Ongoing success - achievements cemented throughout our journey

QNB Group shares with Global Investor its ongoing path to success and accomplishments.

This article is part of the 2023 Autumn Magazine, which can be accessed here.  

QNB Group has grown to become the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

Recognised as a trusted financial partner to a growing number of customers in more than 28 countries across three continents. Achieving the highest brand value amongst Middle Eastern Banks at $7.7bn (£6.2bn) by Brand Finance with a significant international presence, we serve more than 25 million customers across our network. We are proud of our Qatari heritage and of the continuing contribution we make to the region and beyond.

Our aim is to leverage the strength of our relationships and the diversity of our footprint, to fuel growth across multiple, strategically-selected regions, creating long-term sustainable value for individuals, institutions, countries, communities and our shareholders.

Our unwavering commitment to our clients and their trust has resulted in QNB Group delivering another set of strong operating results continuously recognised by different entities across the globe.

Pioneering in excellence

QNB Group over the years prominently maintained a leading position amongst financial institutions for our continuous efforts to provide our customers with the best banking experience. QNB Group received “Best Bank in Qatar” by Euromoney for its’ outstanding performance to provide the best banking products and services with a seamless experience. It is a testimony on our successful model, as it grows stronger by prioritising customer experience in local and international markets, through enhanced personal and corporate banking services and products across our international network.

This achievement also reflects the group’s innovation and leading position in the banking sector in Qatar, represented by its financial strength, high ratings, and the diversification of its portfolio.

The group has also been recognised as “Middle East’s Best for High Net Worth Individuals” and “Best Domestic Private Bank in Qatar” in the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023. This is a testimony to QNB’s dedication and promises to our clients, and its continuous effort to develop a long-term relationship with our customers to achieve their financial objectives.

With the resources and expertise, QNB Private provides a local bank relationship with an international perspective to cater to the individual financial needs, including an efficient daily management of their multicurrency accounts, deposits, loans and eBanking, as well as the best investment opportunities.

Other services extend beyond banking services, to include; Lifestyle Privileges, real estate services and advisory, and asset and wealth management, where clients can benefit from exclusive services tailored to fit their unique requirements.

Digital and innovative solutions

As digitalisation is the core to our overall group corporate strategy that entails a plethora of businesses and countries, we rather have a matrix approach. The group focused its efforts to provide a seamless customer experience provided through the digital channels, along the bank’s success in achieving its digital transformation within its sustainability goals. QNB received “Best Digital Bank in the Middle East”, “Best Digital Bank in Qatar” and “Best Digital Wallet of the Year” from the Digital Banker as a testimony for its ongoing leadership in digital banking.

The group aims to continuously focus its efforts on digital product development in mobile and internet banking, digital payments, innovative digital wallet, along with self-service machines with the aim to provide the best digital banking experience in the Middle East, and on an international landscape.

As a testimony to its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and robust security measures QNB received “Best Mobile Banking App”, “Best Payment Innovation” and “Excellence in Product Marketing” by MEED MENA Banking Excellence Awards 2023. QNB’s Mobile Banking App has become a channel of choice for customers, allowing them to manage their finances conveniently and efficiently anytime, anywhere.

This comes in acknowledgement of the bank’s commitment in providing the most innovative banking solutions and is a testament to its contribution to enhance customer experience, in line with its strategy of digital transformation while consolidating its position as a leading banking institution in the region.

Environmentally responsible

At QNB, we define sustainability as the delivery of long-term value in financial, environmental, social and ethical terms, for the benefit of our customers, shareholders, employees and communities. Our sustainability framework consists of three pillars; sustainable finance, sustainable operations and beyond banking. All three pillars contribute to QNB’s goal of ensuring sustainable financial performance, through reducing risks, opening up new business opportunities and strengthening our brand.

As a testimony to its ongoing commitment towards sustainability, The group was recognised by Global Finance for “Outstanding Leadership in Green Bonds across Middle East”, “Outstanding Leadership in Sustainable Project Finance across Middle East”, and being the “Best Bank for Sustainable Finance in Qatar”.

The awards are a clear recognition of the group’s commitment towards enhancing its sustainability agenda and amplifying the group’s effort in raising awareness in the community to highlight its sustainability initiatives.

It is also worth noting that the group’s continued execution of its sustainability framework has resulted in leading Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings in the region from international rating agencies. This is a testament to our purpose to promote prosperity and sustainable growth across the markets we serve.

Serving the community

QNB’s goal is to enable economic and social empowerment through our services across our footprint, particularly in developing and emerging economies. By helping individuals and companies achieve their aspirations, we help raise standards of living and encourage communities to come together for good.

The group was recognised as the “Best CSR Bank in Qatar” award during the Qatar CSR Summit 2023. This award reaffirms QNB’s commitment to the highest ESG performance standards through the development of sustainable business and operating models and adoption of the best-related practices in line with our sustainability strategy.

The award also reflects the bank’s successful alignment between its CSR obligations and business profitability, in addition to its keenness to bolster the presence of its brand in all sustainability programmes and initiatives in Qatar and across it international network towards a healthier and more prosperous future. QNB is one of the main institutions supporting the state’s efforts in this domain and is keen to sponsor all relevant national events, in addition to organising initiatives and programmes aimed at raising awareness among its customers and employees.

We believe that having a purpose justifies our existence and underpins our contribution towards society. Our purpose is to promote prosperity and sustainable growth. This serves as a day-to-day reminder of our business ethics, and therefore is embedded into our vision, strategy, mission, values and behaviours.

Our 2025 vision is to be one of the leading MEASEA banks while maintaining our number one position in MEA. We aim to ensure the bank is well-positioned to reap the rewards from greater efficiency, more customers, outstanding service and future growth opportunities that will create sustainable value for all our stakeholders.