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THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF DOHA BANKAPRIL 2015 | ISSUE NO. 42

DOHA BANK WINS‘J.P. MORGAN QUALITYRECOGNITION AWARD’

FOR 2014

09GCF CONFERENCE HOSTEDBY DOHA BANK PUTSSPOTLIGHT ON GLOBALECONOMIC INTEGRATION

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DOHA BANK INTRODUCES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND TABLET BANKING IN QATAR

1518 DOHA BANK ACHIEVES

5.2% PROFIT GROWTH WITH IMPRESSIVE RATIOS

10 > Doha Bank Leads the Wayat ‘QCB 3-km Run’ withRecord Number of Participants

14 > DOHA BANK LAUNCHES THE 12TH EDITIONOF AL DANA SAVINGS SCHEME

11 > Doha Bank Hosts Conference in Kuwait on Asia-GCCEconomic Cooperation

April 2015 – Issue No. 42

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I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the Board of Directors chaired by H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani, the Chief Executive Officer, all the managers and staff for their outstanding performance and achievements by the end of 2014 and by the end of the 1st quarter of 2015.

The recent IMF Outlook had forecasted a growth of 3.5 percent in 2015 and 3.8 percent in 2016 respectively. Global growth in 2015 will be driven by a rebound in advanced economies, expected to increase from 1.8 percent last year to 2.4 percent this year. After weak second and third quarters in 2014, growth in the euro area is showing signs of picking up.

Fitch Ratings, the international ratings agency, has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of Doha Bank (DB) to ‘A+’ from ‘A’. The upgrade of the Bank’s IDRs follows Fitch’s publication of Qatar’s long-term IDR of ‘AA’ which provides greater clarity over Qatar’s ability to provide support to the banking sector in case of need.

Doha Bank announced yet another innovation in the banking industry to enhance customers’ experience with a digitized account opening solution, marking another proud ‘first for the Bank’.

In 2014, Doha Bank launched “Dine with Doha Bank Cards” – an exclusive savings program featuring offers and discounts from hotels and restaurants in Qatar.

Doha Bank was once again the top participating institution in the annual 3-km run hosted by Qatar Central Bank to commemorate National Sports Day, with 168 Doha Bank staff from various levels of the organization, including members of its senior management team, participating in this year’s event.

CONTENTSDoha Bank Wins ‘J.P. Morgan Quality recognition aWarD’ for 2014

MESSagE frOM ThEMaNagiNg DirECTOr

MESSagE frOMThE CEO

Doha Bank leaDs the Way at ‘QcB 3-kM run’ With recorD nuMBer of ParticiPants

DOha BaNk ExTENDS iTS DiNiNg OffErS, PuBliShES firST-Of-iTS-kiND ‘rEPEaT CuSTOMEr iNDEx’

gCf CONfErENCE hOSTED By DOha BaNk PuTS SPOTlighT ON glOBal ECONOMiC iNTEgraTiON

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13fiTCh uPgraDES DOha BaNk’S raTiNg TO a+

DOha BaNk hOSTS CONfErENCE iN kuwaiT ON aSia-gCC ECONOMiC COOPEraTiON

the resolutions of the general asseMBly Meeting of the shareholDers

Doha Bank introDuces first-of-its-kinD taBlet Banking in Qatar

Doha Bank to launch etf on Qatar stock exchange in PartnershiP With aMWal anD the grouP securities

Doha Bank launches the 12th eDition of al Dana savings scheMe

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The News Magazine of Doha Bank

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Doha Bank participated in a career fair organized by Education City that featured leading Qatari universities.

To coincide with International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8, Doha Bank launched “Al Asriya”- Qatar’s first and only ladies deposit account cum credit card.

Doha Bank participated in the 9th Career Forum organized by Qatar University at the College of Business & Economics. Held annually, the Career Forum provided top employers from diverse industries the opportunity to identify and recruit promising talents whose skill sets match their organizational needs.

The annual Dubai Marathon once again witnessed a strong contingent from Doha Bank as a team of nine staff members representing the Bank participated in the much-anticipated event under the “Corporate Challenge” category.

DOha BaNk lauNChESal aSriya BaNkiNg PaCkagE fOr wOMEN

DOha BaNk CEO DElivErS lECTurE TO STuDENTS Of COllEgE Of ThE NOrTh aTlaNTiC – QaTar

DOha BaNk SuPPOrTS QDB’S al DhaMEEN PrOgraM fOr SMEs

DOha BaNk aNNOuNCES ThE wiNNErS Of iTS ‘wiN yOur lOaN BaCk’ CaMPaigN

DOha BaNk hOSTS STaff CriCkET TOurNaMENT aMiD wOrlD CuP fEvEr

‘groWing Qatar–inDia Bilateral relations are strategic anD sPecial’

Doha Bank Presents eco-schools PrograMMe aWarDs to Qatar’s Best green schools Doha Bank attenDs Qatar

university’s career foruM

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Doha Bank ParticiPates in career fair organizeD By eDucation city

Doha Bank Makes its Presence felt at DuBai Marathon 2015

Doha Bank introDuces DeBit carD accePtance for MoBile coMMerce

DOha BaNk aChiEvES 5.2% PrOfiT grOwTh wiTh iMPrESSivE raTiOS

lEaDiNg JaPaNESE COMPaNiES TurN OuT iN fOrCE aT TEChNOlOgy CONfErENCE hOSTED By DOha BaNk


6 Message from the MD

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the Board of Directors chaired by H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani the Chief Executive Officer, all the managers and staff for their outstanding performance and achievements by the end of 2014 and by the end of the 1st quarter of 2015.

With the grace of God, both the Ordinary and the Extra-Ordinary General Assembly Meetings of Shareholders were held during the first quarter on 4th Mar, 2015 and were chaired by H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman of the Board, with the presence of the Board members, representatives of the regulatory authorities in the state of Qatar and the external auditors. In the Ordinary General Assembly Meeting, the shareholders heard the Board’s report on the bank’s activities, financial position for the year ending 31/12/2014, Board’s governance report for 2014 and the future plans as well as the report of the external auditors. In the same meeting, the General Assembly approved the financial statements for the year 2014 and endorsed the distribution of cash dividends to shareholders by QR 4

per share. Further, The Chairman and members of the Board were discharged from liability for the financial year 2014. The General Assembly also approved the issuance of debt notes under the bank’s Euro Medium-Term Notes (EMTN) programme within the determinants presented to the Assembly. Ernst & Young were appointed as external auditors to audit the bank’s accounts, including the Islamic activities, the accounts of the overseas branches, the accounts of Doha Bank Assurance Company, the accounts of the investment funds and the periodic reports required by Qatar Central Bank for the financial year 2015. Moreover, the transactions of related companies as submitted to the Assembly were also approved.

In the Extra-Ordinary General Assembly Meeting, the shareholders unanimously approved the issuance of Tier 1 Capital instruments amounting to QAR 2 billion by Doha Bank either directly or through a Special Purpose Vehicle. The instruments for the issue shall be Tier 1 Capital instruments qualifying as Additional Tier 1 Capital for Doha Bank in Qatar as per the terms and requirements of QCB. The EGM also approved amending Article (9) of the Articles of Association to increase the foreign ownership limit to 49% of Doha Bank’s share capital.

During the first quarter of this year, we were able to achieve remarkable results and distinguished accomplishments, and we launched many innovative products and services, particularly in the area of e-banking. Despite the fierce competition in the marketplace and the challenges faced by the financial markets worldwide, we were able to achieve a net profit for the first three months of the year 2015 of QR 420 million, showing a growth of 5.2%, in addition to achieving impressive growth ratios in all the other financial indicators.

Despite the political turmoil in the

Middle East and the problems and difficulties facing the economies of the world, and due to the strength and sustainability of Qatar’s economy, in addition to Qatar being the hosting nation for the FIFA World Cup in the year 2022, we are still optimistic about the future where we anticipate that Qatar will witness an exceptional boom in all economic sectors and the launch of more development projects in the coming years. This will reflect positively on the performance of the banking industry in Qatar in general and Doha Bank in particular.

Therefore, we expect the management and staff of the bank to progressively realize more achievements. Beyond doubt, the achievement of our objectives requires close cooperation and coordination amongst all of us. The adverse conditions experienced by various capital markets around the world also require us to shoulder greater responsibilities, so we have to double our efforts during the coming period and work together as one team to realize our envisioned aspirations.

