QNB Group: International expansion reflects growing presence in global markets

14/07/2025 04:28 AST

QNB Group continues to capitalize on attractive growth opportunities in regional markets to reinforce its banking leadership across the region.

This is evidenced by the opening of new international branches as part of a strategic move to broaden the Bank's global footprint. QNB currently ranks fourth in the Middle East and 78th globally among the world's top 1000 banks for 2025, according to The Banker magazine.

The Group's international branches and subsidiaries have played a pivotal role in consolidating QNB's strong global presence.

This success is supported by a dedicated team of over 31,000 experienced professionals operating across 28 countries on three continents. The Group remains committed to supporting international efforts aimed at achieving sustainable development.

Mr. Ali Abdullah Darwish, Senior Executive Vice President - International Business at QNB Group said: "The expansion of our international network reflects our dedication to providing cross-border banking solutions while reinforcing our role as a trusted financial partner. Alongside our presence in key global financial markets, we are actively implementing initiatives across our international branches that reflect our commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility in the communities we serve, elements that have a direct impact on our operations."

A New Phase of Achievements and Expansion
With a presence across Asia, Africa, and Europe, QNB operates as a full-service financial institution in its key markets of Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, in addition to frontier and emerging markets such as South Asia.

The bank continues to expand its presence in a number of developed economies, including the UK, France, Switzerland, and Singapore. As its network grows, so do the number and scale of attractive opportunities to increase market share in rapidly growing economies characterized by favourable investment and regulatory environments.

The bank also considers acquisitions, strictly based on the suitability of opportunities and the availability of appropriate targets in these markets.

In the current year, QNB Group's international branches have delivered strong achievements and financial performance. QNB Indonesia, for instance, stood out with robust financial results driven by a disciplined strategy and prudent financial management.

Despite global and domestic economic challenges, QNB Indonesia has continued to grow its loan portfolio, enhance cost efficiency, and increase fee-based income.

These efforts culminated in recognition for Ms. Fatima Abdullah Al-Suwaidi, Group Chief Risk Officer and Acting President Director of QNB Indonesia, who was named among the 500 Most Influential Women in Indonesia's Financial Sector by Infobank magazine for 2025.

The award highlights her pivotal role in reinforcing the Group's regional leadership.

QNB has entered a new phase of international expansion, recently inaugurating several new branches, the latest being at the GIFT City International Financial Services Centre in Gujarat, India. This move makes QNB the first bank in the region to take such a significant step, capitalizing on the rapid growth of India's banking sector.

The expansion aims to strengthen QNB's geographic footprint in India, particularly through strategically located branches that enable the bank to meet the banking needs of northern Indian markets.

A Strong Brand and High Credit Ratings
The unification of the QNB brand in both Egypt and Turkey, now operating under the "QNB" name since the end of last year, has played a key role in strengthening the Group's global brand presence and providing customers with a seamless and unified banking experience.

QNB's international branches enjoy high credit ratings compared to regional peers. Notably, QNB Indonesia received a National Long-Term Rating of "AAA (idn)" with a stable outlook from Fitch Ratings, reflecting its strong performance and commitment to a sustainable development strategy.

The Group's solid financial performance and robust operational foundation have propelled its brand to be one of the fastest-growing in the region. QNB has retained its title as the most valuable banking brand in the Middle East and Africa, with its brand value growing to USD 9.36 billion, according to Brand Finance, a leading global brand valuation consultancy.

QNB aims to become one of the leading banks across the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia through continuous expansion and a strong focus on delivering innovative, reliable financial services.

The Group is also dedicated to making a positive impact by empowering communities and helping improve lives, supporting sustainable development in the local markets where it operates.

The strength of the QNB brand reflects the confidence of both regional and global markets in the Group's performance and financial stability.

A Renewed Identity Reflecting a Forward-Looking Vision
QNB has recently launched a comprehensive branding campaign under the slogan:

"Blue is everywhere: Always with you wherever life takes you."

The campaign seeks to reinvent the bank's communications identity and foster a deeper, more meaningful relationship with customers, one that transcends traditional banking transactions.

This initiative embodies QNB's commitment to delivering innovative, personalized, and seamless banking experiences in Qatar and across its global footprint. It reinforces the Group's leadership in the region and establishes it as the premier "blue brand", a financial partner with a clear vision for the future.

Egyptian star Ahmed Helmy, QNB's brand ambassador, plays a vital role in reinforcing the Group's core values of innovation and excellence. His involvement aligns with the Group's vision to enrich the lives of its customers by serving as a trusted financial partner that supports their aspirations and ambitions.

