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) at Qatar Chamber recently concluded the 'Qualification and Preparation of Arbitrators Programme,' held in cooperation with Qatar University's (QU) Centre for Continuing Education. The program, which was held at QU's headquarters, aimed to prepare and qualify Qatari personnel through a scientific and training curriculum focussed on arbitration. The program included five stages covering the concept of commercial arbitration and its practical applications, arbitration case management procedures, drafting arbitration awards and their key components, and practical training, including a mock trial with the participation of all trainees. Graduation certificates were handed over to the 25 trainees who completed the fifth stage of the programme, under the title 'Practical Trial.'

The GCC Statistical Center revealed in a report on Monday that the total assets of commercial banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries increased by 10 percent in 2024, reaching approximately USD 3.5 trillion, compared to 2023.The report mentioned that the total deposits in these banks amounted to about USD 2.1 trillion in 2024, showing a 9.6 percent increase compared to 2023.The report also highlighted the rise in total loans provided by the banks, reaching nearly USD 2.1 trillion in 2024, an increase of 9.9 percent over 2023, with the private sector accounting for about 80.7 percent of the total loans.The statistics from the GCC Statistical Center showed a decline in the non-performing loan ratios across the GCC countries during the period from 2020 to 2024, with a noticeable variation in the loan-to-deposit ratios, ranging between 66 percent and 125 percent.Regarding capital adequacy, the GCC countries maintained high levels, surpassing the minimum threshold set by the Basel III Committee of 8 percent, with ratios ranging between 17.8 percent and 32 percent in 2024.On the financial performance front, commercial banks in the GCC countries witnessed significant growth in their net profits over the past four years, surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels.

Commercial Bank announced the successful issuance and pricing of a $600mn five-year senior unsecured bond under the Bank and its subsidiary, CBQ Finance Limited’s $5bn European Medium Term Note (EMTN) Programme. The issue was arranged and offered through a syndicate of Joint Lead Managers comprising Citibank, Barclays, ANZ, Mizuho, UniCredit, QNB Capital and Doha Bank. To support the issue, representatives from Commercial Bank embarked on a virtual road show with the Joint Lead Managers. During the virtual roadshow, they presented to financial institutions, pension funds, asset managers and supranational bodies, and held one-to-one and group meetings. Following the end of the Investor meetings, the transaction saw strong demand, with approximately $2bn order book (an oversubscription by approximately x 4) allowing Commercial Bank to tighten the final spread. The bond was issued at a spread of 100 basis points over mid-swaps, carries a coupon of 4.625% and has a final reoffer yield of 4.689% per annum.Commercial Bank achieved its lowest spread ever booked by robust international demand. Although the spread was tightened by 25 basis points the book remained strong reflecting strong investor appetite. The net proceeds of the issue will be used for general funding purposes to support the strategic growth plans of Commercial Bank. Very high-quality investors from the global community participated in this issue, with the majority of investors from the MENA (54%) and Europe (22%), followed by Asia (17%) and offshore US (7%). The investor base is diversified, including some of the world’s leading fixed income investors, with strong demand from fund managers, sovereign funds, banks and GCC institutions. Commenting on the successful issuance, Executive General Manager (Treasury and Investments) at Commercial Bank, Parvez Khan said: “We are delighted by the investor response to our issuance under the EMTN Programme. The market demand and attractive pricing is a clear indication of the continuing confidence of international investors in the economic strength of Qatar, and is testament to Commercial Bank’s strategy, financial strength and prudent management.” Commercial Bank was the first Qatari entity to establish an EMTN Programme with a listing on the London Stock Exchange, and the first Qatari bank to issue a bond in the international capital markets. The bonds are listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and are rated A by Fitch.

Commercial Bank saw a remarkable turnout at ‘Career Day’, hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour. Due to the success of the event, Commercial Bank will be hosting Career Day annually to continue opening doors for Qatari nationals and children of Qatari mothers to join the private sector.The event attracted large number of Qatari candidates, of whom 53% were invited for an on-site interview and 42% of the interviewees received job offers on the day.The Career Day welcomed students and young professionals alike and introduced attendees to career pathways in fields beyond banking and finance including economics, MIS, computer engineering, cybersecurity, data engineering, technology and law.The hiring process followed standard stages of registration and CV collection, HR screening, interviews with hiring managers, role assessments where required, reference and background checks, and final onboarding.Out of the interviewees, seven young Qataris including the children of Qatari mothers were invited to sign the accepted job offers in the presence of Mohammed Juma al-Kuwari, Assistant Director of the Department of National Manpower Recruitment Department.Qatarisation remains a strategic priority for Commercial Bank. The bank currently employs 38.1% Qatari nationals across multiple business units and has set annual targets to increase representation in specialist and leadership roles. As part of this commitment, Commercial Bank provides tailored internship and training programmes that equip young Qataris with practical skills and career development opportunities, ensuring their active participation across departments and strengthening the pipeline of future leaders.Speaking on the occasion, Khalifa al-Rayes, Executive General Manager and Chief Human Capital Officer of Commercial Bank, said: “We are delighted with the success of our recent Career Day held at Commercial Bank Plaza.This is just the beginning, CB Career Day will now become an annual initiative, reflecting our strong commitment to supporting Qatar’s workforce and building a sustainable talent pipeline in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. Once again, we affirm at Commercial Bank our commitment to being at the forefront of financial institutions that open new horizons for Qatari talent.”By offering opportunities to explore careers and gain insight into the banking sector, the initiative reinforces Commercial Bank’s commitment to developing human capital and supporting Qatar’s long-term economic and social development objectives.