Finally, I would like to reiterate my appreciation and thanks to the Board, Management and staff and to everyone who has contributed in realizing these achievements as we still have a lot of work to do and goals to achieve. We are confident that you will be up to the challenges of the coming period and we assure you of our continued support.

H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al Thani (Managing Director)

MESSagEfrOM ThE MD

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Dr. R. Seetharaman (Chief Executive Officer)

Message from the CEO

The recent IMF Outlook had forecasted a growth of 3.5 percent in 2015 and 3.8 percent in 2016 respectively. Global growth in 2015 will be driven by a rebound in advanced economies, expected to increase from 1.8 percent last year to 2.4 percent this year. After weak second and third quarters in 2014, growth in the euro area is showing signs of picking up. And after a disappointing 2014, a weaker yen and lower oil prices are expected to lead to a pickup of growth in Japan. Growth for emerging and developing economies is projected to slow from 4.6 percent in 2014 to 4.3 percent in 2015.

Net profit for the first quarter of 2015 recorded an impressive QAR 420 million as compared to QAR 399 million for the same period in 2014 showing an increase of 5.2%.The Bank increased net operating income by 2.3% to QAR 714 million. Total assets increased by QAR 4.1 billion, a growth of 6%, from QAR 70.1 billion as at 31 March 2014 to QAR 74.2 billion as at 31 March 2015. Net loans and advances increased to QAR 50.8 billion as at 31 March 2015 from QAR 43.4 billion for the same period last year, registering a growth of more than 17%. Customer deposits showed a year on year increase of 4% from QAR 43.5 billion to QAR

45.2 billion as at 31 March 2015 which is evidence of the strong liquidity position of the Bank. The Bank has become extremely strong over the years with total equity, as at 31 March 2015, at QAR 10.7 billion, registering an increase of 1.2% during the last twelve months. Through the strategic utilisation of the shareholder’s funds by way of increasing our performance levels the return on average shareholders’ equity is 19.7% as at 31 March 2015 one of the best in the industry

In line with the Bank’s International expansion strategy, Doha Bank opened its 12th Representative Office in South Africa. Doha Bank also completed the process of Amalgamation of the India Operations of the HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G as at the close of business on March 31, 2015 and have taken over the operations of their two branches in Mumbai and Kochi on a going concern basis.

In Jan 2015 Doha Bank was awarded the prestigious “Golden Peacock Global Award 2014 for Corporate Social Responsibility” for demonstrating utmost commitment to public welfare and social consciousness. In Feb 2015 Doha Bank hosted a technology conference featuring top Japanese business leaders and government officials to discuss ways in which advanced Japanese technologies can be leveraged to promote sustainable development in Qatar. In Feb 2015 Doha Bank extends its dining offers to preferred restaurants and cafes in Qatar. The programme has grown from strength to strength and branched out to all segments of dining and includes savings from coffee shops and cafes to fast food chains, ethnic, international cuisine and even selected fine dining restaurants such as Patagonia - at the Pearl Qatar.

In testament to Doha Bank’s commitment to offer its customer the latest in digital banking, Doha Bank launched its digitized account opening solution - ‘Tablet Banking’. This is the ‘first’ in Qatar initiative. Doha Bank launched its flagship ‘Al Dana Savings

Scheme’ for the year 2015. Now in its 12th year, the scheme will offer a wider range of rewards, with 6 millionaire draws lined up for the year.

Doha Bank has always maintained that Customer is our priority and all the initiatives undertaken by us one way or other benefits the customer. It is the trust and confidence that our customers have placed on us that has allowed us to move forward with excellent perspective.

Net profit for the first quarter of 2015 recorded an impressive QAR 420 million as compared to QAR 399 million for the same period in 2014 showing an increase of 5.2%.The Bank increased net operating income by 2.3% to QAR 714 million. Total assets increased by QAR 4.1 billion, a growth of 6%, from QAR 70.1 billion as at 31 March 2014 to QAR 74.2 billion as at 31 March 2015. Net loans and advances increased to QAR 50.8 billion as at 31 March 2015 from QAR 43.4 billion for the same period last year, registering a growth of more than 17%. Customer deposits showed a year on year increase of 4% from QAR 43.5 billion to QAR 45.2 billion as at 31 March 2015 which is evidence of the strong liquidity position of the Bank. The Bank has become extremely strong over the years with total equity, as at 31 March 2015, at QAR 10.7 billion, registering an increase of 1.2% during the last twelve months. Through the strategic utilisation of the shareholder’s funds by way of increasing our performance levels the return on average shareholders’ equity is 19.7% as at 31 March 2015 one of the best in the industry

MESSagEfrOM ThE CEO


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Top corporate and community leaders gathered in Doha in January 2015 to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by global economic integration and examine strategies for inclusive growth at a conference hosted by Doha Bank at the Four Seasons Hotel, Doha. Titled “Economic Integration Towards A Borderless World”, the conference was organized under the auspices of the Global Citizen Forum (GCF).

The cross-industry conference was presided over by distinguished Qatari diplomat H.E. Dr. Nassir Abdul-Aziz Al-Nasser, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and former President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), whose new book - “A Year at the Helm of the United Nations General Assembly” - was officially unveiled during the event.

Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, delivered the opening keynote address at the conference.

Commenting on the growing integration of the world economy, Dr. Seetharaman cited the example of the 2008 global economic crisis to underline the increased interrelationships and interdependence between peoples, businesses and countries in the modern world. “When the 2008 crisis surfaced, governments thought they could fix the issue by improving liquidity. As a result, billions of Dollars were pumped into the market to stimulate growth and lift global economies out of the doldrums. What happened instead was, the liquidity crisis moved into a funding crisis, the funding crisis became a solvency issue, which then turned into a sovereign issue. And six years since, we are realizing that sustainable growth is still not visible.”

Addressing the audience following the official launch of his book, Dr. Nassir Abdul-Aziz Al-Nasser lauded Doha Bank’s success in promoting sustainable development and social

transparency and ethics. He said, “The example of Doha Bank demonstrates that the private sector can invest in fields such as education and health and increase its financial profits. When businesses value their impact through a strong culture of Corporate Social Responsibility, they contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life for men, women and communities.”

Other speakers at the conference included H.E. Sanjiv Arora, Ambassador, Embassy of India in Doha, Dr. Mehran Kamrava, Director of the Center for International and Regional Studies at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Doha, Dr. Thomas Walsh, President of the Universal Peace Federation, and Preeti Malhotra, Executive Director of Indian business conglomerate Smart Global.

gCf CONfErENCE hOSTED By DOha BaNk PuTS SPOTlighT ON glOBal ECONOMiC iNTEgraTiON

The GCF Conference gathered top corporate and community leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by global economic integration

GCF Conference Hosted by Doha Bank Puts Spotlight on Global Economic Integration

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“As one of the leading financial services companies in the Middle East that is always striving for excellence, we are delighted to have secured high STP rates in both the categories and we look forward to continue surpassing the expectations of our clients, partner banks and customers.”

Doha Bank announced that J.P. Morgan has awarded the bank with its ‘J.P. Morgan Quality Recognition Award’ for 2014. Since 1997, the awards have been acknowledging the consistent, high-quality performance of J.P. Morgan’s clients’ funds transfer operations management and staff in addition to recognizing their efforts in achieving best-in-class ‘Straight Through Processing’ (STP) rates.

According to J.P. Morgan, less than 1% of its total ‘funds transfer’ clients

qualified for a ‘Quality Recognition Award’ in 2014 – highlighting Doha Bank’s phenomenal success in exceeding J.P. Morgan’s stringent STP performance standards.

The ‘J.P. Morgan Quality Recognition Award’ is divided into two groups, each designated by a SWIFT message type (MT), and features two categories namely ‘Quality Recognition Award’ and ‘Elite Quality Recognition Award’, which is given to institutions that demonstrate the highest level of performance. Doha Bank qualified for the ‘Elite Quality Recognition Award’ in both the groups with an exceptional STP rate of 99.15% for the MT103 Awards and an STP rate of 99.7% for the MT202 Awards.