Banking Services That Transcend Borders
QNB has developed a suite of global banking services tailored to meet the financial needs of its clients across its international branches, offering the highest standards of security and innovation.

These services include real estate and cross-border banking solutions, specifically designed for QNB First members interested in investing in overseas properties. Clients benefit from access to some of the best cross-border mortgage options for acquiring real estate in the United Kingdom, France, Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, or Tunisia, allowing them to expand their investment portfolios effectively.

The bank has also introduced unique products and services, such as digital account opening, virtual card activation via the QNB mobile app, and the multi-currency travel card.

QNB has demonstrated its technological capabilities through the launch of cutting-edge digital banking products and services.

One standout innovation is QNB Bebasata, a digital banking platform developed by QNB Egypt. The platform enables customers to conveniently open accounts, place deposits, purchase certificates of deposit, apply for loans, and issue debit and credit cards, among other services.

Additionally, QNB Egypt introduced the TradeNet digital service, which allows for the electronic execution and management of trade finance transactions.

This includes processing documentary collections, letters of credit, bank guarantees, export certificates, and generating detailed reports. The platform also enables the same-day transmission of export shipping documents, eliminating the need for branch visits.

In line with its commitment to meeting clients' financial needs and helping them earn competitive returns, QNB Egypt launched a new savings account: "Everyday Cash".

This product, denominated in Egyptian pounds, offers customers daily interest payments added to their account balances, with a tiered return structure that increases in value as savings grow.

This offering underscores the bank's effort to provide innovative financial solutions that foster a culture of saving and promote long-term financial sustainability.

Meanwhile, QNB Türkiye continues to lead in retail banking innovation. Its digital-only platform, Enpara.com, has become the first fully digital bank offering exclusive services entirely through online channels. Enpara.com continues to expand rapidly, driven in large part by strong customer satisfaction scores across the region.

Strategic Partnerships and Collaborative Growth
Throughout the year, QNB's international branches have signed several key agreements and strategic partnerships that reflect the Group's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth.

In Oman, QNB Oman signed a strategic financing agreement worth USD 43 million with Mowasalat (Karwa) Motors, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Sultanate's school transportation sector in line with the latest global standards.

In Tunisia, QNB Tunisia entered an exclusive agreement with Ooredoo Tunisia to finance the development of the country's 5G network.

This partnership underscores the bank's commitment to supporting innovation and digital inclusion while contributing to infrastructure development across multiple sectors and unlocking new opportunities.

In Egypt, QNB Egypt, in partnership with the Central Bank of Egypt and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), launched the "SME National Champion Program",a nationwide initiative supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The program equips participants with essential tools to build capabilities, scale their businesses, and expand into both local and global markets.

Additionally, QNB Egypt renewed a credit facility worth EGP 195 million for El-Tadamun Microfinance Foundation, a leading institution focused on funding micro-enterprises for women across Egypt, reinforcing the bank's commitment to economic empowerment for women.

In support of start-ups and the SME ecosystem, QNB Egypt signed an agreement with Nile University to launch the "Accelerating Local Industry 4.0" program.

The business accelerator targets tech-based companies, helping them develop innovative solutions that support local industry and enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian enterprises in both local and international markets.

Earlier this year, QNB Türkiye has signed a partnership with Segura Insurance Company to deliver a comprehensive range of non-life insurance products, such as fire, liability, transport, engineering, home, auto, and health insurance to QNB Türkiye's corporate and commercial clients.

Through this collaboration, Türkiye Sigorta's sectoral expertise is integrated with QNB Türkiye's broad customer base to enhance service accessibility and overall customer experience.

In Kuwait, QNB Kuwait is pursuing an ambitious growth strategy through 2029, aiming to expand its market share by offering innovative financing solutions that contribute to the national economy.

The bank is committed to supporting high-impact, economically viable projects by offering short-, medium-, and long-term financing, and continues to attract leading companies in the sustainable economy sector.

Earlier this year, QNB Indonesia launched a new suite of investment products in collaboration with three leading market players specializing in asset management, investment solutions, and USD-denominated mutual funds.

These tools enable investors to diversify their portfolios, tap into global growth opportunities, and gain access to promising markets, while enhancing long-term investment stability.

In partnership with Allianz Life Indonesia, the bank also introduced Allianz Life LegacyPro, a comprehensive life insurance solution designed to offer robust financial protection for clients and their families.