Non governmental organizations (NGOs) called on countries and companies, particularly European ones, to cease their commercial dealings with illegal settlements run by Israel in occupied Palestinian territories.More than 80 NGOs, including the Human Rights Association and Oxfam, published a report on the business with illegal settlements: how foreign states and companies enable Israel to carry out its illegal settlement policy, which specifically targets companies and institutions that continue their business activities with illegal settlements, which directly contribute to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's prolonged occupation.The report referred to a French retail chain whose business partnerships in Israel directly support the settlement economy by enabling the sale of its products.It also mentioned a British machinery company that manufactures equipment used to destroy Palestinian homes, damage their crops, and build illegal settlements.The report accused foreign banks of financing commercial activities in the settlements, and a German company of contributing, according to NGOs, to transportation infrastructure that benefits the settlements.The campaign organizers urged countries, particularly those in the EU and the UK, to explicitly ban business activities with Israeli settlements, including the provision of services and investments.The report also called for preventing banks and financial institutions from granting loans to companies that finance projects in the settlements.This report follows a previous report submitted in July by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories by Francesca Albanese to the UN Human Rights Council.According to Albanese, the settlements are expanding with funding from banks and insurance companies, and are being normalized by tourism platforms, large retail chains, and academic institutions.The UN expert noted that consumers have the power to hold these companies accountable.

Legal PerspectiveCommercial banks play a pivotal role in most trade finance transactions. Herein, the banks can take different roles, such as the issuing bank, the confirming bank, the nominating bank, the advising bank or otherwise depending on the intention and interest of the bank in serving their different clients.I believe that the role of each of the above-mentioned banks is important and highly needed for such transactions. However, the role of the confirming bank could be more important and very essential to complete the smooth process of trade finance transactions.Therefore, we need to know more about confirming banks. Under the UCP 600, a confirming bank is a bank that adds its confirmation to a letter of credit (LC) at the initial request or authorisation of the issuing bank, undertaking obligations similar to the issuing bank's own. In other plain words, it is a kind of a “confirmer” that agrees to perform the principal duties of the issuing bank.This banking activity adds an extra layer of security for the exporter (beneficiary), ensuring the payment even if the issuing bank defaults. Moreover, the key responsibilities of a confirming bank include examining documents for compliance and ensuring payment or negotiation if the presentation is complying.According to the UCP (Uniform Customs and practices for Documentary Credits) 600, explain the meaning of “Confirming Bank”. Sub-article 37 (c) of UCP 600 states: “A bank instructing another bank to perform services is liable for any commissions, fees, costs or expenses (‘charges’) incurred by the bank in connection with its instructions”.Based on this and according to sub-article 8 (b) of UCP 600, the obligation of a confirming bank begins only when it adds its confirmation to the credit: “A confirming bank is irrevocably bound to honour or negotiate as of the time it adds its confirmation to the credit”.In trade finance transactions, the issuing bank is in fact open to confirmation being added, but not mandating it. The confirming bank can add its confirmation, however, it still retains the right to decline the confirmation, as stated in sub-article 8 (d) of the UCP 600. As a rule, if a bank authorised or requested by the issuing bank to confirm a credit, is not prepared to do so, it must inform the issuing bank without delay and may advise the credit without confirmation. All this is optional for the confirming bank as they deem appropriate and acceptable for them.Many people ask if the issuing bank can also take the role of a confirming bank. Generally, the answer is yes. An issuing bank can also act as the confirming bank, although typically these are separate entities. Normally, the issuing bank issues the LC, while the confirming bank adds its own guarantee of payment, which provides greater security to the beneficiary. However, in situations where the issuing bank is also the one performing the confirmation, it's acting in both capacities within the same transaction.Even though, the role of the confirming bank is very clear, however, there are many cases in Courts between the issuing banks and the confirming banks and or clients. It is important to be more vigilant and careful in such transaction as they may cause unnecessary troubles and legal obligations.Dr AbdelGadir Warsama Ghalib is a corporate legal counsel. E-mail: [email protected]

Boeing Co delivered 57 commercial aircraft in August, its best performance for the month since 2018, in the latest sign of steadying factory operations as the US planemaker targets faster production rates.The tally, which included 43 of Boeing’s 737 family of jets, is the second-highest of the year and marks an uptick from July, according to data posted Tuesday on the company’s website. August’s results underscore Boeing’s recent improvements in stabilising its factories as the manufacturer prepares to ask regulators for permission to return output of the best-selling jet to pre-Covid levels.Gross orders for Boeing totalled 26 during the month against two cancellations. The company recorded 83 net orders, including those added to its backlog under a US accounting provision for at-risk deals. For the year, the US planemaker has landed 725 gross orders against 600 for Toulouse, France-based Airbus SE.Boeing has started to narrow an output gap with market leader Airbus that’s stood since the US manufacturer fell into a series of crises starting with the first of two fatal 737 Max crashes in late 2018. Through August, Boeing has delivered 385 jets this year to 434 for its European rival, which handed over 61 aircraft for the month.Since the beginning of 2024, Boeing’s output deficit to Airbus has narrowed by more than half, based on the average of trailing six-month deliveries, according to Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu.Jefferies estimates of 6-month average gap in Boeing-Airbus deliveries.Boeing is sharing with US regulators a series of measures of the health of its production system ahead of a formal request to speed its 737 assembly lines to a pace of 42 jets per month, from the current cap of 38.The company has told airline customers it’s optimistic it will be able to raise rates by October, Ryanair Holdings Plc Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary told reporters on August 27.