“It is a matter of great pride for Doha Bank to receive the coveted ‘J.P. Morgan Quality Recognition Award’ for 2014 and more so since we have

achieved the ‘Elite Quality Recognition Award’ in both the MT103 and the MT202 award categories. On behalf of the entire team at Doha Bank, I would like to thank J.P. Morgan for bestowing this honor upon us,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank. He added, “As one of the leading financial services companies in the Middle East that is always striving for excellence, we are delighted to have secured high STP rates in both the categories and we look forward to continue surpassing the expectations of our clients, partner banks and customers.”

Doha Bank Wins ‘J.P. Morgan Quality recognition aWarD’ for 2014

Less than 1% of J.P. Morgan’s total ‘funds transfer’ clients qualified for a ‘Quality Recognition Award’ in 2014 – highlighting Doha Bank’s phenomenal success in exceeding the stringent STP performance standards

Doha Bank Wins ‘J.P. Morgan Quality Recognition Award’ for 2014


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Doha Bank was once again the top participating institution in the annual 3-km run hosted by Qatar Central Bank to commemorate National Sports Day, with 168 Doha Bank staff from various levels of the organization, including members of its senior management team, participating in this year’s event.

The QCB 3-km Run has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the National Sports Day calendar of events, and the popularity of the annual run was once again evident as thousands of enthusiastic men and women poured into the streets of Doha on the morning of February 10 to participate in the event, which started from Al Bidaa and made its way around the city before concluding at the QCB headquarters.

Doha Bank was presented with the Crystal Trophy for the outstanding results posted by 10 of its staff members who secured top-place finishes in this year’s race across various categories. This is the fourth successive year that Doha Bank has been recognized for its efforts and contribution to the success of the event. The Bank was also presented with a trophy for the most number of participants at this year’s QCB 3-km Run.

“Doha Bank has a rich history of organizing and supporting events that spread the message of healthy living, most notably through hosting our hugely popular Al Dana Green Run. Our strong participation in the QCB 3-km Run is in keeping with our broader community engagement program which aims at encouraging people to adopt a more healthy

and active lifestyle,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank.

He added, “Doha Bank is a strong believer in the importance of sport and physical activity in ensuring the physical and emotional wellbeing of employees, and we continually invest in workplace wellness programs and host staff tournaments in various sporting disciplines to develop a healthy and motivated workforce. I take this opportunity to congratulate all Doha Bank employees who contributed to the success of this year’s QCB 3-km Run through their participation.”

168 Doha Bank staff from various levels of the organization participated in this year’s QCB 3-km Run

Doha Bank leaDs the Way at ‘QcB 3-kM run’ With recorD nuMBer of ParticiPants

Doha Bank Leads the Way at ‘QCB 3-km Run’ with Record Number of Participants

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DOha BaNk hOSTS CONfErENCE iN kuwaiT ON aSia-gCC ECONOMiC COOPEraTiON

Doha Bank hosted a conference in Kuwait on developing economic and trade relationships between Asian economic powerhouses such as China and India and countries in the fast-growing GCC region. Titled “Synergetic Opportunities between Emerging Asia and the GCC”, the conference – which brought together regional and international experts from diverse fields such as banking, finance, and investment and trade consulting – also discussed emerging trends in the banking sector.

Giving the opening address at the conference, Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, emphasized how closer financial integration between the GCC and Asia can benefit both markets and foster economic rebalancing. “Over the last two decades, the GCC States have experienced rapid economic growth, driven by oil and gas revenues and booming financial services and

tourism sectors. This period also saw the region emerging as a major investment destination for infrastructure projects. To drive the next stage of growth, the GCC should look to integrate more closely with the Asian financial system to boost resilience and enhance its economic cooperation with countries such as China and India which have been fuelling the global growth engine.”

He added, “China, Hong Kong, Singapore and India attracted significant foreign direct investment in 2014. India has consistently been among the top 10 trading partners of Kuwait and Kuwaiti investments in India are today in excess of $ 2.5 billion. India is expected to grow between 8 and 8.5 per cent in FY 2016 and the country’s consumer price inflation stood at 5.1 per cent in Jan 2015. The current account deficit for FY 2015 is expected to be below 1.3 per cent of GDP and the fiscal deficit target of 4.1 per cent of GDP for FY 2015 will

be achieved. The surge in growth in Indian economy will lead to increased trade and investments between India and the GCC. ”

Carli Renzi, Director - Client Insights and Solutions, International Banking, ANZ Singapore, gave a presentation on the Basel III banking reforms and their impact on the banking sector in Asia and the Middle East, while Amr El Haddad, Executive Director – MENA, JPMorgan Chase, spoke on the growing role of the Renminbi (RMB) - the official currency of China - in international trade.

Also speaking at the conference was Dr. Farzam Kamalabadi, Chairman of Future Trends Group, who brought the audience’s attention to the factors driving China’s status as the world’s fastest growing major economy.

The Kuwait conference discussed the need for GCC States to forge closer economic and trade relations with Asian economic powerhouses such as China and India

Doha Bank Hosts Conference in Kuwait on Asia-GCC Economic Cooperation


12 The Resolutions of the General Assembly Meeting of the Shareholders

the resolutions of the general asseMBly Meeting of the shareholDers

H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman of Doha Bank, announced that the Ordinary General Assembly of the Shareholders in its meeting held on 04 March 2015 endorsed the Board of Directors’ Corporate Governance Report for year 2014 and the balance sheet and profit & loss account for the financial year ended on 31/12/2014 as well as the Board’s recommendation to distribute cash dividends ofQR 4 per share to the shareholders.

During the same meeting, H.E. the Chairman and Board members were discharged from the responsibility for the year 2014 and their remunerations were determined. His Excellency also stated that the AGM has agreed for Doha Bank to issue Debt Notes “Bonds” using Doha Bank EMTN programme within the main components shown in the agenda after getting the approval of Qatar Central Bank and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. The AGM also approved the deals conducted with the related companies that are submitted to the assembly, and appointed Ernst & Young to audit Doha Bank’s accounts for the year 2015.

His Excellency stated that the EGM also agreed to amend Article (9) of the Articles of Association to be read after amendments as follows:“By considering the provisions of the Articles of Association and the laws of State of Qatar, specifically the Commercial Companies Act issued by Law No. (5) of 2002 and Law No. (13) of 2000 regulating the foreign capital investments in economic activities and law amendments, especially law No.(9) of 2014, non-Qatari investors may own not more than 49 percent of Doha Bank’s capital; foreign investors may own more than the above mentioned percentage based on Ministerial Cabinet’s approval recommended by the Minister. The citizens of the Gulf Co-operation Council

(GCC) shall be treated like Qatari nationals in owning the shares of the bank.”

The EGM also agreed for Doha Bank to issue Tier 1 Capital Instruments amounting to QR 2 billion either directly or through a Special Purpose Vehicle as per the terms of the Issue which shall include but not limited to the following:

• The instrument for the Issue shall be Tier 1 Capital Instruments qualifying as Additional Tier 1 Capital for Doha Bank in Qatar as per the terms and requirements of QCB.

• The Issue Date shall be on or before June 30th, 2015.

• The Maturity of this instrument shall be perpetual, but callable only after [6] years.

• The Issue shall be through private placements by Qatari institutions.

• To authorize the Board of Directors of Doha Bank and those authorized by the Board to determine the terms and conditions and undertake all the necessary steps and execution mechanisms for the Issue after obtaining the approval of Qatar Central Bank, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, and any other competent authorities.

The Ordinary General Assembly Meeting of the Shareholders endorsed the Board’s recommendation to distribute cash dividends of QR 4 per share to the shareholders

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Fitch Upgrades Doha Bank’s Rating to A+

Fitch Ratings, the international ratings agency, has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of Doha Bank (DB) to ‘A+’ from ‘A’. The upgrade of the Bank’s IDRs follows Fitch’s publication of Qatar’s long-term IDR of ‘AA’ which provides greater clarity over Qatar’s ability to provide support to the banking sector in case of need.

Fitch recognizes the country’s support for the domestic banks in the event of any such requirement, which was evidenced by the capital injections into the banking sector during the years 2009 to 2011.

Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Doha Bank, said, “Qatari government support is evident through various measures taken by Qatari authorities during the recent financial crises. The support strengthened the banking system

and provided further resilience to withstand the stress period.”