Community Programmes and CSR Initiatives

QNB's international branches are committed to implementing a wide range of impactful community programmes and initiatives spanning health, education, culture, sports, women's economic empowerment, financial inclusion, environmental protection, and more.

These efforts reflect the Group's strong commitment to sustainability through a framework grounded in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

In Egypt, the strategic partnership between QNB Egypt and Sonaa El Kheir Foundation for Development, a member of the National Alliance for Development Action, has resulted in numerous initiatives promoting financial inclusion, empowering women and children, and supporting academic excellence.

These include the opening of new schools across various governorates, covering university tuition fees for outstanding students, supporting clean drinking water networks, and organizing mobile health clinics.

This year also saw the delivery of economic empowerment projects to beneficiaries in multiple regions and the launch of training programs for women, especially in rural areas, as part of partnerships with organizations such as Orman Association.

As part of its broader mission to invest in human capital through education, QNB Egypt has also formed strategic partnerships with several higher education institutions to support academic excellence and provide opportunities for outstanding students across the country.

In Tunisia, QNB Tunisia continues to advance its CSR strategy. The bank organized the third edition of its employee blood donation campaign, in collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion Center, and supported several healthcare institutions, including the rehabilitation of medical departments at both Aziza Othmana Hospital and Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital in Tunis, helping to address critical equipment shortages. In alignment with its efforts to promote sports and a healthy lifestyle, the bank also co-organized several athletic events, including a corporate padel tournament.

QNB Türkiye remains active in supporting initiatives in education, health, culture, and the environment. It continues to sponsor key events and conferences, including the Nature Pioneers Programme launched by WWF Turkey to raise environmental awareness among school students and instilling sustainability values for a better future.

The initiative has reached a wider impact area thanks to the support of QNB Türkiye since 2023. Among the student projects submitted, 13 projects from 10 different provinces were awarded this year.

In Indonesia, QNB Indonesia staff took the initiative to organize an event educating over 700 children through games and interactive activities focused on financial awareness and helping children develop money management skills from a young age.

Further emphasizing the importance of an inclusive and empowering workplace, QNB Indonesia launched the Ruby Women's Club,a platform designed to offer a safe and supportive environment for female employees to exchange experiences and pursue personal and professional development.

Leadership in Sustainability
QNB Group's international branches and subsidiaries are firmly committed to advancing their sustainability agenda, guided by a proactive approach to integrating climate considerations into strategic decision-making.

In line with this vision, the Group has launched a variety of green banking products and sustainability initiatives that adhere to eco-friendly standards across its operational activities.

As part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, QNB Türkiye has committed to sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable energy, supporting Turkey's national goal of reducing dependency on imported energy to below 25% by 2030.

Meanwhile, QNB Egypt stands out as one of the first financial institutions in the Egyptian market to actively finance sustainable business projects. Its efforts are helping reduce emissions and support the growth of the new and renewable energy sector.

The bank also provides sustainable financing solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

These initiatives highlight QNB's dedication to placing sustainability at the heart of its operations, as it strives to balance economic growth with social responsibility.

This commitment is evident through efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, finance environmentally friendly projects, and promote best practices in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.

To institutionalize this commitment, the bank has undertaken several key actions, including:

ESG training sessions in collaboration with external experts and academic institutions.

Specialized workshops on sustainable finance for all corporate relationship managers.

Tailored e-learning modules on sustainable finance designed for different business units.

Training for the board members of QNB subsidiaries on ESG fundamentals.

Moreover, the bank has implemented a dedicated ESG knowledge framework, built around customized learning pathways to meet the unique needs of different departments and roles within the Group.

Awards and Recognitions
In recognition of its banking excellence, QNB Group's international branches received several prestigious global awards throughout the year.

QNB Egypt led the way, securing 11 international awards from renowned financial institutions, affirming its strong commitment to banking innovation, financial inclusion, and sustainable economic development across various sectors.

Among the most notable honours were:

Best Digital Bank for Retail Customers in the Middle East
Best Mobile Banking Application, awarded by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Excellence in Product Marketing for the MENA Region in Digital Innovation

In Oman, QNB Oman was honoured at the 10th New Age Banking Summit, where it was named Best International Bank in Oman, in recognition of the quality of its services and the distinctiveness of its banking products.

QNB Indonesia also earned several accolades at the Asia HR Excellence Awards 2025, receiving:

Best Company to Work for in Asia
Best Care & Wellness Workplace
Best Company for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Asia

These awards stand as a testament to QNB's unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and delivering an unparalleled experience to both its customers and employees.