QNB Group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth and development of regional capital markets, during its participation in the Middle East Capital Markets Communication Forum 2026, which was recently hosted by the Sultanate of Oman.
The group also highlighted the pivotal role of institutional banking expertise, custody services, and financial connectivity solutions between markets in enhancing investment movement and facilitating the flow of capital in the region.
Mr. Abdullah Hashim Al-Sada, Senior Executive Vice President of Asset and Wealth Management at QNB Group, commented on the importance of developing capital markets in the region, saying: “In light of the continuing development witnessed by capital markets in the region, the ability of these markets to attract more global investments will be determined by the efficiency of the infrastructure and financial services that facilitate investors’ access to available opportunities.
He added that enhancing custody services, raising the efficiency of post-trading operations, and providing an interconnected system for cross-border transactions and investments are essential pillars for consolidating investor confidence and enhancing the competitiveness of regional markets on the global stage. QNB Group’s strength is based on its ability to utilize its well-established expertise in the region’s markets and its capabilities in corporate banking services, in addition to its extensive international network and strategic partnerships. This enables us to keep pace with the growing requirements of institutional investors, enhance cross-border investment flows, and contribute to the development of capital markets, creating sustainable value for our clients in the long term.”
The forum witnessed wide participation from financial institutions, stock exchanges, central securities depository institutions, asset management companies, and a number of actors in the financial markets, where participants discussed the most prominent trends and developments that contribute to shaping the features of the future of capital markets in the region and the post-trading services system.
The discussion sessions focused on ways to enhance ease of access to markets, increase their attractiveness to international investors, and accelerate the pace of adoption of digital innovations that support the development of the financial sector.
These trends reflect the approach adopted by QNB Group in the field of corporate banking services, which is based on employing its deep expertise in local markets in addition to its capabilities and wide international network to support clients operating in multiple markets and countries. Through custody and securities services, the group provides integrated solutions to global custodians, financial institutions, asset management companies and government agencies, enhancing access to regional investment opportunities and supporting the flow of investments between different markets.
The Sultanate of Oman is one of the important pillars of the financial and commercial interconnection network supported by QNB Group across the region. Since launching its operations in the Sultanate in 2007, QNB Oman continues to provide a full range of corporate banking services, trade finance solutions, cash management and treasury, supporting the needs of companies and institutions in the local market.
The Forum’s focus on modernizing markets has gained particular importance for the Sultanate of Oman in light of the implementation of the settlement cycle (T2+), which requires completion of settlement of trades within two business days from the date of their implementation, starting from September 2026, a step that reflects efforts aimed at enhancing market efficiency and aligning it with global best practices. In this context, QNB Oman continues to support trade and investment movement and strengthen financial ties between the Sultanate and regional and global markets, benefiting from its well-established presence in the local market and the QNB Group’s extensive international network.
The strategic agreement concluded by QNB Group with State Street, which was announced earlier this year, embodies the group’s commitment to developing custody services and enhancing the link between local markets and international investors. This partnership aims to establish an advanced model for custody services in the State of Qatar, combining the deep expertise that QNB possesses in the local market with the leading global capabilities of the “State Street” organization.