Al Thani stated that it was a welcome move, especially as it comes at a time when capital markets are facing challenges all across the world. “The recent oil price decline which led to a slowdown of the economies of various countries across the globe forced some of those countries to adopt economic reforms to overcome these challenges. With its prudent leadership, Qatar continues to witness sustained development which will reflect positively on the performance of the banking system in the country. Fitch Ratings correctly recognized support of Qatari authorities for the banking sector in Qatar.”

Al Thani added that Qatar has shown buoyancy in times of crises and this upgrade was a testament to the country’s fundamental strength. He further remarked that the ratings

reflected Doha Bank’s ability to maintain strong growth trajectory, total asset growth, loan growth and deposit growth year-on-year.

“Doha Bank has achieved one of the best returns on average equity and returns on average assets among banks in the Middle East region over the last decade. The Bank has maintained a consistent track record on its financial performance during this period as part of its sustainable development philosophy and will continue down this progressive path in the future,” he concluded.

Ratings upgrade by Fitch reflects Doha Bank’s ability to maintain strong growth trajectory and total asset growth

fiTCh uPgraDES DOha BaNk’S raTiNg TO a+


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Readying another year of life-changing rewards and opportunities for its customers, Doha Bank launched an all-new campaign for its flagship Al Dana Savings Scheme for the year 2015.

In its 12th year now, Doha Bank’s Al Dana Savings Scheme will offer a wider range of rewards than ever before in 2015, with 6 millionaire draws lined up for the year, up from 4 in 2014. Notable features of the enhanced rewards offering this year include the introduction of a new prize draw exclusively offered to customers who open Al Dana account in 2015 to become millionaires overnight.

Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, said: “Doha Bank has announced more than 35 millionaires, 2,000 winners and QR 95 million in

prizes throughout the past 11 years. This year it’s even more exciting with a bonanza of cash and in-kind prizes to be awarded every month to Al Dana account holders.”

This year, Doha Bank is revamping its prize structure to base the draws on savings balances, further raising the odds for customers of winning in a given pool. Al Dana customers who maintain a minimum average quarterly balance of QR 20,000 and above will double their chances of winning in their respective draw while those who maintain a minimum 6 months average of QR 20,000 and above will triple their chances.

“The enhanced prize pool and revamped prize structure for 2015 is designed to allow a larger cross-section

of Al Dana customers to benefit from the rewards program and be a part of the winnings,” said Suresh Bajpai, Head of Retail Banking at Doha Bank.

Over the course of 2015, 12 lucky customers will win QR 100,000 each in Al Dana draws while 24 customers each will receive QR 50,000 and QR 25,000 respectively. Additionally, 60 account holders will take home QR 10,000 each while 144 customers will receive QR 5,000 each.

Doha Bank Launches the 12th Edition of Al Dana Savings Scheme

Doha Bank launches the 12th eDition of al Dana savings scheMe

CEO of Doha Bank, Dr. R. Seetharaman, and senior bank officials launch Al Dana Savings Scheme for 2015

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Doha Bank announced yet another innovation in the banking industry to enhance customers’ experience with a digitized account opening solution, marking another proud first for the Bank. The new account opening service allows customers to open an account on their smartphones and tablets and receive their debit card instantly at Doha Bank branch.

The new service is in line with ongoing digital transformation ventures at Doha Bank which cater to tech-savvy consumers and their need for a drastically reduced time for banking.

The newly streamlined account opening process is designed with minimal input requirements and its technology platform has been reinforced with profound security measures to protect the customer’s personal information and identity.

Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, said: “Doha Bank is committed

to offering the latest in digital banking to deliver an enhanced banking experience to customers. Our legacy in introducing state-of-the-art banking solutions has a new highlight today with the introduction of the instantaneous welcome kit with the fastest account opening in Qatar.”

Suresh Bajpai, Head of Retail Banking, added: “The new solution with seamless integrations and inbuilt processes is not only designed to eliminate human errors, but is also enabled with 4G connectivity to make your next-generation banking effortless.”

A new Doha Bank account also comes with a suite of digital services to keep customers connected with their money and information. With the instant account opening and debit card delivery, customers can then quickly perform self-registration for Doha Bank’s Online Banking. This introduces additional convenience of

accessibility to customer’s accounts, allowing them to manage finances and personal payments directly, anywhere, anytime. The Doha Bank Mobile Banking application provides accessibility from any Blackberry, iPhone or Android phone.

Once customers receive their debit card, they can access one of the widest networks of ATMs in Qatar. Many of Doha Bank’s cash machines also provide supplementary services such as a selection of bill payment facilities and the deposit of cash and/or cheques which are automatically credited to the customer’s account.

Doha Bank Introduces First-of-its-Kind Tablet Banking in Qatar

New service allows customers to open an account on their smartphones and tablets and receive their debit card instantly at Doha Bank branch

DOha BaNk iNTrODuCES firST-Of-iTS-kiND TaBlET BaNkiNg iN QaTar


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In 2014, Doha Bank launched “Dine with Doha Bank Cards” – an exclusive savings program featuring offers and discounts from hotels and restaurants in Qatar. The main feature of this program is that Doha Bank credit and debit cardholders can enjoy and benefit from savings up to 25% on a multitude of cuisine around Doha.

Since then, the program has grown from strength to strength and branched out to all segments of dining and includes savings from coffee shops and cafes to fast food chains, ethnic, international cuisine and even fine dining restaurants such as Patagonia - at the Pearl Qatar – as well as selected five star hotels.

Building on the dining program and going a step further, Doha Bank is now the first and only bank to publish what it calls a “Repeat Customer Index”. This index features all the Bank’s restaurant

partners both in terms of those that encourage redemptions on the Bank’s loyalty program as well as those that extend annual discount offers. The aim of the index is to keep track of how many Doha Bank cardholders regularly visit a particular restaurant to enjoy dining out.

Fast food chains such as Domino’s Pizza rank the highest in the published index, followed by the ever-popular coffee shops and cafes. Some of the trendy coffee shops featured on Doha Bank’s “Repeat Customer Index” include Farggi Barcelona and Costa Coffee. Next in the index come the restaurants that serve ethnic or international cuisine, with those serving Arabic, Indian and Chinese food scoring more repeat visitors.

Speaking on the “Repeat Customer Index”, Suresh Bajpai, Head of Retail Banking at Doha Bank whose

brainchild the index was, said, “This index is the first of many which we plan to publish in different categories such as hypermarkets, electronics and shopping. The index primarily serves two purposes – one, to get a taste of where cardholders like to dine; and two, to persuade those restaurants to part with deals to keep customers coming back, ie, repeating their visits.”

DOha BaNk ExTENDS iTS DiNiNg OffErS, PuBliShES firST-Of-iTS-kiND ‘rEPEaT CuSTOMEr iNDEx’

Doha Bank Extends its Dining Offers, Publishes First-of-its-Kind ‘Repeat Customer Index’

Repeat Customer Index is a first-of-its-kind initiative that aims to keep track of how many Doha Bank cardholders regularly visit a particular restaurant to enjoy dining out

17


Doha Bank to Launch ETF on Qatar Stock Exchange in Partnership with Amwal and The Group Securities

“The Qatar Index ETF, which is pending regulatory approvals, will track the QE Index. Once approved by QFMA, the ETF product would list on Qatar Stock Exchange and provide investors with exposure to the index benchmark with a single trade.”

Doha Bank announced plans to launch an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) on Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) with Amwal LLC and The Group Securities, set to act as Fund Manager and Liquidity Provider respectively. A signing ceremony to mark the appointment of Amwal as Fund Manager and the licencing of the index benchmark from QSE was held recently in the presence of Doha Bank

CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman, QSE CEO Rashid Al Mansoori and Amwal CEO Fahmi Alghussein.Commenting on the initiative, Dr. R. Seetharaman said, “The Qatar Index ETF, which is pending regulatory approvals, will track the QE Index. Once approved by QFMA, the ETF product would list on Qatar Stock Exchange and provide investors with exposure to the index benchmark with a single trade. Doha Bank is delighted to have already appointed and signed with The Group Securities, the leading brokerage firm in Qatar, as the Liquidity Provider to the ETF. The Group Securities will provide regular bid and ask prices and interact with the fund manager to manage the supply of ETF units on Qatar Stock Exchange. Further, Amwal Asset Management’s successful track record in Qatar since

1998 will ensure the ETF’s passively managed strategy is in line with global ETF standards.”

