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Dr. Wissam Fattouh told Qatar News Agency that Qatar’s banking experience offers a model from which Arab banks can benefit to develop their sector. The Union of Arab Banks secretary-general stressed the importance of drawing on successful Gulf and Arab banking models to strengthen financial cooperation, broaden investment opportunities and enhance the ability of Arab banks to match worldwide economic and technological shifts. Fattouh highlighted the extensive regional and international investment reach of Qatari financial institutions as particularly instructive for peers seeking to grow beyond domestic markets.
A Union of Arab Banks assessment found the Arab banking sector expanded by 8 percent in 2024, lifting total assets to roughly 4.9 trillion dollars while deposits stood at about 2.9 trillion dollars. The data places Qatar third among Arab countries in banking assets after the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Gulf banks overall posted strong results that year, supported by higher oil prices and interest rates that bolstered profitability and financial positions.
Fattouh stated that the Qatari approach to widening presence, diversifying investments and seizing opportunities in regional and global markets should be studied comprehensively rather than in isolation. Such examination would help advance the Arab banking industry and sharpen its competitive edge. He added that openness to diverse experiences enables banks to better grasp market natures, address challenges and craft business models suited to ongoing changes.
Union of Arab Banks figures show eight Qatari banks featured in the top 100 Arab institutions by assets in 2024, with Qatar National Bank heading the regional ranking. The combined assets of Qatar’s top 10 banks climbed 4.8 percent to 633.2 billion dollars in the first half of 2025. This performance aligns with the wider presence that Fattouh described as worthy of emulation across the region.
The official noted that Arab banking experiences vary by country, making it essential to assess each market’s specific economic and regulatory conditions before adapting successful practices. Qatar’s capital adequacy ratio reached 19.2 percent in recent measurements, a level a Union of Arab Banks review tied to the sector’s capacity to absorb shocks. Fattouh’s comments follow the 2024 Arab Banking Conference hosted in Doha, where participants examined sustainable development roles for banks and recognized Qatar’s 11.9 percent share of total Arab banking assets.
