Islamic Financial Services

Qatar is home to some of the region’s most prominent sharia-compliant institutions. Despite operating in a crowded and competitive arena, over recent decades the country has claimed a significant share of the banking, insurance and investment segments. More recently, Qatar faced the challenges of a sustained dip in oil prices and a regional economic blockade. However, due to a prudent regulatory structure and the government’s ability to support its most important Islamic institutions, the sector remains largely unaffected by economic turbulence, and is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities emerging from the Qatar National Vision 2030 strategy and preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This chapter contains an interview with Bassel Gamal, Group CEO, Qatar Islamic Bank.