Welcoming the regulatory filing and congratulating the partners on being the first to licence QE index for use as an ETF benchmark, Rashid Al Mansoori said, “The Exchange Traded Fund, once approved by the regulators, would enable investors to trade the index as a single security, complementing the underlying 20 shares and providing an opportunity to look at alternative trading strategies. The growth in ETFs internationally is unbridled and we have an exciting pipeline of ETFs being developed here in Qatar. The partners here today should be commended for taking these important steps towards listing this new segment on Qatar Stock Exchange.”

Doha Bank to launch etf on Qatar stock exchange in PartnershiP With aMWal anD the grouP securities

Doha Bank CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman, QSE CEO Rashid Al Mansoori and Amwal CEO Fahmi Alghussein at the signing ceremony to mark the appointment of Amwal as Fund Manager and the licencing of the index benchmark from QSE


18

H.E. Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani(Chairman)

H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al Thani (Managing Director)

DOha BaNk aChiEvES 5.2% PrOfiT grOwTh wiTh iMPrESSivE raTiOS

His Excellency Sheikh Fahad Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Doha Bank, announced Doha Bank’s financial results for the first quarter of 2015. Due to its strategy for innovation and diversification and its success in capitalizing on market synergies, Doha Bank has continued its strong financial performance, with net profit for the first quarter of 2015 rising 5.2% to QAR 420 million as compared to QAR 399 million for the same period in 2014.

H.E. Sheikh Fahad said, “This is another outstanding result and is a clear demonstration that Doha Bank continues to perform consistently.”

Net operating income increased by 2.3% to QAR 714 million while total assets increased by QAR 4.1 billion, a growth of 6%, from QAR 70.1 billion as at 31 March 2014 to QAR 74.2 billion as at 31 March 2015. Net loans and advances increased to QAR 50.8 billion as at 31 March 2015 from QAR 43.4 billion for the same period last year, registering a growth of more than 17%. Customer deposits showed a year-on-year increase of 4% from QAR 43.5 billion to QAR 45.2 billion, reflecting the strong liquidity position of the Bank.

H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rehman Bin Mohammad Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Managing Director of Doha Bank, said, “The Bank continues to go from strength to strength with total equity registering an increase of 1.2% during the last twelve months to reach QAR 10.7 billion as at 31 March 2015. Through the strategic utilisation of shareholders’ funds which has led to improved performance, the return on average shareholders’ equity now stands at 19.7% - one of the best in the industry. The Bank, given the scale of its operations, has achieved a

very high return on average assets of 2.25%, which is a clear demonstration of the effective utilization of shareholder’s funds and optimum asset allocation strategies.”

Dr. R. Seetharaman, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Bank, noted that the Extraordinary General Assembly meeting of the shareholders of Doha Bank held on 4th March 2015, had unanimously approved the issuance of Tier 1 Capital Instruments amounting to QAR 2 billion on or before 30th June 2015, subject to necessary regulatory approvals. The shareholders also approved issuance of Debt Notes ‘Bonds’ using Doha Bank EMTN Programme, subject to further regulatory approvals from relevant authorities. Earlier in the year, the General Assembly approved and distributed 40% cash dividend to the shareholders.

In line with the Bank’s international expansion strategy, Doha Bank opened its 12th Representative Office in South Africa. Doha Bank also completed the process of Amalgamation of the India Operations of the HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G, and has taken over the operations of their two branches in Mumbai and Kochi on a going concern basis.

Throwing light on the key innovations, achievements and initiatives by Doha Bank in the first quarter of 2015, Dr. Seetharaman said, “In testament to its commitment to offer customers the latest in digital banking, Doha Bank launched its digitized account opening solution - ‘Tablet Banking’, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Qatar. The new account opening process allows customers to open an account and receive their debit card instantly at Doha Bank branch. Doha Bank also launched an exclusive ladies banking package - ‘Al

Doha Bank Achieves 5.2% Profit Growth with Impressive Ratios

19


Doha Bank Achieves 5.2% Profit Growth with Impressive Ratios

Asriya’ - in commemoration of International Women’s Day. The package includes a ladies account, which can be opened for as low as QAR 5,000, a special pink floral designed credit card and complimentary health insurance cover.”

Continuing to offer life-changing rewards and opportunities for its customers, Doha Bank launched its flagship ‘Al Dana Savings Scheme’ for the year 2015. Now in its 12th year, the scheme will offer a wider range of rewards, with 6 millionaire draws lined up for the year. On the back of its continued success in 2014, Doha Bank extended its dining offers on preferred restaurants and cafes in Qatar. Doha Bank is the first and only bank to publish a ‘Repeat Customer Index’ which keeps track of how many Doha Bank cardholders regularly visit a particular restaurant to enjoy dining out. During the first quarter of 2015, Doha Bank also announced the winners of the ‘Win Your Loan Back’ campaign, which offered customers an opportunity to wipe off their loan.

Doha Bank hosted an SME customer meet related to the projects financed under the Al Dhameen Guarantee programme of Qatar Development Bank. The Bank also hosted a number of knowledge-sharing sessions on key economic, trade and finance topics, in Qatar as well as in Kuwait.

The first quarter of 2015 also saw Doha Bank’s award-winning streak continue at full steam as the Bank secured five top honors at the ‘Banker Middle East Product Awards’. Doha Bank also received the prestigious ‘Golden Peacock Global Award for Corporate Social Responsibility’ in recognition of its strong commitment to CSR.

Total Assets (QAR million)

Total Deposits (QAR million) Net Loans & Advances (QAR million)

Total Equity (QAR million)

Q1-2011 Q1-2012 Q1-2013 Q1-2014 Q1-2015

Q1-2011 Q1-2012 Q1-2013 Q1-2014 Q1-2015 Q1-2011 Q1-2012 Q1-2013 Q1-2014 Q1-2015

Q1-2011 Q1-2012 Q1-2013 Q1-2014 Q1-2015

74,1

5145

,217

50,8

3710

,682

70,0

5643

,471

43,4

2710

,559

57,2

3933

,208

34,4

328,

467

52,7

8231

,365

29,9

726,

573

46,4

2328

,055

26,1

146,

163


20 Leading Japanese Companies Turn Out in Force at Technology Conference Hosted by Doha Bank

Doha Bank hosted a technology conference featuring top Japanese business leaders and government officials to discuss ways in which advanced Japanese technologies can be leveraged to promote sustainable development in Qatar. Held at Doha Bank Tower, the conference was presided over by H.E. Shingo Tsuda, Japanese Ambassador to Qatar, and Remy Rowhani, Director General of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI).

Titled “Japan Electronics Technology Forum for Sustainable Development of Qatar”, the conference was attended by senior executives from a number of leading Japanese IT and electronics companies including Fujitsu, Sharp, ODELIC, NEC Corporation, Terumo, Nihon Kohden, Endo Lighting, Kyoritsu, and Nagase.

Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, pointed to the unique and extraordinary bilateral relationship between Japan and Qatar. “Japan was among the first countries to recognize Qatar, and was also the first

country to identify the sizeable market opportunities presented by this small nation. Having been the first LNG buyer from Qatar, Japan remains one of the largest importers of Qatari LNG in the world. Bilateral trade between Japan and Qatar today is more than USD 38 billion, which reflects the strengthening trade and economic bonds between the two nations. In December 2014, the governments of Japan and Qatar signed an agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, and negotiations are currently underway for the GCC-Japan free trade pact.”

Dr. Seetharaman added that Japanese companies are renowned worldwide for their technology leadership and innovation as well as for their ability to anticipate and act upon changes in market conditions and requirements. Remy Rowhani in his address recalled his long association with Japan and Japanese organizations. ‘When I was a young man, I started my professional training with the Japanese, and I’ve always been struck by the inherent

concept of humility within the Japanese culture. Humility is what brings people together; peace and security of the mankind is unattainable unless its unity is firmly established. And this is where the Japanese show the way for the rest of us.”

“Japan was among the first countries to recognize Qatar, and was also the first country to identify the sizeable market opportunities presented by this small nation. Having been the first LNG buyer from Qatar, Japan remains one of the largest importers of Qatari LNG in the world.”

Also among the keynote speakers at the conference were Mohamed Abouda, Director – Public Safety Business at Tokyo-headquartered NEC Corporation; Miura Takatoshi, Director of Information and Communications – Electronics at the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Aiham Al-Akhras, Head of Business Development & Operations at Fujitsu.

lEaDiNg JaPaNESE COMPaNiES TurN OuT iN fOrCE aT TEChNOlOgy CONfErENCE hOSTED By DOha BaNk

Doha Bank CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman with H.E. Shingo Tsuda, Japanese Ambassador to Qatar, Remy Rowhani, Director General of QCCI, and other dignitaries at the Japan Tech Forum

21


Doha Bank has once again demonstrated its leadership in payments innovation by introducing the option of making payments on mobile websites using an ATM or debit card to all residents of Qatar. This first-of-its-kind initiative will allow debit cardholders of any bank in Qatar to make purchases through their smartphones and tablets.

In the first demonstration of this success, debit cards issued by any bank in Qatar are now accepted on the mobile website of their trusted partner, Q-Tickets.com, giving Qatar’s cinema-goers more flexibility and convenience in booking tickets through their smartphones and tablets.

Speaking on the new service, Suresh Bajpai, Head of Retail Banking at Doha Bank, said: “Doha Bank believes in delivering greater value to the

customer and with the support of the Qatar Central Bank, we are able to offer a service that is unprecedented in the country. Customers can now complete their mobile payments using their debit cards. People are rapidly adopting smartphones and tablets as their preferred medium for accessing the internet and making payments, and we believe in serving them through these channels.”

Bajpai said credit card penetration is low compared to debit/ATM cards, due to various eligibility factors required to secure a credit card, whereas almost everyone has a debit card: “This service gives people of all income brackets the ability to purchase their tickets online, conveniently from wherever they are. This facility is also a great option for merchants to accept payments from practically the entire country.”

On the Q-Tickets regular and mobile websites, users can select their seats and then choose a preferred payment option – ie, either credit card, a Doha Bank account, or debit card. On choosing the debit card option, customers are prompted to enter their debit card details. After the user enters his/her debit card details, they are then directed to QCB’s secure environment on QPay to complete the transaction after entering their 4-digit PIN number.The debit card payment gateway is a highly secure platform and meets the safety standards mandated by the Qatar Central Bank.

Doha Bank introDuces DeBit carD accePtance for MoBile coMMerce

Doha Bank Introduces Debit Card Acceptance for Mobile Commerce

First-of-its-kind initiative allows debit cardholders of any bank in Qatar to make purchases through their smartphones and tablets


22 Doha Bank Makes its Presence Felt at Dubai Marathon 2015

The annual Dubai Marathon once again witnessed a strong contingent from Doha Bank as a team of nine staff members representing the Bank participated in the much-anticipated event under the “Corporate Challenge” category.

All participants from Doha Bank completed the marathon distance of 42.195 km race and were awarded medals for their outstanding effort.

“We are thrilled to once again field a strong contingent of staff members at the annual Dubai Marathon,” said Dr. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank. “The Dubai Marathon is one of the world’s best known marathon races featuring an elite field of runners, and I think it’s a fantastic achievement that all of our participants were able

to complete the full distance at the race and finish strong.”

He added, “Doha Bank’s own Al Dana Green Run is the most widely participated community run in Qatar, and we are very proud to be building on our legacy of supporting events and activities that encourage people to lead an active lifestyle.”

Staff members who represented Doha Bank at Dubai Marathon 2015 include Nomer Mar Oraye (Treasury Settlements), Manuel Inigo Laig (Al Ruwais Branch), Raymund Javier (International Banking), Manuel Ocampo Jr. (Al Khor Branch), Deogracias Sandoval (Salwa Branch), Mark Juan Penamente (Fulfillment & Central Archives), Abdellatif El Ghaish (Retail Collections), Diego Nicholas

Angsiaco (Institutional Sales Unit), Romel Reclosado (Trade Finance - Dubai Branch).

The world’s richest marathon, Dubai Marathon 2015 saw some of the world’s best marathon athletes rubbing shoulders with thousands of amateur runners.

Doha Bank Makes its Presence felt at DuBai Marathon 2015

All nine participants from Doha Bank completed the marathon distance of 42.195 km and were awarded medals for their outstanding effort

23


Doha Bank Launches Al Asriya Banking Package for Women

To coincide with International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8, Doha Bank launched “Al Asriya”- Qatar’s first and only ladies deposit account cum credit card.

An Exclusive Ladies Banking Package from Doha Bank, Al Asriya is designed to provide attractive features and offers to match the needs and lifestyles of today’s woman. The package includes a ladies account which can be opened for as little as QR 5,000, a special pink floral designed credit card as well as insurance cover.

Al Asriya is a unique product offering from Doha Bank (the only one of its kind in Qatar), and will appeal to a cross-section of modern women. The package is designed to provide ladies, both expatriates and Qataris, with financial flexibility and a dedicated payment solution in the form of the ladies credit card. The Al Asriya Ladies Credit Card is offered

free for life for women deposit account holders or salary transfer customers of Doha Bank, along with 2 supplementary cards which are also offered free for life to female family members of the primary cardholder.

Al Asriya is designed to provide attractive features and offers to match the needs and lifestyles of today’s woman. The package includes a ladies account which can be opened for as little as QR 5,000, a special pink floral designed credit card as well as insurance cover.

In partnership with the Jawad Group, the Al Asriya Ladies Credit Card will offer discounts up to 15% on a range of international brands such as Camaieu, Monsoon, Accessorize, Lakeland, Pumpkin Patch and Hush Puppies. Special surprises also await ladies who check into Saray Spa at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel with complimentary spa

treatments and use of the swimming pool and health club upon purchase of spa products.

Al Asriya cardholders will also be able to enjoy discounts of up to 25% when dining out at selected restaurants in Qatar and can additionally take advantage of a range of health, fitness and wellness offers across leading hotels in the country. Diamond jewellery, smartphones, tablets, branded sunglasses, luxury holidays are all just a simple swipe away for the Al Asriya ladies cardholder as she can now buy and enjoy the added convenience of paying over 6 months at 0% interest.

DOha BaNk lauNChESal aSriya BaNkiNg PaCkagE fOr wOMEN

Al Asriya Ladies Banking Package is a unique product offering from Doha Bank designed to meet the needs and lifestyles of today’s woman


24

Doha Bank’s CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman addresses students at CNA-Q

Doha Bank’s CEO Dr. R.Seetharaman delivered an engaging lecture on the topic “Economic Integration Towards a Borderless World’ to students at the College of the North Atlantic – Qatar (CNA-Q).

The lecture was hosted as part of Doha Bank’s ongoing efforts to engage Qatari students in dynamic discussions that enhance their understanding of economic and financial issues, with a view to develop the next generation of Qatari banking leaders.

Speaking on global economic integration, Dr. Seetharaman said, “We live in a changing world, a world that is driven by the forces of globalization, deregulation, and consumerism. We also live in a world that is interconnected and increasingly interdependent, thanks to advances in technology. As

we move towards a truly borderless world, there is greater recognition that politics and economics must converge at a global level and that territorial integrity is merely incidental. Global governance structures that transform the dynamics of policy-making are therefore imperative to achieving sustainable economic growth.”

On the fall in oil prices, Dr. Seetharaman said, “People today are worried about the plunging price of oil, which however is not a reflection of demand and supply alone. In the last six months, we have seen oil prices come down by 50 per cent – this does not mean that supply has increased by 50%, or that demand has reduced by 50%. Yes, there indeed is excess supply, but what really has changed is the currency. The Dollar Index, for instance, has moved from 79 to above

94, and has also contributed to fall in prices in the commodity market. When the Dollar is weak, people hedge their risks by buying commodity futures, and when the Dollar is strong they unwind their positions.”

The lecture was followed by an interactive Q&A session that saw enthusiastic participation from the students.

Doha Bank has a long history of supporting the education and training of high school, college and university students through scholarship and internship programs, and frequently collaborates with leading educational institutions in the country including CNA-Q.

DOha BaNk CEO DElivErS lECTurE TO STuDENTS Of COllEgE Of ThE NOrTh aTlaNTiC – QaTar

Doha Bank CEO Delivers Lecture to Students of College of the North Atlantic – Qatar

25


Doha Bank Presents eco-schools PrograMMe aWarDs to Qatar’s Best green schools

Doha Bank presented 11 schools in Qatar with the ECO-Schools Programme Awards in recognition of their commitment to sustainable practices and for developing innovative solutions to everyday environmental challenges.

The awards recognized schools that played an active role in promoting eco-consciousness amongst students and demonstrated a high degree of innovation and creativity in successfully completing their green projects as part of the ECO-Schools Programme.

The Programme awards the leading ECO-Schools with the ECO-Star Trophy in a number of categories. In 2014, ECO-Star trophies for the “Environmental Health” category went to MES Indian School for their ‘Campus Care Force’ project, to Shantiniketan Indian School for their ‘Green School Garden’ project, to Pakistan Education Centre for their project titled ‘Solution

to Improve Environmental Health’, and to Philippine International School Qatar (High School) for their ‘Laughing Dove Retreat’ project.

In the “Energy Saving” category, Bhavan’s Public School received a trophy for reducing the use of electricity and water in the campus and at student homes, while in the “Water Management” category, Philippine School Doha got the award for using air-conditioning condensate to water the vegetable garden.

ECO-Star trophies for the “Waste Management” category went to five schools – to Al Ahnaf Bin Qais Independent Preparatory School for their ‘Managing Waste’ project, to Birla Public School for their ‘Best Out of Waste’ project, to Philippine International School Qatar (Elementary) for their ‘Plastic Bottle Reduction and Recycling Programme’, to Al Tamakon

for Comprehensive Education for their ‘Creative Arts from Waste’ project, and to Doha Modern Indian School for their project titled ‘Waste No Waste’.

Alongside the ECO-Star trophies, certificates made from recycled paper were distributed to the participating students and teachers who worked on the school projects.

Organized and championed by Doha Bank, the ECO-Schools Programme aims to encourage children to become environmental advocates at a young age, and provides a platform for schools to contribute to environmental protection by implementing effective measures to reduce their overall carbon footprint.

The awards recognized schools that demonstrated a high degree of innovation and creativity in successfully completing their green projects as part of the ECO-Schools Programme

Doha Bank Presents ECO-Schools Programme Awards to Qatar’s Best Green Schools


26 Doha Bank Hosts Staff Cricket Tournament Amid World Cup Fever

Doha Bank hosted its annual Staff Cricket Tournament in March at the MIC Cricket Ground in QP, Mesaieed. Thirteen teams comprising staff members from various operating divisions battled it out for the championship while being cheered on by colleagues as the Doha Bank family came out in force for a day of fun, camaraderie and pulsating cricketing action.

The teams displayed a spirit of friendly competition as they vied for honors at the annual tournament, and in the end, Team Wholesale Banking emerged as champions after producing a scintillating performance in the final to defeat Team Retail Banking, who finished runners up. The two teams had made it through to the championship-deciding game after prevailing over their respective opponents first in the preliminary rounds and then in the semifinals, where they were joined by Team MD/

Chairman Office and Team DSU.Senior management executives including Mr. Neil Buckley, Head of Technology and Operations, turned out at the MIC Cricket Ground to cheer the teams on.

“Cricket is a passion amongst many of our employees, and with the Cricket World Cup underway, enthusiasm for the sport has reached a peak, which was amply reflected in the determination and competitive spirit shown by the teams that participated in the staff tourney,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank. “The tournament couldn’t have been hosted at a more appropriate time.”

Manoj Jude Fernando of Team Wholesale Banking was declared “Player of the Tournament” for his brilliant and consistent performance while Pushpathas of Team Retail Banking and Suthakar of Team Wholesale Banking were adjudged “Best Batsman” and

“Best Bowler”, respectively. Ashan Perera of Team Wholesale Banking was declared “Best Fielder”.

Other recipients of individual honors included Dammika Madu from MD/Chairman Office (Most Number of Sixes), Sanath Sanjeeva from MD/Chairman Office (Most Number of Fours), and Valeena from Operations (Best Female Player). Romeo Trinidad Geraldizo II of Team Admin was selected as the Best Player from a Non-Cricket Playing Nation, while Naeem Tahir from IT was declared the Most Competitive Veteran Player.

DOha BaNk hOSTS STaff CriCkET TOurNaMENT aMiD wOrlD CuP fEvEr

Team Wholesale Banking emerged triumphant at Doha Bank’s annual Staff Cricket Tournament as they produced a superb performance in the final to defeat Team Retail Banking

27


“As an organization that has always taken the lead in creating job opportunities for promising Qatari talents, Doha Bank is very excited to have joined forces with Education City for this important initiative, which enabled us to gain access to and connect with a large pool of qualified candidates“

Doha Bank participated in a career fair organized by Education City that featured leading Qatari universities. Hosted at Education City premises, the career fair brought together campus students and employers to facilitate networking and employment opportunities.

Commenting on the event, Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank,

said, “As an organization that has always taken the lead in creating job opportunities for promising Qatari talents, Doha Bank is very excited to have joined forces with Education City for this important initiative, which enabled us to gain access to and connect with a large pool of qualified candidates. The event served to underline the wealth of talent we have in the universities and colleges of Qatar.”

Leading educational institutions that participated in the career fair included Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Northwestern

University in Qatar, HEC Paris in Qatar, and UCL Qatar.

Doha Bank capitalized on the opportunity offered by the career fair platform to attract a large number of potential candidates and offer internship and scholarship programs to talented Qatari undergraduate students. Doha Bank received over 90 applicants who showed interest in becoming part of the Bank’s dynamic workforce.

In addition, Doha Bank representatives present at the career fair provided career consultation to graduate and undergraduate students.

Doha Bank ParticiPates in career fair organizeD By eDucation city

Doha Bank capitalized on the opportunity offered by the career fair platform to attract a large number of potential candidates and offer internship and scholarship programs to talented Qatari undergraduate students

Doha Bank Participates in Career Fair Organized by Education City


28

‘groWing Qatar–inDia Bilateral relations are strategic anD sPecial’

Doha Bank’s CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman participated in a CEO meeting along with H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, at the ITC Maurya Sheraton in New Delhi, India. Following the meeting, Dr. Seetharaman moderated a session entitled “Sovereign Investment Fund and Investment Fund Opportunities” at the Qatar-India Joint Economic and Business Meet which was held at the same premises.

Speaking at the conference, Dr. Seetharaman shared insights on Qatar’s rapidly developing economy. “Qatar’s National Vision 2030 envisages a society built on the principles of justice and equality while setting forth a new framework for governance. The 4 pillars of QNV 2030 – which aims to propel Qatar forward by balancing economic growth with sustainable use of natural and human resources – are human development, social development, economic development,

and environmental development. In recent years, Qatar has witnessed exceptional progress in the economic, social and political spheres, and the country’s economy is expected to grow by 7 percent this year with an inflation rate of 3 percent. The private sector has a key role to play in accelerating Qatar’s non–hydrocarbon diversification.”

Dr. Seetharaman highlighted the rationale for doing business in Qatar. He said, “Qatar welcomes and encourages foreign participation through several attractive incentives. Non-Qataris can do business in Qatar. Generally, foreign ownership up to 49% is allowed; however, in many sectors such as manufacturing, education, health, tourism, and power, 100% ownership is allowed. S&P has affirmed its AA long-term and A-1+ short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings of Qatar with a “stable” outlook. Qatar ranked 16th in ‘the Global Competitiveness Report 2014-15’, and

the creation of free trade zones and encouragement for setting up cross-border economic activities can further boost co-operation and confidence.”

Speaking on bilateral trade relations between Qatar and India, he said, “Qatar-India bilateral trade reached $16.7 billion in 2013-14. Qatar’s major exports to India – which constitutes the third largest export destination for Qatar – include petrochemicals, LNG, fertilizers, sulphur and iron pyrites, whereas Qatar’s major imports from India include accessories, manmade yarn, fabrics, made-ups, cotton yarn, transport equipment, machinery and instruments, food and construction materials. India is also negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Qatar under the India–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Framework Agreement, which, if realized, would further boost trade between the two countries.”

Doha Bank CEO Dr. R. Seetharaman addresses the audience at the Qatar-India Joint Economic and Business Meet held in New Delhi

‘Growing Qatar–India Bilateral Relations are Strategic and Special’

29


Doha Bank Supports QDB’s Al Dhameen Program for SMEs

Doha Bank organized an SME customer meet related to the projects financed under the Al Dhameen Guarantee program of Qatar Development Bank (QDB).

The meeting started with an introductory speech by the Bank’s CEO, Dr. R. Seetharaman who underlined the role played by Doha Bank in supporting SMEs in Qatar, in line with Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030. “SMEs are expected to play a vital role in supporting Qatar’s diversification and hence various initiatives have been proposed by QDB to stimulate this important sector. Doha Bank looks forward to participating in Qatar’s diversification story by encouraging the SME sector, which we believe will be a key driver of sustainable development in the country,” he said.

“Doha Bank already enjoys a sizeable SME customer base and a strong corporate and retail business franchise with branch presence across the country to meet customers’ growing needs. At Doha Bank, we know that doing business in today’s economic climate is challenging - and that situations and business needs can change overnight,” he added.

Demonstrating its commitment to the success of SMEs, Doha Bank recently financed 5 new projects under QDB’s Al Dhameen Guarantee program, with total outlay exceeding QR 50 million.

These projects will not only generate local employment but will enable consumers to meet their consumption demands from locally produced

products. Such projects also help the country to reduce its reliance on oil and natural gas-based industries and bring know-how to the country’s doorstep.

“Doha Bank already enjoys a sizeable SME customer base and a strong corporate and retail business franchise with branch presence across the country to meet customers’ growing needs. At Doha Bank, we know that doing business in today’s economic climate is challenging - and that situations and business needs can change overnight,”

DOha BaNk SuPPOrTS QDB’S al DhaMEEN PrOgraM fOr SMEs

Doha Bank recently financed 5 new projects under QDB’s Al Dhameen Guarantee program - with total outlay exceeding QR 50 million


30 Doha Bank Announces the Winners of its ‘Win Your Loan Back’ Campaign

Doha Bank announced the winners of its “Win Your Loan Back” campaign which offered customers around Qatar the chance to wipe off their loan by winning prizes equivalent to their loan amount, subject to a maximum of QR 100,000/- per winner. The campaign had proved a resounding success as large numbers of Qatari and expat residents rushed to avail loans from Doha Bank to take advantage of the unique win-back offer – which offered customers one chance of winning for every QR 50,000 from their overall loan amount.

Commenting on the campaign, Suresh Bajpai, Head of Retail Banking at Doha Bank, said: “Doha Bank continues to offer the best loans with the fastest approvals, flexible entitlements, and convenient installments in addition to top-up loans, zero management fees and much, much more. Besides, customers availing loans receive a free

Doha Bank-LuLu Shopping Credit Card - voted the Best Credit Card in the Middle East at the Banker Middle East Product Awards 2013.”

Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, said, “Doha Bank offers the most competitive rates on car, home and personal loans in Qatar, and now we have gone one step beyond with our ‘Win Your Loan Back’ campaign by offering customers the chance to have their entire loan written off. The campaign illustrates Doha Bank’s emphasis on creative and customer-focused innovation and continues our commitment to creating life-changing opportunities for our customers.”“I extend my congratulations to the winners and I hope they make prudent and judicious use of their winnings,” he added.

Doha Bank was recently recognized for its excellence in lending services at the Banker

Middle East Product Awards 2014, where it won 5 top awards including for “Best Trade Finance Offering” and “Best Home Finance Account”.

“Doha Bank continues to offer the best loans with the fastest approvals, flexible entitlements, and convenient installments in addition to top-up loans, zero management fees and much, much more. Besides, customers availing loans receive a free Doha Bank-LuLu Shopping Credit Card - voted the Best Credit Card in the Middle East at the Banker Middle East Product Awards 2013.”

DOha BaNk aNNOuNCES ThE wiNNErS Of iTS ‘wiN yOur lOaN BaCk’ CaMPaigN

Doha Bank’s ‘Win Your Loan Back’ campaign offered customers around Qatar the chance to wipe off their loan by winning prizes equivalent to their loan amount

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Doha Bank participated in the 9th Career Forum organized by Qatar University at the College of Business & Economics. Held annually, the Career Forum provided top employers from diverse industries the opportunity to identify and recruit promising talents whose skill sets match their organizational needs.

“Doha Bank shares a long-standing relationship with Qatar University and our support for the Career Forum continues our shared commitment towards developing a strong national talent pool and providing meaningful career opportunities for meritorious graduates,” said Dr. R. Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank.

“We were very impressed with the quality of candidates at the Career Forum, which offered us a platform to engage directly with potential recruits. We are happy to have received such overwhelming interest from the candidates and we look forward to bringing the best talent on board and grooming them to hold leadership positions in our organization,” he added.

As well as receiving a large number of applicants who showed interest in working with the Bank, Doha Bank also provided career consultation to graduate and undergraduate students who participated in the Career Forum..

“We were very impressed with the quality of candidates at the Career Forum, which offered us a platform to engage directly with potential recruits. We are happy to have received such overwhelming interest from the candidates and we look forward to bringing the best talent on board and grooming them to hold leadership positions in our organization,

Doha Bank received a large number of applicants at the Career Forum and also provided career consultation to graduate and undergraduate students

Doha Bank Attends Qatar University’s Career Forum

Doha Bank attenDs Qatar university’s career foruM


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CONgraTulaTiONSJanuary 2015

Occasion Department Name w/ Newborn BabyMain Branch Mohammed Mushtaq Ahmed

w/ Newborn BabyIAD Mohannad Mohammad Hijazi

w/ Newborn BabyD Ring Road BrMohamed Ali Abdelhamid Kassem

MarriageAdmin. DeptNasser Hassan Al Abdulmalik

w/ Newborn BabyDSU Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed

w/ Newborn BabyMain Branch Mohamed Ahmed Elbayoum Elsabagh

february 2015

Occasion Department Name w/ Newborn BabyDBAC Sharbana Zeenath Veetil

w/ Newborn BabyDBAC Mohammed Sajid Yasin

w/ Newborn BabyHE The Chairman’s Office Mohamed Feras Mazloum

w/ Newborn BabyCall CenterMahmoud Rabie

w/ Newborn TwinsMain Branch Mohamed Ismail Abdelgalil

w/ Newborn Baby Business Devpt. & MktgTarek Al Sayyed

w/ Newborn BabyCCB Mohannad Abulrasool Ahmed

w/ Newborn BabyTreasury & InvestmentChetan Joshi

w/ Newborn BabySalwa Road Branch Asif Lalani

w/ Newborn BabyMirqab Branch Lakshitha Abeysekara

w/ Newborn BabyDBACSami Mahgoub

w/ Newborn BabyRetail Banking Dept Hossam Ibrahim Abou Fadl

w/ Newborn BabyDubai Branch Ehab Sergious Hana

april 2015

Occasion Department Name MarriageHE The Chairman's Office Nazir Aliyar

MarriageIAD Fahed Hafiz Jabr

w/ Newborn BabyHR C&B Ala Eldin

w/ Newborn BabyTreasury & Investment Sandip Kumar

w/ Newborn BabyAswaq Moaither Branch Khalid Mohammad Almajid

w/ Newborn BabyIAD Sohaib Tariq

w/ Newborn BabyBancassurance Amit Kumar Jha

w/ Newborn BabySME Alan Dwight Garcinez

w/ Newborn BabyBancassurance Chetan Kamboj

w/ Newborn BabyFulfillment & Central Archives Aamer Rabat

w/ Newborn BabyCentral Market BranchTariq Al Shalabi

w/ Newborn BabyRetail Loan Administration Jefferson Calinao

MarriageAl Rayyan BranchAhmad Mohamed Ahmed

MarriageCentral Market Branch Geshan Randika Colombatantri

March 2015

Occasion Department Name w/ Newborn BabyIT DepartmentRizwan Shaikh

w/ Newborn BabyDSU Maged Mandy Ahmed Saad

w/ Newborn BabyAl Rayyan BrHector Unson Dizon

w/ Newborn BabyCentral Mkt. Br Hani Elsayed

w/ Newborn BabyDSU Anas Anwar

w/ Newborn BabyMain Branch Mohammad Dordiani

to be updated - doha bank qatardohabank.qa/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/al-mada-magazine... ·...

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